ABD cancelations

[sayhello]

We're now booked for the Alaska adventure and since there aren't very many dates for that trip, I'm hoping it will be a go. If it is cancelled, I'll just take a refund and do something else.

Which Alaska dates did you sign up for? That's one of the options that's being offered to me.

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Which Alaska dates did you sign up for? That's one of the options that's being offered to me.

Sayhello

We're on the July 1 trip. My DS picked the date. His 9th birthday is July 7.

 

[kristilew]

Oh, SayHello, I'm soooooo sorry!

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, just found this thread, and it's making me happy that we didn't book an ABD this year. We did the Disneyland tour last year and absolutely loved it, but even then our first date was cancelled and we had to change it, change flights, etc. (they did offer to refund any difference in the flight price). We had so much fun that we seriously decided to cut back on our Disney cruising and do another, but in the end cruising won out. Take it from DH and I, who have taken 66 Disney cruises, it is definitely a viable alternative and the cruise line definitely offers that Disney service that you expect.

 

[sayhello]

We're on the July 1 trip. My DS picked the date. His 9th birthday is July 7.

Ah, no, I'm looking at September. I'll be really interested to read your report when you get back!

Sayhello

 

[mikeb1982]

First time poster here...but I had to after sorta "getting the call". DW and I used my mother in law's DVC points to book the trip. We were booked on the July 6th Viva Italia trip. DVC called MIL 2 days ago to say the trip was canceled. Never once did they call the actual people going on the trip...dont worry they called us when they didn't receive the signed contract, but not to say that the trip was canceled.

Overall just frustrated and like the rest of everyone else...hesitant to book another just to have it canceled again. Its not easy moving schedules around!

 

[redzinner]

First time poster here...but I had to after sorta "getting the call". DW and I used my mother in law's DVC points to book the trip. We were booked on the July 6th Viva Italia trip. DVC called MIL 2 days ago to say the trip was canceled. Never once did they call the actual people going on the trip...dont worry they called us when they didn't receive the signed contract, but not to say that the trip was canceled.

Overall just frustrated and like the rest of everyone else...hesitant to book another just to have it canceled again. Its not easy moving schedules around!

From activity last season on this board I would guess Viva Italia to be one of the more popular tours in Europe. If Disney is starting to cancel those tours then I'd say people are canceling reservations or not even booking.
Disney just doesn't have the depth of experience to handle the economic down turn in this segment of the travel industry. I truly hope that they can hang in there and keep it viable. We loved our Viva Italia trip last year.

I wonder how fast people are getting their refunds from Disney?

 

[clarabelle]

I just got my call
June 23 Quest for the West

 

[slg]

For those of you who have received "the call", is there any indication that ABD is just cancelling all of its trips? Or are they culling the ones that are less booked in order to hire less people and make sure the ones that are left are a go.

Since they are canceling months ahead of time, there must be some reason why they are choosing certain dates and not others.

Since there are so few folks who actually post on this thread and since there are so many cancellations, I wonder how many are actually going to go?

When I was checking the Rick Steve's site, it was interesting how you could see availabilty right before you booked...what was full, what was almost full.

I like his policy that you can cancel your tour anytime as long as you booked another one during the same season.

I'm so worried. Its really taken the entire fun and joy out of planning my trip. My kids have saved up birthday money, Christmas money...we've paid for our flights, booked our hotel, scheduled our vacations, daycare for the summer...even if the trip does go through, it will have a taint to. Plus I think I'll worry that it will be cancelled right up to the last minute.

I travel a lot, and I've never felt so sick about a trip before. Being a person who enjoys planning and dreaming about vacations, this whole situation doesn't suit my tempermanent at all. Even if I find another trip that I can take, I will have to change my flights (if they are available) and hopefully ABD will be able to refund me what the cost will be. I'm sure that somehow I will lose money in this. Certainly I'm losing sleep and that is worth something.

If the trip is going to be cancelled, I just wish they'd get it over with so I can stop worrying. Of course, if we rebook, we'll be back to worrying about the next one as it seems that ABD won't commit to anything.

Since most disneyphiles seem to be compulsive planners, it seems to me that this will be a huge deterrent. I'm afraid that this thread is probably deterring folks right now. There are a few that have posted such, and probably lurkers who are fed up.

For that I am sorry.

 

[Turtlemom]

Clarabelle-I'm so sorry your Quest for the West trip just got cancelled! I have never heard of one of these trips being cancelled, as it is one of Disney's most popular itineraries, but then again. . .so is Italy, and I've never heard of one of those trips being cancelled either!

