Heads up, globetrotting Disney fans: the U.S. State Department has recently added or updated travel advisories for several countries, according to a recent report. A few of them overlap with where Disney parks are, so it’s worth a quick look before you fly.
A fair warning on our end. We can’t verify the advisories ourselves, so everything here is attributed to the report, and we’ll flag every spot where it doesn’t give details. Consider this your cheat sheet. Advisory levels are short labels attached to longer explanations, and those explanations are where the real detail lives, so we’ll point you to the official page whenever the report runs out of specifics.
The Basics
Travel advisories come from the U.S. Department of State. According to the report, they typically warn about areas that could be unsafe for Americans to visit, and they include precautions for traveling out of the country.
The list and map are in the Travel Advisories section of the State Department’s website. The report says you can sort by name, by location, or by level.
The Four Levels
| Level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Exercise normal precautions |
| 2 | Exercise increased caution |
| 3 | Reconsider travel |
| 4 | Do not travel |
The report adds that Level 1 and 2 designations are reviewed every 12 months, while Level 3 and 4 designations are reviewed every six months.
What’s New
| Country | Level | Date | Notes from the report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | 3 | October 12 | Upgraded |
| China | 2 | October 19 | “Wrongful detention” as a risk indicator for Americans |
| Kenya | 3 | October 19 | Crime, unrest, health-related issues, kidnappings, and terrorism listed among risk factors |
| France | 2 | October 21 | Added to the list, due to unrest and terrorism |
| Tanzania | 2 | Not given | Some of the same risk factors as Kenya |
How to Read the Table
A couple of notes on the table above. The dates are the ones the report gives, and Tanzania has none. The “Notes” column repeats the report’s wording, and it isn’t a full list of everything the State Department says about each country.
For two of these countries, France and China, the designation is Level 2, the second of four levels. For Kenya and Saudi Arabia, it’s Level 3, which the report describes as a recommendation to reconsider travel. Those are different levels with different wording, and it’s worth reading each advisory on its own.
France: What We Can Say
France was added to the list on October 21 at Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” because of unrest and terrorism, according to the report. That’s the second of four levels.
What we can’t say: the report doesn’t tie the designation to any park, city, or region. So we’re not saying how it applies to a specific destination.
China: What We Can Say
China was given a Level 2 designation on October 19, with “wrongful detention” as a risk indicator for Americans, according to the report.
What we can’t say: the report doesn’t explain how the designation applies to Hong Kong or Shanghai. We won’t guess. The State Department’s page has the details for your destination.
Kenya and Tanzania
Kenya was designated Level 3 as of October 19, which recommends reconsidering travel. The report lists crime, unrest, health-related issues, kidnappings, and terrorism among the risk factors. Its next-door neighbor, Tanzania, was given a Level 2 for some of the same risk factors, though the report doesn’t say which ones.
Saudi Arabia, in the Government’s Words
Saudi Arabia moved to Level 3 on October 12. The report quotes the government website: “Reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia due to risk of drone and missile targeting of American interests by Iran and the Iranian-supported Houthis, armed conflict, terrorism, exit bans, and local laws regarding social media activity. Some areas have increased risk.”
Why Timing Matters
The changes run from October 12 through October 21, so a trip you booked earlier may predate them. And because the list is reviewed on a schedule, what you read today could look different later.
That’s why we’d check the official page close to departure, not only at booking. We’re not predicting any changes, just noting that the page can update.
Labels Aren’t the Whole Story
A level is a short label on a longer explanation. The report summarizes both, and the official wording on the State Department’s site is the final word.
Also worth remembering: a Level 2 isn’t a Level 4, and the report doesn’t tell us how each advisory applies to specific cities or attractions. We’re not filling in those gaps.
Disney Fans, This Part’s for You
The report says the advisories are especially relevant to Disney fans traveling to Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland. If you’re headed to one, review the State Department’s page for the country you’ll be in.
The report points to the website for more on safety precautions, how to avoid scams, and news about high-risk areas.
Quick Prep Tips
Read the full advisory for your destination, not just its level. Note the specific risks listed, and think about what they mean for your plans. Check the terms of anything you’ve booked, and keep your itinerary flexible. Jot down the date you checked, so you’ll know what’s changed if you look again.
These are general ideas, not statements about any park’s policies, which we don’t have information about.
Your Turn
Are you planning a Disney trip abroad? Tell us in the comments which park, and how you check on travel safety before you go. We’ll keep an eye on new advisories and share what we find.
