Cancellation - Family Emergency

[Ed T]

We had reservations for 4 nights at BWV. We checked in and stayed 2 nights. Got a call for a family emergency and had to check out. Does DVC take into consideration family emergencies and do we have any chances of them returning 2 nights of points at least into the holding account? Anyone with any experience.

Thanks

 

[Chuck S]

There is, of course, no published official policy for "family emergency" cancellations. You could call Mem Svcs and explain the situation in detail. But usually I'd think they make a "case by case" decision, and would have to have it approved by a supervisor, if they do decide to make an adjustment of any kind. I would not "expect" an adjustment, but it never hurts to ask.

And in any event, personally, I don't think I would make an adjustment publically known on an internet board because some folks could falsely describe a similar situation in the future to Mem Svcs to get an adjustment even if they did not have an actual emergency. Good luck to you with Mem Svcs, I hope you are able to reach an equitable resolution.

 

[CarolA]

The offical line is that early check out causes you to forfit your points. (Just heard it when I booked yesterday.)

However, I would call, the worst they can say is no

 

[wdwstar]

what you could have done , when you got the call about your "family emergency", you should had gone down to the front desk and canceled the next two nights. You would get those two nights of your points back, but in a holding account. If you cancel the day before arrival or in your case the day before your next night stay, your points will go into holding. If you cancel the day of arrival or the day of the night you were suppose to have stayed you lose those points, but get the second night points into holding. I had done just that, canceled the night before my next night stay and my points went into holding then i booked right at the front desk (BWV, check in) and booked the same dvc resort that i was staying (BWV ), i didnt want to move to another dvc resort(VWL). I then told them to use my holding points. Good Luck and let us know what happened.

 

[byoung]

Call MS and let us know?

 

[hbg4]

DVC always sends us the Travel insurance info for just incase. It is worth purchasing for unforseen circumstances like this, or having some other tye of insurance coverage for emergencies.

 

[JimMIA]

I believe the "official published policy" is that the points for the entire ressie are gone on the day of scheduled check-in, whether you show up or not. The obvious reason is that they have zero ability to rent those days at that point in the process. If that is the case, "cancelling" partway through would not have saved you any points. These situations are precisely what DVC's trip insurance, or independently-purchased trip insurance, are all about.

Having said that, I think the suggestions to call and ask are sound. It's possible you'll find a sympathetic ear. I wouldn't count on it, because you are essentially asking them to make your loss their loss, but it costs nothing to ask.

 

[Danthesand]

I know from personal experience that DCV does allow variances from published cancellation policy, if the reason for cancelling is serious enough.

Back in August of 2003, we had a four night stay scheduled as the Grand Californian at Disneyland using points. On our day of arrival, after checking in and eating dinner we got back to our room and saw we had a message. It was from my brother in law, saying "call me as soon as you get this." It turned out my father in law had suddenly -- and completely unexpectedly -- passed away that afternoon (I won't go into what getting that sort of news feels like right after arriving at "the happiest place in the world.")

I called DVC early the next morning, and after explaining to the CM why we had to check out early was immediately told we would not lose any of the remaining points.

 

[DebbieB]

Ed T - have you talked to member services?

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I thought this was the exact reason they offered trip insurance. If you have a family emergency just before or during your trip, why bother with trip insurance if MS will just give you back the unused points?

I hope this does not sound heartless, I am just confused as to why trip insurance would be offered.

 

[Daitcher]

DVC always sends us the Travel insurance info for just incase. It is worth purchasing for unforseen circumstances like this, or having some other tye of insurance coverage for emergencies.

Travel insurance is a scam IMO. They are so restrictive in what they cover and the price is fairly high. Lets face it: if travel insurance was a good deal for us they wouldn't offer it. It is a win win for the insurance company. Unforseen curcumstances come up once in a great while. Those once in a great while situations don't make it worth it. If I had purchased trip insurance for all the vacations I've taken I would be out tens of thousands of dollars. Sorry for the loss of points but those are the breaks some times. Check with MS, there is always a chance. Look on the bright side, at least you got 2 days of your trip.


