Why we don’t usually recommend Disney travel insurance

Just like with most any important purchase, a little research can go a long way. And that includes taking a little bit of time to learn about the different choices you’ll find when it comes to travel insurance.

Guests traveling to Disney World that are interested in travel insurance will have 2 main options:

• Purchasing a travel plan through Disney
• Purchasing insurance through an independent provider

There are some definite pros and cons to both, so we’re going to try to break it down for you so that you can get an idea of what to expect.

Disney’s Travel Protection Plan vs Insure My Trip

We’ve talked before about some of the things you should consider before purchasing travel insurance.

And, our first suggestion is always to ask yourself: “What is my reason for buying insurance?”

Are you worried about your trip being interrupted?

Are you concerned about hurricanes or having your bags lost or maybe you want to be prepared with emergency medical protection?

Figure out what your main concerns are, and then you’ll want to zero in on a policy that covers your main worries for a price that fits your budget.

Insurance doesn’t cover fears

Unfortunately, insurance polices don’t cover the cancellation of a trip over fear – even when the fear is totally justified.

That is why before you select any insurance you need to understand exactly what your coverage will and will not cover.

Pore over the specific requirements for pre-existing conditions.

Understand what “Cancel for Any Reason” and “Trip Interruption” really means for your policy.

Never, ever, EVER assume that all components (flights, resort room, park tickets, party tickets, etc.) of your vacation are covered. 

Insurance can be a great way to protect your travel investment, but it isn’t helpful to assume that things will be covered when they really aren’t.

There are a tons of different insurance companies out there and it is impossible for us to speak to each one individually.

But, while we can’t go policy-by-policy on exactly what you get, we can give our first-hand experiences with 2 that we have used extensively: Disney’s Travel Protection Plan and Insure My Trip.

Here’s some things to know about each.

Disney’s Travel Protection Plan

Disney’s Travel Protection Plan is the insurance policy that Disney offers to guests purchasing Walt Disney World vacation packages. 

Pros

• Convenience. Buying insurance directly from Disney when booking a trip is straightforward and can easily be added to your current booking.
• Specific Coverage. Policies may offer specific benefits that are tailored to the experiences and potential issues associated with Disney vacations, such as park ticket reimbursements, which are often not covered by third-party insurance companies.
• Direct Claims Processing. Handling claims may be more streamlined as it involves direct communication with Disney.
• Better prices for ages 70+. Much like auto and life insurance, one of the factors that goes into the pricing of insurance is age. And, for people ages 70 and over, they’ll often find that Disney’s Travel Protection Plan will give them the best value.
• Flat rate pricing. Since the price of Disney’s travel insurance is a flat rate vs. a % of your overall total, it can often be less expensive for pricey trips.

Cons

• Cost. Disney’s travel insurance might be more expensive compared to more flexible options like InsureMyTrip.
• Doesn’t cover non-Disney elements. Most of us have elements of our Disney trips that aren’t Disney such as flights or non-Disney hotels. These aren’t covered if you get Disney’s insurance.
• Coverage Limits. There are limits and exclusions which could be a disadvantage depending on your specific needs.

Insure My Trip – our preferred method

Insure My Trip (affiliate link) is what we use. Here’s some pros and cons to consider.

Pros

• Lots of options. InsureMyTrip shows you offers from multiple insurance providers, giving you a wide range of policies to choose from.
• Customizable. Travelers can compare different plans and select add-ons to tailor coverage to their specific needs.
• Competitive pricing. With a variety of options to choose from, it’s easier to find competitive pricing that fits a range of budgets.

Cons

• Choices can be confusing. The number of options available can be overwhelming for some travelers who may find it difficult to determine which plan is best for their needs.
• Multiple providers. Dealing with a third-party aggregator means that in the event of a claim, you might have to work through InsureMyTrip to communicate with the actual insurance provider, which can complicate the process.
• Variability in quality. Since coverage is sourced from various providers, the quality and reliability of service can vary, which could affect customer satisfaction during claims.

Final thoughts on travel insurance

In light of events over the last few years, it is important to understand just exactly why you need insurance as it is to understand what that insurance will cover.

We 100% understand how for some people, the ease to purchase Disney’s insurance outweighs the time and energy you might have to put into researching an alternative.

But, if your goal is to get the most bang for your buck we definitely encourage you to do some research on your own.

Hopefully you’ll never need to use travel insurance, but if you do, we think it is important that you get the best policy possible at the best price you can.