ABD cancelled our trip, What are my real options???

[ohanafamily]

Hi All,

I have been off the DIS Grid for a while, and now I need some advice. Last Week, ABD called a wrong number to tell us our July Philadelphia/Washington adventure. We booked it almost a year ago.

I called them 2 days ago to make my final payment, which they gladly accepted.

Yesterday, I got an email saying that I needed to call them, I was then told that my adventure has been cancelled.

Because of work, I need to plan my vacations a year out. ABD will absorb some fees if I book another ABD. In my timeframe, they have 5 possibilities: 1. NYC Long weekend, all about Frozen (13 YO DS will not allow that to happen). There is a California ABD, but we are going on a DVC Member cruise right after that, so logistically it won’t work… then there is that whole mirror breaking thing with behind the scenes tour. The last three are all in Europe; they are all an upcharge of over $10,000 plus airfare. We are also at a point where Air and ABD is a lot more expensive than when I booked, and flights to Europe are a lot more expensive as well…

Emotionally, we have been putting this off until DD had a school unit on the government, DW was in tears... She had been planning this for over 3 years as our first ABD; Now she says she will never go on one. I am looking at rates and they are all way up. I don’t think ABD will actually do anything for us… I think it will also be a slow process to get our refund… DS is sad and a little shocked.

So, if I might ask of the community… What are my options?

OhanaFamily...
PS, does the DIS still have a travel Agency and how do I get in touch with them?

 

[Rapunzellover]

I dealt with a cancellation in 2016. ABD should pay any change fees for your air but only if you booked air through them . Meaning you would only have to worry about the difference in price. I was lucky and the price was less so I got money back.

You should be able to Book another adventure at the rate it would have been when you originally booked. I had booked opening-day so I got the cheapest price possible When I rebooked.

You should also be able to take Your deposit and hold it for next year If you don't want to rebook now. They should give you everything but your deposit back.

And of course if you're Angry and don't want to deal with ABD ever again they should give you a full and immediate refund. That should be processable while you're on the phone with them. No delay should be required.

That was the rules when my cancellation happen in 2016. It should not have changed.

Those are your options.

 

[sayhello]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Rapunzellover gave you the info you need. I just wanted to concur, and offer my sympathy.

The part that I'd be the most angry about was them accepting your final payment a week after the trip was cancelled. There is NO excuse for that! That seems like that should be outright illegal, them accepting payment for a trip that no longer existed. Personally, I'd call them and say, since they accepted payment for a trip that didn't exist, the *LEAST* they can do for you is give you a break on whatever trip you transfer to. That's assuming you want to transfer to another ABD. I can understand if you didn't.

Sayhello

 

[ohanafamily]

Thank You Rapunzallover and sayhello...
I apologize for not being clear... They will give me a break on another ABD... 5 are available, none are really plausible logistically.

It has to be in this timeframe; I get one vacation and I have to set it up a year in advance. ABD will gladly switch us to another ABD and probably discount it to the rate from when I originally booked it.

There are only 5 that match our schedule. I would like to do the Disneyland® Resort and Southern California, but we would be flying across the country twice. Additionally, having been on a behind the scenes tour, I don't want to "Break the mirror" for my kids...
(BWI/DFW- LAX, LAX-MCO)

Option #2, the NYC long weekend... My DS is 13 and even my DD has let it go. As far as Europe, Air fares are high and the ABD I priced one of the trips with the agent and it was $12,000 just for the upcharge. She said that they would all be over $10,000

The rest are all international, and If I am going to Germany, I will want more time there. It is still a long flight... Plus the adventures are more than $12,000 difference... and I still have to buy airfare at current pricing.

Costa Rica is possible, but again, I have to fly cross country twice (and I don't do white-water rafting.!

Next year's vacation is half planned,,,

So, since there is no way we can do an ABD, they won't help with Air-fares or ticket change fees.

I am trying to get AMEX and Dreams unlimited to come up with an alternative

 

[carpenta]

"I feel your pain"......it happened to us BUT it opened our eyes and found similar companies that offer similar trips for less money. Living well is your best revenge so go find another company and enjoy. Sometimes the Mouse turns into a Rat.....

