December 2020 - keep or cancel?

[bobbiwoz]

So will you lose those points if you don't use in February?

Yes. However we had a wonderful family vacation in 2019. Both sons, one daughter in law, three grandchildren and my sister joined us at Kidani, and it had been totally unexpected. One family maybe doesn’t “hate” Disney, but they really prefer more “real” experiences. We had borrowed most of our 2020 points into 2019, for that great family trip, and another big point eater was a December 2019 stay with Ohio friends, and one son’s family. For this year’s experiences we had borrowed heavily from 2021. We have 173 of the points from December’s cancellations being put back into 2021 within the next 15 days. I am happy for that.

 

[drjackal31]

Can you rebook your flights? Airlines are being pretty flexible about modifying flights and at least rolling the value forward. I have flights on AA that I have changed 3-4x, and on JetBlue that I have changed once. This last time I was able to do all the modifications online instead of calling, which was nice. One of them I had to pay a bit more; the other I think I have a tiny credit or a tiny upcharge, can't remember. But you can see online whether the new ticket will cost more or less, and plan your flights accordingly.

Unfortunately no, there is a whole confusing mess of what happened that I won't bore everyone here with, but out travel voucher for Southwest expires December 11th and they aren't doing anything to extend it.

So here is a tip, if anyone here has an extended southwest travel voucher DO NOT schedule a new flight until you know it is going to happen. Pretty much the original cancellation voucher was extended but once you rebook they will no longer honor the extended date.

 

[zavandor]

We're driving from near Saratoga in a couple of weeks. Staying over 2 nights because we can't leave here until about 3pm.

Wow, they say SSR is so far away from the parks but I didn't think so much!

 

[eleven24]

We've just crossed the under 60 day window for Jan 3rd trip that we rescheduled after canceling our July trip. This was to be our annual father/son trip to Disney - this time to celebrate his HS graduation and the start of what he ultimately hopes is working toward being a Disney Imagineer. He's had the countdown on his phone from Dec 2019 to July, then reset it for January 2021.

I mention all of that to put into context how difficult it is to consider when to pull the plug, again. 2 months ago I was feeling confident. A month ago I was getting a bit concerned. This past week, hitting 150-200k cases per day before what was predicted to be the peak is all but making the decision for me.

I'm still working from home, my son is not on campus at Penn State, but rather taking remote classes (students are on campus, but all of his professors opted for virtual classes). My daughter is 100% virtual, and my wife who works in hospice has had her world turned upside down. While I'm sure my son and I would be fine if we went, it's hard to justify taking a risk on a vacation when our everyday lives are still operating under restrictions. It would also require our family member to further alter an already difficult everyday life by having to reconfigure for a bit after we get home so we could quarantine for a few days, then get tested.

I haven't yet said anything to my son, but logistically I have a week or two to hope the surge was an anomaly - but I know it isn't. Surely he's going to be extremely disappointed, but he's smart enough to see what I see.

I do feel fortunate though that being DVC members, and having the means by which we often go, that I know we're just rescheduling. For those who go less frequently, or perhaps once in a lifetime, I'm not going to compare our disappointment to yours.

That said, 2020 can't end soon enough. 2021 HAS to be better, right??!

 

[kboo]

2021 HAS to be better, right??!

I'm afraid to say anything in case 2021 is like, "Hold my beer!"

We are also on the fence. DH is a little more concerned with sheer number of cases, but as of right this moment, I think we will be ok if we stay in the NYC-Disney bubble. Disney restrictions (and compliance) seem pretty much like NYC, so I think it would be similar to being in NYC except with better weather. Then again, that is what I said before I canceled our August and Thanksgiving trip...

 

[bobbiwoz]

So will you lose those points if you don't use in February?

Well, I am looking into RCI...
I am also learning how many points have been borrowed. It does not appear that I will lose many points at all.

 

[Dean Marino]

Empty

 

[Bruggok]

Unfortunately no, there is a whole confusing mess of what happened that I won't bore everyone here with, but out travel voucher for Southwest expires December 11th and they aren't doing anything to extend it.

