Following our earlier observation that dining reservations and the Disney Dining Plan were unable to be booked at this time, we now have some more details to share.
Mickey Pretzel!
It looks like guests planning to visit after Disney World’s reopening will NOT be permitted to have a Disney Dining Plan initally, among other big changes!
According to Disney, “we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages.”
DOLE WHIP!
Additionally, Disney stated, “We will reopen dining and experience bookings with more limited numbers closer to when the parks reopen. We will also shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window for dining and experience bookings going forward to allow Guests to make their plans closer to their visits.”
©Disney
Note that the statement from Disney specifies impacted reservations will be from May 28th, 2020 all the way to September 26th, 2021. This is due to international bookings being made into 2021.
NOTE: This DOES NOT MEAN that Disney will not have dining reservations or Disney Dining Plans in 2021, as far as we know. It only means that they’re clearing out their current bookings so that they can release a new system to accommodate the lower capacity that the parks, restaurants, and hotels will be servicing.
Disney has also stated select third-party dining and experiences possibly may not be canceled at this time. So be sure to check your My Disney Experience when you can.
If guests were recipients of the Free Disney World Dining Plan offered to guests impacted by the closure, their plans will be canceled as well and they will have the option to rebook at a later date with a hefty 35% room discount.
Guests who hold a resort reservation or a canceled dining reservation will be given priority rebooking once that is announced.
Note that Disney World has also canceled FastPass bookings and has suspended their FastPass System temporarily. Click here to read more about this development.
So What Should You Do NOW?
Deep breath. Don’t panic. If you have a current Disney World hotel package you still have your hotel reservations.
Disney has stated that they will re-open Dining Reservation and Experience bookings closer to their opening date and that lead time — usually 180 days — will be shortened to 60 days. But you should still be able to make dining reservations and experience bookings for your vacation.
As for the FastPass system, Disney seems confident that the limited capacity of the parks will offer significantly reduced wait times for attractions and rides. We’ll keep our ear to the ground for more details there a well.
That said, we understand that many of you had already booked the *perfect* plans for your vacation — some of you having rescheduled multiple times already — and for that we truly feel your pain. This is a very difficult time when it’s so hard to book these trips in the first place.
If you have worked with a travel agent to plan your trip, contact them for more details and for next steps. If you booked your trip yourself, DO. NOT. FRET. We will get more information from Disney about the new booking procedures and we’ll share them with you ASAP. Things are gonna be a little bit different here for a while, but stick with us here at DFB. We gotchu as far as Disney info, details, and advice. And if you have any specific questions, please let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer them…or find answers to them.
Click here to learn more about Disney World’s proposed reopening procedures
Disney Park Reopening Details and Info
Click HERE for the All Latest Updates
Click HERE To See FULL LISTS of the Rides, Attractions, Shopping, Entertainment, and Restaurants Opening in Disney World!
TUTORIAL: How To Use Disney World's NEW Park Pass Reservation System
ALL Disney World Reopening Procedures
Disney World Hotel and Ticket Booking Information
We’re Visiting ALL the Reopened Disney World Hotels and Have All the Need-to-Know Details
We’re LIVE in Disney World's Magic Kingdom For the FIRST Time Since the Closures
We’re LIVE in Disney’s Animal Kingdom For the FIRST Time Since the Closures
We Got a FIRST LOOK at Disney World’s New Character Cavalcades and Entertainment!
Everything You NEED To Know About Wearing Masks in Disney World
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What do you think of these cancellations? Let us know in the comments!
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DFB Sarah
It’s Mary again. I just spoke to a cast member and they are telling me there is a lot of misinformation out there. I am just so confused about this 35% off. I also asked about having a resort reservation and being able to rebook in one of the first groups when the system comes back up and she said they don’t how that is going to be handled? As I said I’m completely confused and as I’m sure you know frustrated.
Mary, I hear you. We’re going to keep updating whenever information is released, but it sounds like most folks calling Disney right now are finding a dearth of information. Hopefully the new system will come online soon to address the reservations question, and hopefully Disney will clarify for their cast members what kind of accommodations are being made for folks. I’m sorry I can’t be more helpful right now.
DFB Sarah
Thank you for listening again!!
I’m going to Disney World in September 2021 for my 25th birthday, I’m really hoping that I will still be able to book a dining plan because I will really need one.
So I’ve still not had any contact from Disney, but all my bookings are disappearing one by one….it’s heartbreaking, all that planning to make the dream holiday and it’s gone. The way Disney have handled this has been incredibly poor. At this moment I feel like never visiting again.
Is the Disney dining quick service cancelled? I’m so confused?
Lauren, yes, Quick Service DDPs are also cancelled. We contacted Disney to confirm last week.