 

[ohanafamily]

Can you share Carpenta? some names?

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I'm so sorry to hear about this. It really really sucks. I feel for you and your family's disappointment. ABD's trip cancellation policy leaves much to be desired--I think it is one area that they really fall short of compared to other companies. We've had long discussions about this on this board, and along with their large group numbers, this policy has resulted in quite a bit of ABD disenchantment and wariness from some of us. Hearing about your experience, really leaves a bad taste in the mouth and reminds me to be cautious with booking an ABD trip. I would have thought a trip in July to DC would have been relatively "safe." Did they give you a reason?

 

[Calfan]

Can you share Carpenta? some names?

I'm not Carpenta, but look at National Geographic Adventures or Expeditions (they have family trips), Austin Adventures (family trips), Thomson Family Adventures, Natural Habitat (although pricier than ABD). We have traveled with both Austin Adventures (Winter Yellowstone Family Adventure) and Thomson (Wonders of China). We're doing the Peru Family trip with Nat Geo this summer.

 

[quinnc19]

I'm originally from the Philadelphia area and have visited there DC, New York, and Boston on my own recently. I just wanted to let you know that if you really were interested in that area, it is very easy to do on your own. I understand the benefits of group travel and being on an ABD of course wouldn't be replicated, but I wanted to put that out there as a possibility.

 

[AquamarineSteph]

I'm not Carpenta, either, but G Adventures ( or the co-branded G Adventures/National Geographic) tours have a lot of options. And they're far less than either ABD or booking directly with National Geographic. Of course, the itinerary varies, but there are other possible options for those dates for a good tour experience.

If you are set on Philadelphia/D.C., you can book a lot of that yourself. It's doable. It's just not as convenient.

 

[CaliKris]

This is very disappointing and discouraging!! Even though we loved our ABD trip, this is one of the reasons we are now looking at other companies. I think one of the problems is that Disney is not primarily a travel company like Tauck, Austin, National Geo., etc where travel is their focus. We just booked a Tauck trip to Botswana, Zambia and South Africa and I could not believe the amount of detail we received regarding the trip which isn't until June 2019.

If it was me, I would be very upset! I would keep my flights and try to copy the ABD trip as best I could. I know it is not the same and requires quite a bit of work on your part. I believe you will get all your money back except the deposit which you can move to another trip and keep moving forward if need be. I'm sorry this has soured your family on ABD before even taking a trip. We took our first ABD to China last year. The communication and information prior to the trip were less than desired; however, once we were on the trip everything was fantastic.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I would be very upset if this happened to us. A lot of careful planning and consideration goes into planning a summer vacation and to cancel a trip this close to departure is very inconsiderate.

A few options that others haven't mentioned: REI travel (they have family trips that look very good) and Rick Steves travel. Not sure if either of these companies go to your planned destination, but both are pretty easy on the budget and get great reviews.

Good luck and please keep us posted on what you decide.

I definitely think ABD should refund your deposit if you can't find a suitable replacement. I hate that they "hold" it for you for another trip. What if you don't want to go on another trip with them? They cancelled the trip, they should refund you in full.

 

[ohanafamily]

I would have thought a trip in July to DC would have been relatively "safe." Did they give you a reason?

Me too, "Not enough people|"

 

[ohanafamily]

I'm not Carpenta, but look at National Geographic Adventures or Expeditions (they have family trips), Austin Adventures (family trips), Thomson Family Adventures, Natural Habitat (although pricier than ABD). We have traveled with both Austin Adventures (Winter Yellowstone Family Adventure) and Thomson (Wonders of China). We're doing the Peru Family trip with Nat Geo this summer.

Thanks!!!

 

[RRBB]

I'm ohanafamily's wife and I am beyond livid! Especially since they took final payment knowing the trip was already cancelled. Beyond planning and anticipating this trip for a couple years now, the transportation gymnastics we had to choreograph to get everyone in the family to the right place at the right time (because of other summer activities) took forever to get just right. I want to scream and yell and throw things but not at anyone in my line of sight, if you know what I mean. I've heard wonderful things about ABD but I will never attempt to use them again, and will definitely discourage others from doing so. (So there ABD, you've made and enemy for life!)

