While Walt Disney World may be one of the most fun travel destinations on earth, there are still some rules that need to be followed when visiting the “Most Magical Place on Earth!”
Walt Disney World
Since Disney has a large variety of different experiences, that means there are more rules to follow regarding theme parks, water parks, hotels, and transportation. I’ve been covering Disney’s theme parks for over six years, and even I forget these rules sometimes, so if you’re heading to Disney World for the first time or you haven’t been in a while, you need to be aware of the rules the resort is enforcing right now.
Hotel Cancelation Policy
In early 2025, Disney changed their longtime cancellation policy. Now, if you cancel your hotel stay up to 8 days (or more) in advance of your stay, you won’t be penalized in any way. However, if you cancel 0-7 days before your trip, you’ll be charged your deposit (which is the cost of a one-night stay at the hotel) and have no way to get it back.
The Contemporary
For some hotels, that’s around $150-$200, but for some others, it can be as high as $600-$700 depending on where you’re staying! Prior to this change, hotel stays could be canceled 5 days in advance with no penalty. Things have changed further if you’ve booked a Disney World package, meaning your tickets and hotel reservation are packaged together, you can cancel 30 days in advance with no penalty, but canceling 2-29 days ahead of time, you’ll be charged $200. If you cancel 48 hours or less before your trip, you won’t get a refund on ANYTHING and will be charged your full package price.
Pop Century
If you’re concerned that something might happen to your trip close to your arrival date, we do recommend getting travel insurance to help protect you from these unfortunate situations happening.
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Dining Reservation Cancelations
Disney has changed their table service dining cancellation policy multiple times over the past few years, so if you haven’t ever been, or haven’t been in a while, things have likely changed. The rule of thumb for most table service restaurants is that your dining reservation can be canceled up to 2 hours in advance with no charge or penalty. If it’s sooner than 2 hours, you’ll be charged $10 per person; the same charge applies if you don’t show up to your reservation.
Le Cellier
However, for the following restaurants, modifications to your dining time are not allowed once booked, and there’s a different penalty if you’re looking to cancel.
- Cinderella’s Royal Table: Cancel at least two hours in advance to avoid being charged the full cost of the experience per person
- Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue: Cancel at least one day in advance to avoid being charged the full cost of the experience per person
- Sangria University: Cancel at least one day in advance to avoid being charged the full cost of the experience per person
- La Cava Experience: Cancel at least one day in advance to avoid being charged $50 per person
- Monsieur Paul: Cancel at least three days in advance to avoid being charged $100 per person
- Victoria & Albert’s: Cancel at least five days in advance to avoid being charged $100 per person
- Takumi-Tei: Cancel at least two days in advance to avoid being charged $100 per person
- Magic Kingdom Dessert Parties: Cancel at least one day in advance to avoid being charged the full cost of the experience per person
- Rose & Crown Fireworks Dining Package: Cancel at least one day in advance to avoid being charged the full cost of the experience per person
- Spice Road Table Fireworks Dining Package: Cancel at least one day in advance to avoid being charged the full cost of the experience per person
Victoria & Albert’s
If you’re on your way to the restaurant but are running behind, we recommend calling the restaurant as soon as possible to let them know you’re on your way!
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Luggage Isn’t Allowed on Disney Buses
We desperately miss Disney’s Magical Express service, which would take you from the Orlando International Airport to your Disney World hotel for free, but now we have Mears Connect, which is a similar service, but isn’t free anymore. However, there is also a $2 bus option via the Lynx 311 route that will take you from MCO to Disney Springs and vice versa.
Lynx 311 Airport pick-up/drop-off point
While you can take buses from Disney Springs to your Disney hotel, you technically aren’t allowed to bring your luggage onto the Disney buses. So that means instead of being able to take free Disney World transportation, you may have to take an Uber or Lyft (or Minnie Van) to get to your hotel, which might end up costing you more than Mears Connect would have, BUT it will be cheaper than taking a rideshare to your Disney hotel from the airport!
Minnie Van
Don’t want to go through all of the stress of booking your Disney World trip alone? Reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations! Their experienced agents monitor your reservation for possible future savings, compare discounts, and figure out which one works best for your travel party, dates, resort, and touring plans. And, they share expert tips and first-hand advice with you about your magical vacation.
Small World Vacations
We’re always here to bring you the latest Disney World news to help you plan your vacation, so stay tuned to DFB!
3 Things I Wish I Knew Before Paying $63 for Disney World Airport Transportation
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I see the app and website both have park hopper hours. I do not remember this being enforced since Covid.
They are getting alittle chincy. Bring back Disneys Magical Express and these problems for guests go away.
There is a way to skip the 8 day rule and not lose your Hotel deposit. I have never lost my deposit and I have even cancelled on the day I was to arrive because it was going to rain all day. I have been going to Disney World since it opened. Now, since I have lived close by for the last 30 years and go all the time, I stay at resorts when I go. Things come up all the time that I have to cancel one of my stays. Instead of cancelling, I either call in or I use the web page to change my stay to a new date, They will transfer my deposit from that cancelled/changed date and apply it to the new date. I’ve even had an occasion where I had to cancel a changed date and moved it again to a new date. As long as you keep the money in a Hotel date you won’t lose it if you cancel in the 8 day period.
Debbie, this is very useful information. Thanks