Hi DFB- Sarah, I just wanted to follow up with you about a question I had asked you earlier concerning folks like me who have Disney World room reservations, but no Park tickets yet, and where do we stand?
Well I just got off the phone with a Disney World Guest Services representative and I asked that same question, and I was told the following: “Guest who already have a room reservation booked in Disney world will be given consideration after all current ticket holders and a AP holders have had the opportunity to make park reservations when the reservation system opens.” While she could not expand on what the considerations would consist of, She said that they are working on that issue right now.
I am assuming that “consideration“ means Disney will take into account people who have an existing room reservation but no tickets, and allow them to be in the early groups that will be making park reservations “after” they purchase their park tickets. I’m just guessing, but hopefully this may also mean that guest with “room only” Reservations will receive an email to allow them to purchase tickets and make their park reservations at the same time before ticket Reservations open to the general public. Our Disney trip is in November so there may be several changes even before that, but I just wanted to share this information because so many others are asking the same question and I hope it helps in some small way.
I’m mostly upset because I had a prepaid dinner for CRT for my birthday, and They cancelled it but no refund. So I’m both out a dinner reservation and out money..
Charlyn, it is my understanding they should be refunding that as they’ve said they would. If you don’t see it anytime soon, definitely give them a call (or initiate a chat on DisneyWorld.com).
Thank you so much for the update, Arlene. I appreciate you taking the time.
Thank YOU Sarah and the DFB Team for helping us!
It makes this difficult and confusing time much easier knowing that DFB is there for us. All of the information that we receive here at DFB is invaluable and gives us hope that our vacations will work out. And we can all use a little hope right now.
We appreciate you and the DFB Team. THANK YOU!
: )
We have a resort package with park passes and quick service dining (not free). We only have $200 down because it is a package, so, now that the dining is coming off will it no longer be a package therefore needing more down by a certain date once they assign a new ressie number? Also, if we have tickets on our ressie but it’s not aid in full, where do we stand with the whole those with park tickets getting a park reservation before the general public?
Hello! I’m wondering if the 35% room discount is officially from Disney? My family has a trip in early September that was with the free Dinning plan. I first saw the canceled dinning plan and dinning reservations I already made but just yesterday our room discount came off and it was NOT 35%. Should I call Disney? My husband wants to know if that was from Disney’s statement or just rumors?
Yooperfan, I’m not sure what the official word will be for folks with packages/Resort reservations/tickets that are in the process of being paid. I believe that will be defined as a reservation, but I can’t say that for sure until we see this new reservation system in action. You’ll definitely want to talk to Disney about the payment possibly needing to be higher. I really can’t speculate on that. Good luck!
Hi Sarah,
How are you?
We have a reservation for September 2020 and we had free dining plan in our package. The parks will not be closed In September, however, we will no longer receive the dining plan as they canceled it. If I change the date to January 2021, do I also receive a 35% off room discount? My reservation was made through a travel agency outside the USA. Or only US residents are eligible?
Also, can I change hopper tickets to 1 park per day tickets, the number of days staying on Disney hotel, etc?
Thank you!
Stefany.
Danielle, we reported directly from information Disney provided in emails to their impacted guests. This discount, according to readers here on DFB, has been applied to more than just folks who rebooked, but it does seem to be taking some time (also reported by readers). I do think a call to Disney to discuss what you’re seeing on your account is a good idea. Good luck!
Stefany, unfortunately I don’t know the answer to whether you will get the room discount; if you were told you’d get it for your September trip, I would hope it would carry over to January, but I just don’t know. The international aspect is also one about which we don’t know much yet. I would expect you could change your tickets, but you’ll need to reach out when you can. (You might wait until we know the new system is up and running, as it sounds like folks aren’t able to get many clear answers right now.) Sorry I can’t help more. We will update when we learn more.
I had a dining reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table that has been cancelled. My question is when do I get my refund for that booking? I had to prepay for the reservation.
Thank you!
Thank you Disney for taking a 6,000 dollar trip and turning it to crap. As retired Military I am STUCK with non-refundable tickets and will be there in Sept for a not so magical experience. Having to make reservations to get into a park is ridicule and being a diabetic I had all my meals planned out which you have so callously canceled. No fast passes. So what are the magic bands (another expense) for ??? How about the Halloween party ? Are we going to be able to get tickets for that seeing you canceled everything else ? I am just so disappointed in Disney. I have been going numerous times a year for over 40 years but I believe I can spend my money elsewhere and get more bang for my bucks. Looks like this is a last trip.
Laurie, yes, you should get a full refund. I don’t know how long it’s taking, so you might give them a couple days and then call if you’re concerned it’s not in yet.
Hello
My trip is planned for early October. Is so sad to see day by day how your dining reservations are disappearing from my Disney experience. Now I put in doubt if it is worth to go or not.
