A Just Back report with a twist!

[kaybird]

So, trip all planned, Magic bands decorated, Jingle cruise shirts made for MVMCP, ADRs made. Took the 3 hour drive to KC, and Sunday morning all dressed and ready to go. Frontier cancelled the flight and had nothing available til Tuesday, and since we were heading home Thursday, that was not an option. Jingle Bam...

Disney could not have been nicer, cancelled prepaid rooms, ADRs, and even refunded my MVMCP tickets which I did not expect. So very disappointed, was looking forward to all of the holiday fun.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm so sorry! I can't even imagine how much fun that drive was, only to be foiled at the airport. There was just enough ice to cause all sorts of problems.

 

[peteykirch]

Hence why I would never fly with one of those true budget airlines that might only have 1-2 flights to a location a week.

 

[KristinU]

Oh bummer!!! I'm glad to hear that Disney was helpful in your refunds. What a disappointment, though.

 

[kaybird]

The guests services people were great! I really just called so that maybe others could use our slots. Really didn't expect party ticket refund. I'm drinking hot chocolate now, trying to pretend.

 

[hiroMYhero]

@kaybird ~ I'm very sorry to hear this! I had enjoyed reading all your posts as you planned your trip. You have always been so positive and especially so regarding these thwarted plans. I'm glad Disney handled all of your cancellations.

 

[lugnut33]

That stinks! You seem to be taking it way better than I would have.

 

[kaybird]

That stinks! You seem to be taking it way better than I would have.

Drinking hot chocolate and watching schmaltzy Hallmark Christmas movies. Probably won't hit me til I buy my annual pass online, instead of upgrading it in person. Was so excited to go when I found I had to use vacation time before the end of the year. Cleaning the house just isn't going to cut it!

 

[Disnut4925]

Wow you are taking it so well. I would be bummed and complaining (about the weather, which no-one can do anything about!) Hope you're going back soon!

 

[cgattis]

Hence why I would never fly with one of those true budget airlines that might only have 1-2 flights to a location a week.

I've had an order of magnitude better customer service from Frontier and Southwest than any of the big airlines. I'd agree with the rest of your statement regarding flexibility when they only run a few routes, but it's not necessarily the "budget" aspect that's the problem.

 

[robinb]

Man! That really stinks . The joys of traveling in the winter.

 

[Disney Khaleesi]

Sorry to heart that! At least Disney handled the situation kindly and didn't make it even more of an issue for you.

 

[famy27]

I've had an order of magnitude better customer service from Frontier and Southwest than any of the big airlines. I'd agree with the rest of your statement regarding flexibility when they only run a few routes, but it's not necessarily the "budget" aspect that's the problem.

So true! We've had huge delays on some of the legacy carriers, and we've had really good luck with Frontier, SW and even Spirit. I really feel a lot of it is luck. Our worst delay was actually on American, when some guy decided he didn't want to get transferred to Hawaii, so he set the radar center in Chicago on fire. There was a full ground stop out of every airport in the area. Clearly not American's fault, but flying American didn't put me in any better shape than I would have been on a cheaper airline. We were still delayed 24 hours, and I wasn't able to sit with my 8-year-old on the flight we did get.

 

[happiest place]

So sorry to hear about your trip after all the planning that goes into it..I hope you get to plan one again soon!

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

So sorry! I would be devastated! Frontier is really scaring me....They have cancelled the St louis to Orlando flight the last three days and it is part for weather and part crew being stranded in Denver....
We are flying in January to Orlando on Frontier and I am starting to think I better buy some trip insurance for our cruise...... I hope you can plan another trip soon..So scary to fly in winter time!

 

[robinb]

So sorry! I would be devastated! Frontier is really scaring me....They have cancelled the St louis to Orlando flight the last three days and it is part for weather and part crew being stranded in Denver....
We are flying in January to Orlando on Frontier and I am starting to think I better buy some trip insurance for our cruise...... I hope you can plan another trip soon..So scary to fly in winter time!

Yikes! January + Cruise = TRIP INSURANCE! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's not too late.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Hence why I would never fly with one of those true budget airlines that might only have 1-2 flights to a location a week.

TBH it's not just budget airlines.

FWIW when we flew KCI to St. Lucia in 2013 we stopped in Atlanta first...guess what??? Delta only has 1 flight there from Atlanta to St. Lucia and 1 flight back from St. Lucia to Atlanta. Delta is by far a budget airline and Atlanta is Delta's HUB so it's not an airport issue . In that case it was a location thing (they only had 3 airlines period from the U.S. that went to that St. Lucia airport in the first place). I should also mention that Delta didn't fly 7 days a week to St. Lucia either. I can't remember what days they didn't fly so we're talking only 4 or 5 flights something like that per week.

Frontier also just started non-stop service from KCI to Orlando January 5th, 2016. I should also mentioned I haven't personally checked but I do believe they fly daily from KCI to Orlando. ETA: The OP said nothing was available which I would take to mean the flights were sold out.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

OP I'm soooo sorry about your trip. I would be super super bummed. It's just the rotten luck you had trying to fly out when it was a) the coldest darn days we've had in a very long time. In Olathe at like 8:30am on Sunday it was -8 feels like -14 b) when we had ice/snow Friday-Saturday. The snow wasn't really all that much (I had about 3-4inches) it was the ice that likely did you in. I've only got about a 45min drive to KCI but a 3hr drive just sounds awful only to find out it was a no-go. I'm applaud your taking-in-stride type attitude because I would be sorely tested on mine.

 

[Nohal]

So sorry you had to cancel your trip. So nice Disney refunded your money.

 

[lizabu]

Frontier is the worst. They stranded us in Denver for 24 hours. I'm sorry you trip was cancelled. I would lose it if this happened to me.