Do I Need Travel Insurance For My Disney Trip?

It is generally recommended to purchase travel insurance when planning a Disney theme park vacation or a Disney cruise. However, your decision on whether or not to purchase travel insurance for a Disney resort park vacation or a Disney cruise really depends on your personal circumstances and risk tolerance.

Benefits of Travel Insurance

The main reasons for buying travel insurance include:

Trip cancellation: If something unexpected happens before your trip and you cannot go due to unforeseen circumstances such as illness, injury, or a natural disaster, travel insurance can cover the non-refundable costs associated with your trip, such as airfare, hotel reservations, and park or cruise tickets.
Trip Interruption: If your trip has to be cut short due to an unforeseen event, such as an illness or a family emergency, travel insurance can cover the costs of returning home early and may also reimburse you for the unused portion of your trip.
Medical emergencies: If you or a family member become ill or injured during your trip, travel insurance can help cover the costs of medical treatment, hospitalization, and emergency medical evacuation. If you are taking a Disney Cruise, keep in mind that, while many people have medical insurance that covers them in their home country, not all health insurance plans cover medical expenses abroad or at sea. Travel insurance can fill that gap in coverage by providing for the cost of medical treatment and, if necessary, medical evacuation.
Lost or delayed baggage: If your luggage is lost, stolen, or delayed, travel insurance can help cover the costs of replacing your belongings or purchasing essential items until your baggage arrives.
Flight delays or cancellations: If your flight is delayed or cancelled, travel insurance can cover the costs of additional expenses, such as meals and accommodations.
Peace of Mind: If you’re someone who values the peace of mind of knowing that potential costs will be covered in case of unexpected events, travel insurance can be worth it.

Overall, travel insurance can provide peace of mind and protect you financially in case of unexpected events during your Disney vacation or cruise.

Potential Downsides To Travel insurance

However, there are some downsides to consider:

Cost: Travel insurance can be expensive. Depending on the plan and provider, premiums can range from 4% to 10% or more of the total trip cost.
Exclusions: Not every situation is covered by travel insurance. For example, most policies won’t cover you if you cancel your trip due to fear of traveling during a pandemic or because of a pre-existing medical condition (unless you pay extra for a waiver).
Paperwork: Filing a claim with a travel insurance company can require substantial documentation and take time.

While travel insurance isn’t always necessary, it can provide valuable protection against unforeseen events. When deciding whether to buy travel insurance, consider the potential costs of your trip, your personal risk tolerance, and your existing insurance coverage. Be sure to read any policy carefully to understand what is and isn’t covered.