They didn’r have the courtesy of sending a mail or simple notification. I called as well and cast members doesn’t know anything.
I’m so upset.
This for Evelyn with the military tickets! We had military tickets as well but we were able to get a full refund! Go back to where you got them, they are making exceptions because if all of this! You have to show your receipt and ID!
This unfortunately goes way past September 26th! All of my dining from October 19 – 24th has been canceled.
Tara, I believe the year attached the 9/26 date is 2021, but if yours goes beyond that, let me know!
We have reservations starting June 14th, and just got the email today about being able to modify. It was a split stay, one reservation at Coronado without the dining plan, one at Caribbean Beach with the dining plan. We were told we are unable to modify our resort with the dining plan, that the only option is to cancel. When we explained we were told our dining would come off and there was nothing more we needed to do (in an email from Disney) she replied “I don’t know who told you that information.” When we tried to modify the one reservation she said we could, there were zero discount offers available, according to our agent. She said everything is full price (we hold an existing reservation, are Florida residents, and pass holders and were told we would have to pay full price). The agent again said we could flat out cancel everything. We then explained we didn’t want to do that, in case keeping it would give us priority booking for modification, and she again said “I don’t know where you heard that”. So frustrating.
We had received dining plan after April trip had to be cancelled and made replacement trip for July 28-August4th with offered free dining. When I called Disney to discuss options after dining was cancelled, we were told they could make NO modifications to our trip – couldn’t change dates to get the 35% discount offered because of the dining plan cancellation for another time, couldn’t change resorts or add or take away tickets. The only option was to cancel or keep. She did say, after checking with manager multiple times, that the information they are getting is constantly changing to check back, but if we had any plans to possibly keep our reservation not to cancel because then we would be unable to rebook.
Are there any food purchases in the park?
Lynn, yes, we’re expecting Table Service (with Advance Dining Reservation only) and Quick Service restaurants/carts/stands/etc. Guests are being encouraged to use Mobile Order whenever possible for Quick Service.
Any news on the Food & Wine festival yet?
Jackie, no! You can imagine we’re also on pins and needles!
Why open the parks if people can not expect the same magical experience they paid for. It seems to me with all these new restrictions, the best thing to do would be to keep parks closed and reopen when they can allow people to return to the magic. Until then, refund everyone the entire cost of their tickets ect to keep people happy. How they handle this will make or break guest from being loyal guests.
We had to change our reservations to Feb. 2021 and was only able to book room reservations I’m hoping this mess will be somewhat better. I booked thru a Disney agent. Do you think the dining plans will be back by then?
Happy, you should be able to book new 2021 tickets starting today if you have a room-only reservation in your Disney account already. No word on a timeline for DDP’s return, but we will be reporting when there is!
We are planning a trip to Disney World in February of 2021. We took our oldest son on his 5th birthday, and we have promised the same for our youngest son. Will I be able to purchase a dining plan for my trip in the future?
Lacy, no word on when DDP will be reinstated, but Disney has said DDP’s suspension is temporary. (On a personal note, we made the same promise to our kids, so off to Disney we go in late-2021, hopefully!)
Hi! We have a trip booked in January 2021, any idea if we will be able to book dining reservations 180 days in advance for 2021 vacations?
Heather, Disney has said they’ll move to 60-day reservations, but they haven’t been released yet, and we don’t know how long that change will be implemented. (It could be forever, or it could be temporary.)
This is NOT the year to go to “Disney Parks ” . Disney is not sure what they are doing they should be able to give more information . Disney let’s get it going decide if do not open ! Vacationers are waiting for months ! They are probably waiting to see if more will open ,but this doesn’t help us !!!!😣
Why has the DDP been suspended as people who are going to the parks are still going to purchase meals? I feel like it is a way for Disney to make more money as it is much more expensive to go with a family and eat there without the DDP. This is wrong to do to loyal customers who are already having a less then typical visit. I’m very disappoint at this suspension in DDP and would like to know the reason? I understand why fast pass has been suspended but money is the only reason I can think of to cancel the DDP. It is upsetting that Disney would do this to loyal customers and I hope that I get a response giving a reason better then what I am assuming.
Jennifer, Disney said the suspension of DDP is due to decreased capacity in restaurants. Their exact language on May 28 was: “As a result of limited capacity, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages.”
i am holding my breath and hoping that the dinning plan will return soon fingers crossed we are booked for april 25th next year and i really hope that we can put our dinning plan back on to our booking x
I ‘am guessing that Disney World is waiting till their October anniversary to open dining plan and fast passes. I Am also sure they are going to stick it to their guests then. Also they probably charge for each fast pass you book. When there’s nothing else they can get money for they will charge for the air you breath there. Good job well done.