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Canceling an Orlando Trip Due To Weather

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Are you considering canceling an Orlando trip due to weather? If so, I have some advice for you.

Canceling an Orlando Trip due to weather

Canceling an Orlando Trip Due to Weather

As you may know, hurricane season runs from June 1st to November 30th. However, it typically peaks sometime from mid-August to mid-October (aka September). Now that it’s September, you may be considering canceling an Orlando trip due to weather (either to Walt Disney World or to Universal). Unfortunately, I have now had two planned fall trips impacted by hurricanes. During those experiences, I learned about the severe weather policies at each resort. So, I thought I would highlight those policies and share what my experience was like.

Canceling a Universal Orlando Trip

In general, Universal will you allow you to cancel a hotel room 5 days before your arrival for a refund of the deposit paid. However, tickets are not typically refundable, although you may be able to change their dates.

Anyone considering a trip to UO during hurricane season, show know about their severe weather policy and page. They typically update that page when a hurricane or tropical storm is predicted to impact the resort. While they make every effort to remain open, they do sometimes close the parks and cancel Halloween Horror Nights for hurricanes. UO will allow you to cancel the portion of your trip booked directly with them whenever a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued for Orlando OR your place of residence if it’s within 7 days of your arrival for a full refund.

I had a trip booked last October to experience HHN solo again. However, Hurricane Milton had other ideas. While I was at home, under a water boil notice thanks to Hurricane Helene the National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning for Orlando. I immediately called UO to cancel and was able to get a full refund for my hotel, park tickets, and HHN tickets. Universal did have a long wait to speak to someone. However, they were very nice and didn’t give me any grief for canceling.

Canceling Walt Disney World

Similar to Universal, you are able to cancel a Disney World trip 5 days out. They also have a hurricane policy about being able to cancel for a hurricane warning for Orlando or your place of residence within 7 days of arrival.

In September 2022, my mom and I visited Universal/SeaWorld Orlando for a few days. The plan was to spend a night at Walt Disney World for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ian interrupted that trip. We checked out of Aventura Hotel as planned, rented a car, and drove back up to Virginia. On the long car ride back, I called Disney to cancel that portion of the trip. After a long wait, I was able to get the hotel room refunded. The tickets for MNSSHP were turned into regular park tickets that we had a year to use. I was also able to cancel our dining reservations without penalty. The only annoyance is that we had to make a return trip within a year to use those tickets or lose the money.

Tips for Canceling for Weather

  • Wait for a warning to be issued – If you wait until a state of emergency or hurricane/tropical storm warning is issued for Orlando or your place of residence, it is policy for your hotel money to be refunded. It also makes it easier to get a refund or extension on your park tickets.
  • Be patient – You will probably have to wait a while to talk to someone to cancel your trip. Be patient and nice to the person on the other end of the phone. Also, know that it may take a few days to receive your refund.
  • Airlines may also issue a refund – Last year, American Airlines gave me a credit that I had 12 months to use when my trip to UO was cancelled. When my mom and I drove ourselves back early, we were able to get a refund for the return flight when it was canceled.
  • You will have to contact whichever company you used to book the trip – If you didn’t book your trip directly (or you used a travel agent or booked on a site offering a discount), you will have to contact those people instead and hope they have a good severe weather policy too.

Canceling an Orlando Trip Due to Weather

Traveling to the southern states during September and/or October can be fun. It can also be stressful with hurricanes impacting travel. Just be aware of the policies of the place you are visiting before it becomes important and you should be good. Also, keep an eye on the weather.

The Best Halloween Theme Park Events

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It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost time for Halloween theme park events to begin for the year! So, I thought I would do a little overview of some of the various options for people who are trying to decide which one(s) are right for them.

Halloween Theme Park Events

The Best Halloween Theme Park Events

I will start this post by saying that the best Halloween theme park event is highly subjective. Not every event is for everyone. Before purchasing tickets to visit any of these experiences, I recommend you consider:

  • Location – If you don’t have the means to fly across the country, then maybe choose a smaller event closer to home.
  • Budget – Some of these experiences are included with a regular theme park ticket, but most are not. Don’t go into debt just to see something spooky.
  • Comfort with spookiness – I know that lots of people love the horror events. However, not every person has the capacity to endure muchless enjoy these events. There are loads of people and it can be sensory overload. Know your boundaries. If you don’t like being scared, then don’t go to a scary nighttime event.
  • Know your objectives – Do you want to be scared? Do you want some holiday decor and treats with some characters? Those are totally different events. Know what you desire from an event before buying a ticket.

Now, on to the actual events themselves.

Daytime Halloween Events on a Budget

If you have children, don’t want to be scared, and are on a tight budget, then I recommend visiting a SeaWorld or Busch Gardens for Halloween Spooktacular. I wrote a SeaWorld Orlando Spooktacular Halloween post a couple of years ago going over what you can expect at that event. Think fun sea themed characters and trick-or-treating. Plus, it’s all included with your daytime ticket! So, it’s easy on the purse. However, you will have to purchase a bag to trick-or-treat with.