DAVE

 

[JimMIA]

Travel insurance is a scam IMO. They are so restrictive in what they cover and the price is fairly high. Lets face it: if travel insurance was a good deal for us they wouldn't offer it. It is a win win for the insurance company. Unforseen curcumstances come up once in a great while. Those once in a great while situations don't make it worth it. If I had purchased trip insurance for all the vacations I've taken I would be out tens of thousands of dollars. Sorry for the loss of points but those are the breaks some times. Check with MS, there is always a chance. Look on the bright side, at least you got 2 days of your trip.


DAVE

I've bought trip insurance on a number of occasions, but not for DVC stays. Most of the trip insurance I bought was for ski trips where everything is prepaid and non-refundable quite a long time in advance of the trip.

I've had to collect twice when my wife's parents got sick/injured, and the trip insurance was a lifesaver both times.

Having said that, I don't think I would buy the DVC trip insurance. If I was going to insure a DVC trip, I would contact TravelGuard or one of the other big trip insurance companies and see whether they would cover the DVC stay at a reasonable compensation factor (like $10 per point, rather than the $5 DVC pays).

 

[JonJ]

I hope talking with MS helps. As to the insurance question, we seriously looked at travel insurance because my father is 92 and has many ailments. We always got hung up on his "pre-existing" conditions and those would disqualify any payments (at least for the most probable cause of a cancellation).
Good luck with MS

 

[CapeCodFam]

I hope everything works out for you!

 

[jade1]

Sorry to hear you had a Family Emergency. Sending thoughts.

 

[CRobin]

Travel insurance is a scam IMO. They are so restrictive in what they cover and the price is fairly high. Lets face it: if travel insurance was a good deal for us they wouldn't offer it. It is a win win for the insurance company. Unforseen curcumstances come up once in a great while. Those once in a great while situations don't make it worth it. If I had purchased trip insurance for all the vacations I've taken I would be out tens of thousands of dollars. Sorry for the loss of points but those are the breaks some times. Check with MS, there is always a chance. Look on the bright side, at least you got 2 days of your trip.DAVE

That's somewhat of a generalization, if you are talking about travel insurance in general and not specifically to that solicitation we get with every confirmation. I would agree that the travel insurance being solicited by DVC's provider (who is likely paying the costs of mailing out the confirmation) has never looked like a good deal to me.

However, "trip" insurance, like for a cruise, is another story, IMHO. While you may be able to cut a deal with the DVC resort to refund your points should your stay be cut short, I doubt that DCL is going to hold the ship for you if your flight is cancelled.

The $90 per person I payed for insuring that cruise (not through Disney) was well worth it, given that my SIL had broken her neck before the cruise and there was a good chance that we would be out a few thousand dollars had we had to cancel.

 

[rbuzzotta]

Don't have an answer for you Ed T but I do hope all is well!!!

 

[Disney Doll]

First, good thoughts for you for your family emergency. I hope all is going OK now.

I would call MS and explain the circumstances. I don't think the DVC is heartless. They may ask for some sort of documentation(ie-letter from a doctor or something similar)but my guess is they probably review things on a "case by case" basis. If you have had 12 "family emergencies" your chances might not be too good (not insinuating that you have, but you know what I mean), but in the case of a true "one-time" occurrence, my guess is that there is some leeway there.

As far as trip insurance, I have never found it to be beneficial once I have researched it because there are usually too many limitations, "pre-existing conditions" clauses etc. Basically, it pays if there is a volcanic eruption in a month in a "Q" during a full moon.

 

[bicker]

And in any event, personally, I don't think I would make an adjustment publically known on an internet board because some folks could falsely describe a similar situation in the future to Mem Svcs to get an adjustment even if they did not have an actual emergency.

Call MS and let us know?

As Chuck pointed out, that would tend to foster abuse, and I'd worry that that would prompt DVC to stop affording such considerations, when legitimately founded, in the future.

 

[DebbieB]

I would assume member services would require documentation, just like the airlines do to get emergency airfare.