Did they offer you any other dates or give any indication of whether other Quest for the West trips would be cancelled?

Now I'm really getting nervous, since our big trip this year is Quest for the West on 8/11.

Turtlemom

 

[kaylismom]

I am a long time lurker. I just got "THE CALL". They cancelled our Quest for the West for June 25. They said that there were only two families booked. We're not sure what we're going to do now. We were on Viva Italia last summer and it was the trip of a lifetime. We had an additional week added to this trip so I am off to cancel everything.

 

[Turtlemom]

YIKES!!!! Kaylismom--I'm really sorry to hear that your trip was cancelled too!!!!! Now I'm wondering whether to call to check on the status of our trip--or whether they will even give out any information judging from previous posts.

I'll ask you as well--did they offer you another date on the same itinirary? If so, will you take it or another ABD option? . . . . Let us all know!

Turtlemom

 

[clarabelle]

Turtlemom they mentioned two other dates that already had enough not to cancel (at least that was the impression she gave me) I didn't ask many questions -cause I knew that I would need to speak to DH before making any moves.

The dates were two others in June the 20th? and the 30th if I remember correctly. I am going to sit down with my husband and decide.
He is miffed -and is leaning towards canceling altogether.

For the others with cancellations -they will give you the early booking on another trip? Is that right?

Also if you reschedule -they still might cancel that one?

When the ABD person called -she was friendly -but was reading from a script about how they wanted for me to have the best experience blah blah. I found it irritating. I would rather them just spit it out.

I am not defeated -I think we will work something out.

 

[kaylismom]

Hi Turtlemom - They offered me June 30, July 2, and July 12. With no guarantee that they would not be cancelled as well - I asked. I don't think I am going to switch to one of them. We were doing the Grand Canyon and Arches on our way to Jackson Hole and we really wanted to go before the heat of the summer. I had also booked El Tovar and the North Rim lodge. Probably too late to change those to the new dates. So sad...

 

[Turtlemom]

Clarabelle--
Let me know how it turns out. I'm hoping for a happy ending. . . .

Turtlemom

 

[Bobo912]

YIKES!!!! Kaylismom--I'm really sorry to hear that your trip was cancelled too!!!!! Now I'm wondering whether to call to check on the status of our trip--or whether they will even give out any information judging from previous posts.

I'll ask you as well--did they offer you another date on the same itinirary? If so, will you take it or another ABD option? . . . . Let us all know!

Turtlemom

I was booked on a different trip that was cancelled (discovery down under) and I was offered other dates for the same intinerary. Don't suppose there is any guarantee that the other dates would not be cancelled as well. But they were very forthcoming with information when I rebooked, so if your dates are flexible, you might be able to pick one with a high percentage booked. Unfortunately, most people don't have that kind of flexibility with their dates. In this uncertain economic climate, I decided to take the Australia cancellation as an opportunity to drop the extremely expensive trip and go for the Alaska trip, which was about half the price, considering airfare.

 

[Turtlemom]

Kaylismom-
Sorry to hear that the cancellation may mess up your other plans.
You will really enjoy the Grand Canyon. We were there last summer with Southwest Splendors in August. The good thing is--due to the elevation, the rim of the canyon never gets that hot. The same cannot be said for Arches though. . . its a "dry" heat. I guess that makes it better.

Good luck with your plans. . .

Turtlemom

 

[Surfindude]

First time poster here...but I had to after sorta "getting the call". DW and I used my mother in law's DVC points to book the trip. We were booked on the July 6th Viva Italia trip. DVC called MIL 2 days ago to say the trip was canceled. Never once did they call the actual people going on the trip...dont worry they called us when they didn't receive the signed contract, but not to say that the trip was canceled.

Overall just frustrated and like the rest of everyone else...hesitant to book another just to have it canceled again. Its not easy moving schedules around!

Well, our plan was to do the 2nd of July trip, but we are likely going to cancel. Waiting to see who does it first, them or us.

 

[Bobo912]

For the others with cancellations -they will give you the early booking on another trip? Is that right?

That is correct. If you had the $100/person loyalty discount, don't forget to have that applied to your new reservation, as well.

 

[Turtlemom]

Bobo912-
Hope everything goes well with Alaska. Glad they were helpful in giving you percentages booked on the other trips. Sounds like, from some other posts, ABD is more reluctant to do so now. . . .

Turtlemom