Nighttime Scary Events on a Budget

If you are on a tight budget, I will once again recommend SeaWorld and/or Busch Gardens. In fact, you can enjoy Busch Gardens Williamsburg’s Howl-O-Scream with a daytime ticket! The other two locations require the purchase of a separate ($40-$50) event ticket. Another event that I haven’t attended but have heard pretty good things about is Knott’s Scary Farm. It seems like a good time on a ~$50 budget. Full disclosure: I’ve never attended any of these events and can’t vouch for the quality of them.

Nighttime Scary Events With a Higher Budget

These next ones are a little more expensive for a general ticket. However, it can get really expensive for skip the line privileges and private tours. I’m talking about Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Parks. Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood both have HHN, but there are some differences. Hollywood’s tends to be smaller with fewer houses. However, it still has the same attention to detail as Orlando. They tend to share at least a few IP houses each year, however they each also have unique houses. I’ve never attended the one in Hollywood. However, I wrote a Halloween Horror Nights Solo Tips post as well as Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando: Tips for Anxious Folks. I’ve even done a 2023 HHN Daytime Houses Tour Review. Personally, I attend HHN for the food and vibes. As such, I will probably only attend if there’s an IP that speaks to me.

Nighttime Halloween Parties

Finally, we come to the most expensive event tickets: Disney. There’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney’s California Adventure at Disneyland. I’ve already compared the two parties in a separate post: Disney Parks Halloween Parties Compared. However, suffice it to say these are nighttime events that aren’t scary. They are more about the characters, parades, and candy! At these pricey events, everyone (yes, even adults) can trick-or-treat around the park! I’ve attended both parties multiple times now and have enjoyed it each time! The worst things about these events are the crowds and prices.

The Best Halloween Theme Park Events

While I think Disney and Universal dominate the discussion on Halloween theme park events, they aren’t your only options. SeaWorld/Busch Gardens or even Cedar Fair parks can provide a more affordable alternative for the season. However, you can’t go wrong with Universal or Disney either. It really comes down to your individual preferences and situation.

So, what is your favorite Halloween theme park event?

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

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It’s finally time for the last of my best of series at Walt Disney World – The Best Things in Hollywood Studios!

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

The Best Things in Hollywood Studios

I previously covered my favorite things in Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. Today, I’m discussing the last remaining theme park at Walt Disney World – Hollywood Studios! Hollywood Studios is supposed to be Disney’s attempt to take you into the movies. However, one could argue it’s kind of drifted away from the concept in recent years. Nonetheless, it’s become the go-to park for your Toy Story or Star Wars fix (among other things). It’s also a good theme park to grab some basic comfort food. So, here’s what I consider the best things in this park.

The Best Ride

I think the best ride here has to be Rise of the Resistance. It’s so immersive and technologically advanced that it’s hard not to be impressed. My mom is not a Star Wars fan. Yet, she really enjoyed this ride at Jollywood Nights in 2023. We also enjoy Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway here. I also like Slinkydog Dash here. So, I think there’s a ride that suits everyone in this park.

Best Table Service Restaurant

I have to admit, I’m a little lacking in restaurant experience in this park. Prior to Covid, I enjoyed Minnie’s Seasonal Dining at Hollywood & Vine several times. I love that the theme and character outfits change out seasonally. It’s a great way to celebrate the various seasons in this park that doesn’t decorate for anything besides Christmas. However, it’s a buffet and can be pretty pricey. On a future trip I want to try Roundup Rodeo BBQ or 50’s Prime Time Cafe.

I also enjoyed the Fantasmic Dining Package at Sci-Fi Dine-In. Sidenote: I highly recommend you make time in your schedule to see Fantasmic! It’s a great nighttime show!

Best Quick Service Restaurant

I think there’s a couple of good quick service restaurants in this park. My favorite is probably Woody’s Lunchbox or Ronto Roasters. I enjoy getting a kids meal at Woody’s since it’s a smaller portion size and comes with fruit. Ronto Roasters is good for breakfast or lunch with its unique offerings.

The Best Snack

This park has a couple of good snack options as well. Nothing groundbreaking, but pretty good. For instance, there’s the Num Num Cookie. It’s essentially a huge chocolate chunk cookie/bar. I haven’t had one in years, but it was good when I had it way back in 2020. You can currently find it at Neighborhood Bakery or Market in Pixar Plaza. I also enjoy trying the seasonal lunchbox treats at Woody’s Lunch Box. Some are better than others, but they are still fun to try.

What are the best things in Hollywood Studios?

These are some of my favorite things in Hollywood Studios. What are some of yours?

The Best Things in Epcot at Walt Disney World

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Continuing with my series on “the best of…”, I thought I would cover the best things in Epcot!

The best things in Epcot

The Best Things in Epcot

Having already covered the best of two other Walt Disney World parks: Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom, I thought it was time to do another. Epcot is best known for its World Showcase, which highlights a variety of different countries. There’s themed buildings/facades as well as lots of food here. There’s also some cool shows and rides to experience. It’s easy to spend a whole day here.

