When you visit one of Florida's theme parks you do so at your own risk. Once you enter any of the state's many theme parks, you have used your ticket and there are no refunds.
You might be visiting Comcast's (CMCSA) -) Universal Studios specifically because you want to ride "Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure," the newest roller coaster in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Adventure in Orlando. If that specific ride happens to break down, as has been known to happen, then you are out of luck.
DON'T MISS: Disney World brings back a major customer convenience
The same logic applies to Walt Disney's (DIS) -) theme parks. Maybe your visit was planned because you want to ride "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance" at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Hollywood Studios. You might not be able to get a spot in the virtual queue for that ride and, on some days, there is no standby line.
Rides break all the time, and while a single ride being down is probably not a good reason for Universal or Disney to offer a refund, neither company gives you your money back even in more extreme situations.
You might head to a Disney or Universal waterpark only to have thunderstorms roll in. Or you might enter one of either company's theme parks on a day when extreme heat triggers a National Weather Service warning not to go outside.
The no-refund policy may seem harsh, but weather, rides being out of service, and any other problems do not trigger refunds or replacement tickets at Disney or Universal's parks.
SeaWorld (SEAS) -), a rival to both companies that operates theme parks in Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, has a better offer for its customers.
Image source: SeaWorld
SeaWorld has a new weather plan
While SeaWorld is known for its sea life and shows featuring a variety of water-based animals, its theme parks have largely pivoted to a thrill-ride model. Most of the rides at its theme parks are exposed to the elements.
Unlike Disney and Universal's parks, which have a lot of rides and shows that are in enclosed, air-conditioned buildings, most of SeaWorld's major attractions are outside. That makes the company's visitors especially vulnerable to bad weather. And that's become a growing concern as Orlando had its first-ever extreme heat warning where the NWS literally told people not to go outside.
To combat extreme weather and to simply give customers peace of mind, SeaWorld has decided to offer a new "Weather-or-Not” Assurance program, a kind of insurance policy covering a wider range of weather conditions.
"The Weather-or-Not Assurance program solidifies and guarantees the value of guests’ SeaWorld experience. This applies year-round, covering weather events for every season such as rain, lightning, extreme heat, wind, snow, hail, and more," the company said in a news release.
And while snow and hail seem unlikely given where the company's theme parks are located, the protections provided by the new program are broad.
"The Weather-or-Not Assurance program applies when rides are closed for 60 minutes or more due to weather. Additionally, if inclement weather causes early closure or negatively impacts the park’s operating hours, guests are eligible for a return visit at no additional cost," the company said.
In addition, the new policy covers extreme heat. If park temperatures reach a heat index of 110 degrees or above, visitors will be eligible for a return visit. The new policy also applies at Busch Gardens and any other brands under the SeaWorld umbrella
To be eligible for a return visit at no charge, a SeaWorld visitor must be present in the park on the day of their ticket or fill out an online form with their original order number. Return-visit tickets must be used within 12 months of the issuance of the originally planned ticketa.
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