 

[Rapunzellover]

ohanafamily and RRBB- If you booked your air through ABD, you should be able to get the whole amount refunded. No need for change fees. Get it refunded and plan something else, or keep the air and do Philly/DC on your own. Personally, I'd be livid myself if it was me (and I was livid when they canceled my Germany trip 2016). I'm honestly tired of ABD's cancellation and payment policies. Their customer service is not that great. If you don't get that opening day pricing, you really get screwed, and their single supplement is high.

They charged me a 40% supplement for the Rome short escape (I hope that was just cause it's also a cruise add on, 30% is enough for the regular ABDs-- I can't afford more)

Basically, I put up with them for the itineraries. They're the best ones I find for the trips I want to take. Good luck

 

[ohanafamily]

I'm originally from the Philadelphia area and have visited there DC, New York, and Boston on my own recently. I just wanted to let you know that if you really were interested in that area, it is very easy to do on your own. I understand the benefits of group travel and being on an ABD of course wouldn't be replicated, but I wanted to put that out there as a possibility.

This is very disappointing and discouraging!! Even though we loved our ABD trip, this is one of the reasons we are now looking at other companies. I think one of the problems is that Disney is not primarily a travel company like Tauck, Austin, National Geo., etc where travel is their focus. We just booked a Tauck trip to Botswana, Zambia and South Africa and I could not believe the amount of detail we received regarding the trip which isn't until June 2019.

If it was me, I would be very upset! I would keep my flights and try to copy the ABD trip as best I could. I know it is not the same and requires quite a bit of work on your part. I believe you will get all your money back except the deposit which you can move to another trip and keep moving forward if need be. I'm sorry this has soured your family on ABD before even taking a trip. We took our first ABD to China last year. The communication and information prior to the trip were less than desired; however, once we were on the trip everything was fantastic.

I have friends there but really don't want to deal with anything.
Shifting off topic, we went to DLParis a couple of years ago, and wanted a tour like we get on DCL. They put us on a bus for an hour, dropped us in front of the Hop-Om-Hop-Off station. I was expecting something run by Disney... It would have been much more efficient to use the train for a 30 minute ride, but even so, there was some unrest in paris, so I was hoping for the security of a Disney run tour.

 

[Rapunzellover]

I believe you will get all your money back except the deposit which you can move to another trip and keep moving forward if need be.

Nope. If the Adventure is canceled by ABD, you should be able to get all of your money back. Insist upon it. This was not your fault. Also, you cannot move deposits forward indefinitely. I moved mine from last year when work interfered, and was told they needed to be used in a certain amount of time.

 

[ohanafamily]

I'm ohanafamily's wife and I am beyond livid! Especially since they took final payment knowing the trip was already cancelled. Beyond planning and anticipating this trip for a couple years now, the transportation gymnastics we had to choreograph to get everyone in the family to the right place at the right time (because of other summer activities) took forever to get just right. I want to scream and yell and throw things but not at anyone in my line of sight, if you know what I mean. I've heard wonderful things about ABD but I will never attempt to use them again, and will definitely discourage others from doing so. (So there ABD, you've made and enemy for life!)

Oh yes... it was a 3 page spreadsheet.

 

[Bobo912]

I'm sorry that happened to you. We did a Spring Break trip to DC a few years ago and had a great time. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt, which has a metro station right under the hotels. Didn't need a car, just walked or used the metro or buses to get around. I contacted our congressman and got tickets to the the Captiol, Bureau of Printing and Engraving, and the White House. We walked around on our own and saw the monuments and visited several of the Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, and attended Easter services at the National Cathedral. We also did a Moonlight Monument Tour - being Easter the moon was full, which was pretty cool. The hotel was fairly expensive, but everything else was free or fairly inexpensive. And there was a ton of other things we could have done if we had more time. I haven't been to Philadelphia, so don't know if it's as easy. I've also done Tauck and Nat Geo trips and recommend both of those companies.