The Best Ride

While people typically think of the food in this park, there’s also some great rides here. My family really likes Soarin’ and Test Track. Soarin’ is great for people who get motion sick easily as it’s a less challenging ride. Plus, it’s fun to fly over different locations. Test Track is currently being refurbished. However, we’ve enjoyed going fast in the car. We also liked Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure with its cute theme and trackless ride. I know the Frozen ride and Guardians of the Galaxy ride are also popular rides here.

Best Table Service Restaurant

Unlike some other parks, Epcot has a plethora of good food options. If you want a good basic sit down meal with characters, Garden Grill is great. It’s always a crowd pleaser. Adults who like to drink and/or dance, might enjoy Biergarten. If you like pizza, then Via Napoli is pretty good. I’m hoping to try the table service Japanese restaurant Teppan Edo the next time I go.

Best Quick Service Restaurant

Once again, Epcot has lots of options in this category. However, my personal favorite is Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie. It’s a bakery found in the back of the France pavilion. I love having a sandwich from here for breakfast. Although, I also enjoyed some crepes from the Crepes a Emporter stand for some quick service crepe meals. Basically, I really enjoy the food in France.

The Best Snack

Once again, there are so many food options in this park! If there’s a festival going on, it makes picking one snack even harder. However, my mom and I really enjoy picking up a bag of freshly made caramel popcorn from Karamell-Kuche in Germany. I’ve been known to travel with a large ziptop bag just to carry my popcorn back home. Another favorite in this category is the patisserie I mentioned above in France. I’ve enjoyed every single pastry we’ve gotten there.

What are the best things in Epcot?

These are my favorite things in Epcot. What are some of yours?

Disney World Quick Service Breakfast

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When visiting a theme park, most people prefer to have a small and quick bite to eat in the morning. So, I thought I would highlight the best Disney World quick service breakfast options to help people make the most of their time and money!

Disney World Quick Service Breakfast

Disney World Quick Service Breakfast

While some folks may look forward to a leisurely start to their vacation days, lots of folks prefer to grab something quick while visiting theme parks. So, I thought I would highlight my favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat in the morning when visiting Walt Disney World from the parks to the resorts!

Resorts

For the most part, the quick service breakfast options at the resorts are the same. However, to me, it’s not a Disney trip without some Mickey waffles! So, I like to grab a Waffle Bounty Platter to get a waffle along with some protein (usually eggs and meat). The post image above is actually my breakfast at Disney’s All Star Sports from December 2024. It even came with some tots! It was very filling and tasted fresh. It didn’t contain any new flavor combinations, but that’s not what these breakfast options are all about anyways. They are perfect for getting to the parks quickly or getting to the airport in a timely fashion!

Magic Kingdom

Typically, on a park day, I will eat a little something in the room while I’m getting ready (such as a granola bar). Then, I will eat a bigger late breakfast or early lunch in the parks. Unfortunately, Magic Kingdom is not known for a plethora of food options. In the before times, I loved to eat breakfast at Be Our Guest. However, that’s no longer an option. RIP quick service Be Our Guest.

Nowadays, lots of folks like to grab a warm cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern, a big Mickey waffle with various toppings at Sleepy Hollow, or a breakfast sandwich at Main Street Bakery. I think you should go with whatever suits your fancy.

Epcot Quick Service Breakfast

It used to be much harder to find breakfast in this park since World Showcase didn’t used to open prior to 11 AM. However, now I pretty much always get breakfast in France! If you are looking for a good use of a quick service dining credit on the dining plan, I would suggest getting a crepe and adult beverage from the crepe stand. Otherwise, I love to head to Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie for a breakfast sandwich croissant that’s tasty and relatively cheap by Disney standards.

Hollywood Studios

I think there are two great options for a quick breakfast at Hollywood Studios. Depending on who I’m with and my mood dictates which one I’ll choose. My husband and I enjoy Ronto Roasters in Galaxy’s Edge for a Ronto Wrap. I’ve also been known to grab a kids meal at Woody’s Lunch Box for breakfast or lunch. I also like picking up the seasonal lunch box tarts here.

Animal Kingdom

Usually, at Animal Kingdom I will grab a breakfast sandwich at Creature Comforts (the park’s Starbucks) as I walk in. However, I’ve also eaten a Pongu Lumpia (the first slide in my old Instagram post seen below) from Pongu Pongu in Pandora for breakfast. Sometime, I want to try Satu’li Canteen for breakfast though. I’ve had lunch there a few times and really enjoyed it. So, I’m sure the breakfast is good too.

Disney Springs

Disney Springs tends to be more of a place for lunch or dinner. However, you can find breakfast here too. I’ve had Earl of Sandwich several times at Disney World and Disneyland. It never disappoints. I haven’t tried it yet, but I bet Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew would be a great option for breakfast here too.

Best Disney World Quick Service Breakfast Options

So, there you have my go-to Disney World quick service breakfast picks! What are your favorites?