So here is a tip, if anyone here has an extended southwest travel voucher DO NOT schedule a new flight until you know it is going to happen. Pretty much the original cancellation voucher was extended but once you rebook they will no longer honor the extended date.

If you have Southwest travel funds expiring, look into conversion into points: https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-introduces-funds-to-points-conversion/ since southwest point flights are pegged to $ price (unlike legacy carriers’ 25/50k per round trip), this way value is preserved.

 

[discott71]

Well, after visiting with DD's cardiologist yesterday, we have decided that it is best to postpone our trip. We have been cautious for so many months now and she is doing great so at this point, not worth the risk. She is sad, but understands. I'm pushing out to June when school ends and pray that we will all be in a better place by then!

For those that are still going, I wish you all a magical holiday trip. Stay safe and post lots of pics so we can live vicariously through you !!

 

[kboo]

Well, after visiting with DD's cardiologist yesterday, we have decided that it is best to postpone our trip. We have been cautious for so many months now and she is doing great so at this point, not worth the risk. She is sad, but understands. I'm pushing out to June when school ends and pray that we will all be in a better place by then!

For those that are still going, I wish you all a magical holiday trip. Stay safe and post lots of pics so we can live vicariously through you !!

I wish the heart emoji didn't have a smiley face attached to it. Understandable. We are taking it day by day - we are not in any risk groups but DH and I both work outside the home and it sort of depends on if our workplaces put in stricter measures. I hope your next trip is extra special.

 

[Eric Smith]

What our family plans to do.... may not be for YOUR family.

1) WDW tried to steal our 2019 points. We did not RENT them - We DONATED them to dear friends within driving distance of WDW . We will be robbed of 7 points, 2020.
2) Paying our 2021 dues. Likely cancelling our APR 2021 visit, buying BIG for NOV 2021, and banking the rest to 2022.
3) If, in 2021, we continue to see "no staff, no restaurants, no real park"? Dumping points at $1 per point. You see, they have already paid for themselves -break even happened a long time ago. ROFR can actually be a very GOOD thing - no more dues .

So your solution is to give Disney all your points basically for free? In what world does that make sense? I could see selling, but selling for well below market value is just silly.

 

[AliceIn]

I just canceled our early December trip. Infections are surging here and we go back a full phase for two weeks starting tomorrow at midnight. Another full stay at home order will come if rates don't drop in the two weeks. I felt it was too risky for us.

 

[Dean Marino]

Empty

 

[Eric Smith]

Let's repeat:

"What our family plans to do.... may not be for YOUR family."
Get off of me. Make your own decision.

It just doesn’t make any sense...

 

[keishashadow]

I refuse to cancel our trip starting next Friday

Well, until I am well into a bottle of wine this weekend

At home, we don't go to bars, indoor restaurants, to parties, to recreational indoor activities. We ARE going to Disney. We don't have different safety standards. We've just evaluated it to be a safe risk.

same cautions at home here. We did do WDW september/october. Was nice, but different. Especially during Universal portion as we focus on HHN those days

Both parks did a great job with safety, it was the fellow guests who made poor choices via their behaviors that made us uncomfortable a few times...mostly as to social distancing & wearing masks under their noses etc.

am also learning how many points have been borrowed. It does not appear that I will lose many points at all.

Good to hear. I made the phone call two days ago to discuss (any) options. Don’t have it in me to try and rent it out so last minute for an arrival the Friday after Thanksgiving

Was pleasantly surprised to find out we would be losing only a small portion of the points involved in the reservation.

Complicated, as the reservation bridges a UY. Also, comprised of a combo of banked 2018 points (from three previously cancelled reservations due to covid this year), 2019s & some borrowed 2020s

They are allowing us to cancel, just need to call back & confirm, points will land as follows:

*2018 points will go poof, so long farewell

*will waive the rule of 4 & allow us to bank the 2019 points into 2020

*the borrowed points will revert back to 2020 UY

Better than I had expected TBH

I just canceled our early December trip. Infections are surging here and we go back a full phase for two weeks starting tomorrow at midnight. Another full stay at home order will come if rates don't drop in the two weeks. I felt it was too risky for us.

