Incentives for storm season

SEEKING to ease travelers’ worries about the current hurricane season, Florida theme parks are offering “money-back” guarantees -- with various exceptions -- to vacationers who cancel because of storms.

At Walt Disney World at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., guests can get some of their money back when they reschedule or cancel trips because the National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane warning for the Orlando area within seven days of their scheduled arrival. But on its website, Disney says the offer doesn’t cover airline change fees.

Universal Orlando offers a “No Questions Asked” policy that lets guests reschedule trips without penalty or get refunds “in the event that any active named storm may affect their travel,” according to a press release. Airfare is not covered, said spokesman Tom Schroder.

Separately, Walt Disney World raised one-day admission prices by $6 on Aug. 6, to $71.36 for ages 10 and older, including taxes, and $59.64 for ages 3 to 9. It was the second hike this year; discounts are offered for multiple-day stays.

Universal Orlando said it would also raise prices for its one-day, one-park adult admission ticket.

Jane Engle

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Vegas at the last minute

IF you’re doing Vegas on the fly, a new concierge desk at Burbank airport may be able to help.

The service, the first by Vegas.com at an airport (others are expected later), was to have launched late last week. Its goal: to help perpetual procrastinators or spontaneous souls find a hotel room, get a restaurant reservation or show tickets, line up a round of golf and more before boarding their flight.

The booth at Gate 4 in Terminal A at Bob Hope Airport will be staffed 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The services are free, although you will pay the usual fees associated with booking some products (such as show tickets, which often carry a service charge).

Catharine Hamm

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New Orleans show recalls Katrina

VISITORS to the French Quarter in New Orleans can view the storm’s devastation in a new exhibit there.

More than 50 photos taken for National Geographic magazine by photojournalist David Burnett and high school students in New Orleans are on display through the end of the year at the Louisiana State Museum’s Arsenal gallery at the Cabildo on Jackson Square, 701 Chartres St. Also on display: a piano from the flooded home of Fats Domino. Adult admission $6. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to Sundays. Info: lsm.crt.state.la.us.