Re-Planning Your Disney Vacation

Raise your hand if your Disney trip has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic! I fell your pain, friend!

Many of us have had the perfect trips cancelled, and the only way I know to cope is to start planning again! For me, it meant focusing on smaller trips first, then planning (and budgeting) for our 11th wedding anniversary. Here's what we are doing, step by step!

We loved the party in 2017!

1. Pick a return date. We originally rebooked our trip, with MANY changes, for mid-May. Since that isn't looking too great, we started to research some of the perks Disney is offering for those who had to cancel. If you booked an on-site room that was cancelled, you have until the end of May to book a new reservation to get free dining (must travel before October 1). You can check out the details HERE  Unfortunately for us, we already have annual passes, so we can't advantage of this offer. We are still on the fence about where to stay, but we did pick dates for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party in September, booked with our Disney Visa points. Our travel agent (I always try to support my friends and their businesses) is also able to book for May 2021 as soon as we are ready. Our hurdle now, like many people, is Bill being furloughed and not knowing when he will return to work. With so much uncertainty in our budget, we are trying to be smart.

2. Change your flights. This is actually a bonus! We have found some very inexpensive flights, even when booking with points (which is how we mostly travel). Depending on how you paid, who you fly through, and when you were supposed to travel, you may be getting a refund or a credit. Either way, booking a flight now definitely seems smart. We are also looking ahead to Wine and Dine Weekend, seeing if we can even get those flights now. 

3. Stalk rundisney.com :) runDisney has postponed all race registrations, most likely because of the reduction of employees. That's my theory, at least. I have confidence that by November, we will be back to running races on schedule (please, don't burst my bubble!). With the quick sellout of Wine and Dine, I want to be sure we don't miss a registration day, especially with my goal of 40 for my 40th!

4. Rebook your dining and FastPass+. If you are within your booking window and you are planning on the (loosely) the same itinerary, you can login to My Disney Experience and change your plans right from your "My Plans" page. Of course, you can also start over and search. This is always my favorite part, so doing this has been a great way to add some fun to my daily "stay at home" life. 

5. Confirm your refunds. Since everyone is having to get refunded, it is always a good idea to stay on top of your refunds. Disney gave me a 4-6 week window for my refund, but it showed up on my card much sooner. Because we had multiple charges (split stay, rebooked reservation, and some prepaid dining), I made notes to be sure it all went through as expected. It did, and much earlier than expected, but it never hurts to be 100% sure.

6. Share your excitement. Even my most upbeat Disney FB groups seem to have some negativity about rebooking or vacations in general. I'm here to be your cheerleader! Tag me on Facebook! Share with me on Instagram! I think the world can use a little Disney magic these days!  

Can't wait to "See 'Ya Real Soon" Disney World!