Update: 3/14/20
My answer is still no. Yes, the parks are closing until April. But still do not cancel your trip to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida or the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Just change the date.
Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World have waived both the change and the cancellation fees for guests who have yet to check in for stays between March 16 and March 31. So, unless you’re staying with a third-party hotel, the only cost to you would come from the price difference of your original dates and the new dates (ex. If you decide to trade in Spring Break for Christmas Break, the same hotel might cost a bit more). All guests will also be reimbursed for extra-ticketed events during that same window including Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours and Disney Early Morning Magic.
Click the links below to read our original coverage:
Read More: Walt Disney World Closing Because of Coronavirus Outbreak
Read More: Disneyland Resort’s Updates to Guests Affected by Coronavirus
But my suggestion is still no. If anything, use that credit as a base and continue to save up for an even more awesome Disney vacation later this year.
Original Story: 3/8/20
No. That’s my answer. Unless you have a compromised immune system or have any other underlying health issues, you should not cancel your vacation to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, or the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. But don’t worry — I’m going to share why you should not cancel the trip and also remind you why you should always book with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.
It’s time to go back and review all of the news regarding the spread of COVID-19 in another addition of Disney in Plain English.
The Situation in California and Florida
Let me start by saying, I get it.
As of Sunday, March 8, 2020, both California and Florida have declared states of emergency after confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus from Wuhan, China known officially as COVID-19. While the combined number of infected cases remains well below 100 people, tens of thousands of people are in fear they’ve been exposed to it and are putting themselves in self-isolation until tests can be made available to them. There have also been three deaths in those states. I’d also be daft to say that the fear wasn’t just being exposed to the disease in the states. So many travel itineraries to Walt Disney World and Disneyland require you to fly and pass through major airport hubs.
But it’s not as bad as it seems.
According to the CDC, the rate of serious illness of this disease across the board is less than 20% worldwide, and that number is even expected to go down once more people around the world are able to be tested. There have been ZERO reported deaths in children whose already-embattled immune systems are proving to be the best at combatting the disease. Doctors have reported that kids appear to only be fighting a in some cases.
The people who are dying from COVID-19 are people with compromised immune systems. The most common cases involve an elderly person contracting the disease and they are dying from a form of pneumonia. Younger and healthier people who have contracted the disease experience fever and respiratory illness (cough, shortness of breath) and are proving to recover.
The Center for and on the President’s Coronavirus Task Force still gives people in the U.S. a low of being infected. There are still no enforced.
Disneyland and Disney World Release Statements, Hardly Feeling the Effects
Despite the fears, Disneyland and Walt Disney World are yet to feel the hard effects of COVID-19 on an attendance level. Just last week, Walt Disney World opened its new attraction Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. It had a 300-minute wait on the first day. But, we would still recommend you go if attendance was dropping because that just means you will have more space in the parks for yourself and shorter wait times.
As I’m writing this, the MyDisneyExperience app still shows wait typical times throughout the theme parks, including a 120-minute wait for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and a 70-minute wait for Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom.
The same shows on the Disneyland app, which shows a 60-minute wait time for Radiator Springs Racers in Disney California Adventure Park and a 55-minute wait for Indiana Jones™ Adventure in Disneyland Park.
Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World already uphold an extremely high standard of cleanliness to prevent the spread of diseases among their park guests. Still, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Disney Parks and Resorts have released statements regarding the coronavirus concerns, reminding their guests of those standards and they are complying with every recommendation from the CDC. You can read our coverage on those stories by clicking the links below:
Disney’s Official Statement Regarding Coronavirus Protocol and the Theme Parks
Coronavirus Update: Disney World Issues Statement Confirming Sanitation Procedures
Coronavirus Update: Disneyland Shares Reassuring Statement with Local Hotels
Disney parks are prepared and remain a way for you to escape the troubles of everyday life. Just remember to practice proper hygiene etiquette: wash your hands for more than 20 seconds, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, avoid touching your eyes, mouth, nose, and face with unwashed hands and keep a safe distance from people who are sick.
Line also remains fully operational. They’ve enforced their own precautions to keep their safe, but have also started to offer free cancellations. Click here to read our coverage on that story.
But I understand that not everybody is going to be put at ease by my article. Cancellations or reschedules will be made. And it is a great time to remember why it’s a good idea to book with a travel company.
It’s still important to book with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Booking your Walt Disney World Vacation with a travel agent means that all of the loose ends will be attended to. Your travel agent is supposed to know all of the ins and outs of your trip, including securing the best deals and understanding cancellation policies and travel insurance. Choosing the right travel agent means having someone ready to help consult you when situations like the coronavirus issue.
For those travel concerns, we recommend our friends at Academy Travel, after gathering years of experience, the understand how to masterfully coordinate Walt Disney World vacations and Disneyland vacations, and more, providing you with the best possible deal for your budget and helping you understand your options when situations compel you to modify, reschedule, or cancel your trip. Click here to learn more and receive your free no-obligation quote today for your next Disney trip.