Allegheny county, PA resident here. I was still in the game after the state issued the 72 hour test or 14 day quarantine edict. However, our county has upped the ante.

the director of our county health department is no longer making idle threats at this point. If our numbers don’t drop, & soon, she will clamp down yet again as she did in the spring.

Am I disappointed? Of course, I’m slowly processing it but, realize it’s necessary protocol. Since spring, our numbers were very good until Halloween gatherings & political rallies’ produced the predicted, negative impact the scientists have been warning us about all along.

 

[drjackal31]

If you have Southwest travel funds expiring, look into conversion into points: https://thepointsguy.com/news/southwest-introduces-funds-to-points-conversion/ since southwest point flights are pegged to $ price (unlike legacy carriers’ 25/50k per round trip), this way value is preserved.

Unfortunately you only qualify for this if your points expire as of September 7, 2022, since ours expires in December it doesn't qualify. Either way, they confirmed we will be getting a refund and to what card. I am not sure if they planned on doing this or if it's because my husband and I contacted them at least 5 times between us. Now it's just a waiting game.

We are rescheduled for May, not sure if that is even going to be happening. My office is not letting us work from home and if you need to self-isolate they are making you use vacation time.

 

[miamimama]

We have sadly cancelled multiple trips including one in Dec. Covid numbers are just too high and we are in our mid 60’s. Fortunately we can bank points and have until March 2022 to use 600 points. But some of this experience has made us consider just selling -Adult DD might not be happy but she would not be stuck with dues / and not sure how long resale value on BWV will hold up.

 

[Meriweather]

We're going.....Dec 1-13.
And flying.
KN95 masks on the plane.
We're both high risk, but Disney is the place to go and we are really looking forward to it.

I stayed in 3 motels in Oct. and was very impressed, so really not worried about Disney,
My disinfecting wipes are packed. I wipe everything down before entering the room and also the airplane seats.

 

[keishashadow]

Not sure how/why, surely didn’t question it...

When i did call into MS cancel, after calling to see my options earlier this week, wound up getting another 10 more points deposited back into 2020 UY .

Didn’t grovel for them BTW, CM just said she wanted to check something for me. She also offered to cancel our park reservations & ADR. Silly, as it was something I was dreading ala salt in a wound.

next best thing to going on vacation is planning one, now trying to gauge how things will play out with pandemic this winter. I was off a solid 2 weeks this go-round, thought the bottom wouldn’t drop out until mid December.

Will spend part of weekend deciding which week to re-book between mid April & end of May. There are surely worse things to stress about right now.

 

[SorcererC]

We are still going. The actual parks and the airplane concern me less than going to my in laws house for thanksgiving which will be filled with people who won't be masked, inside, who have been actively going to parties, having parties and hanging out with other people like no big deal....

We know we will be in places where people are required to wear masks, we know where we have decided to eat is either outside or extremely well ventilated/spaced out.

We know if we feel uncomfortable anywhere, we can leave whatever location. We will have a 1 bedroom and are getting groceries.

We know that when we get home, we are staying home - just like we've been since march.

For the same reason I would NEVER presume to suggest that people who do not feel comfortable going are "living in fear" I wouldn't ever say to someone going that they have different standards of safety for their family or a "crystal ball"....because you know...that's pretty condescending. But maybe that's just me...

We feel we are making a researched decision. We cancelled a few trips this year when things were really bad bc of the numbers giving us pause, but the parks and resorts were open- and instead we stayed home. We watched other people go, watched the parks continue to be safe, watched the masks continue to be on and CM's continue to police it, watched the cleaning measures not get cut, not slacking, hand washing and sanitizing everywhere.

At home, we don't go to bars, indoor restaurants, to parties, to recreational indoor activities. We ARE going to Disney. We don't have different safety standards. We've just evaluated it to be a safe risk.

I feel like I could have written this! YES! Everyone has to make their own risk assessments and if it isn't a good fit, don't do it. If it is, be cautious, follow the guidelines, and be kind. We're still planning on going as of right now, 1st full week of Dec. We might cancel our park days if it seems like people aren't following the rules there, but 4 resorts over 7 nights would give us plenty to do.