A crazy Question

[alisonbestford]

I'll try and phrase this question without it sounding as crazy to you as it does to me so, here goes......

I would love for us all to go to WDW next August (well, preferably not Aug but school hols and all that.... ) and take advantage of the free dining plan at POP for 5 nights.

I'd probably book fly drives and we'd spend the other nights in a time share exchange

Now the flydrive and timeshare can be arranged much nearer the date but the DDP needs booking before the end of Nov

Problem is that DH's MRI and CT scans aren't until the beginning of Dec so we won't know whether he needs more surgery until Jan time
Obviously, along with this issue is getting insurance etc.

If I'm honest I doubt that we'll be able to go but it would be wonderful to have it all to look forward to
Is there anywhere that I can book the accommodation/dining component without losing money should we need to cancel in Feb?
Obviously insurance wouldn't cover any cancellation as it would be a result of a pre-existing condition

I know some of you have arranged accommodation before and then had a change of plan so, any suggestions please?
The WDW site requires a £50/per person deposit which I presume we'd lose?

I was all set to book a caravan in Cornwall until I priced it up at well over £1000....

 

[Spook]

Alison I do feel for you. It would be wonderful to have something to look ahead to. I am sure someone will be able to give you some good advice

Jan

 

[Merylj]

No advice but I hope it all works out well for you

 

[Claire L]

I have a feeling if you book through the US Disney site as long as cancellation is at least 45 day prior to the visit then you lose nothing hope that is the same for the UK site!!

Claire

 

[alisonbestford]

Thank you to everyone who has replied to date

I don't expect miracles (unforunately ) but any suggestions are much appreciated

If nothing else it's been therapeutic to post my frustratations to all my, likeminded, DISfriends

 

[T16GEM]

Alison,

I know what you mean about something to look forward to. I am reluctant to book our Nov 07 trip until I know how the kids will be with travelling etc but I am really in need of just having a countdown on my signature!!

I hope you can find a way around the deposit thing and book your trip.

gems

 

[Madjock]

Alison, I'm pretty sure you get a full refund if you book direct with Disney but I know that if you book your disney accommodation via Dreams Unlimited and you then have to cancel you will get a full refund. The only out of pocket you may incur will be due to exchange rate but when I did this it wasn't much.

 

[DebIreland]

You can definitely get a full refund from Disney U.S. up to 45 days before your trip if you book directly with them. Also as Madjock suggested, Dreams Unlimited will do the same. Also you get check out Small World Vacations - again deposit is returned if you cancel up to 45 days before.

However, if you want the free dining you'd need to book through the UK Disney site and it seems, their terms are very different. I had a brief look there and this is what it says:
>>>9. If you cancel your Booking
If you wish to cancel your Booking, this must be done by the Lead Guest in writing to the registered office address or by email to wdtc-uk@disney.com. In the event of cancellations the following charges become payable (as a % of total Booking price):

-Period before departure date that letter is received-Cancellation Charges as a % of total Booking price
More than 56 days Deposit only
56-29 days 30%
28-15 days 40%
14-1 days 50%
day of departure or later 100%<<<

So it seems you do lose your deposit if you cancel at any time.

Check out this link for terms & conditions:
http://wdtc.disneyinternational.com/tandc.asp
(See number 9)

Good luck! I hope you're able to book something.

 

[Merylj]

Alison - could you book the free dining, room and all, for just one of you - then add another two nearer the time? I`m fairly certain people were allowed to do this after the free dining offer expired from WDW this year. There were threads about this on the resort board this summer - maybe worth a search. Just a thought!

 

[alisonbestford]

Thanks for all your replies

I think that, realistically, I need to wait until nearer the time to make any plans re Florida
I normally stick to a 3 month time frame when planning anything but was being driven crazy by the lure of WDW and free dining

I considered just booking for DD and myself, adding DH nearer the time if he could travel, but we wouldn't want to go without him so that idea falls flat

Merylj are you thinking about me just booking for one and, consequently just losing one deposit?
Hmmmm, now there's a thought.......

 

[kkymmy]

now THAT's clever!

 

[Merylj]

Merylj are you thinking about me just booking for one and, consequently just losing one deposit?
Hmmmm, now there's a thought.......

Yes! Would look into though