DVC insurance if WDW area were quarantined/closed

[mmcguire]

First off I'm not a hand-wringer worrying about catching swine flu. I just know that cities/states have long-standing pandemic plans that can go into effect if conditions warrant, and my personal desire to travel could be nixed by such a plan.

We have DVC reservations for June 13-20 -- first DVC trip, and we didn't get trip insurance.

I read on the Theme Parks board that the state of FL has a plan wherein theme parks are closed if the WHO pandemic level reaches 6 and there are x number of confirmed cases in the area (someone else mentioned there also had to be a certain number of deaths). I don't know all the facts.

Regardless -- if the Lake Buena Vista area were quarantined and/or parks closed during our trip, what happens to DVC points? If we don't purchase insurance will we lose them? If we DO get insurance, would it even cover this scenario?? Can we even purchase insurance this late in the game? We threw our brochure away, so we don't even know how to do DVC insurance now.

We also don't want to waste the money if they're just going to find a loophole (like hurricane flood damage not being covered under standard homeowners policies).

Has anybody purchased insurance in anticipation of a possible quarantine?

 

[BostonDisneyKid]

Me personally, I would not purchase trip insurance specifically because of the possability of an H1N1 infection. I highly doubt it will become a fatal epedimic here in the US as we have access to health care and more importantly, Tamaflu. I realize many will worry and stress over the possabilities but the media is making this 10,000 times worse than it actually is as news has been slow lately. If you practice good hygiene and social manners you should be fine. I am part of a pandemic planning committe for a large health care care organization so I am well aware of what has been going on and am briefied every few hours on the latest data and so forth. Not that you should base your opinion on my own, but if you have concerns, read up on the actual facts and data from reliable sources (W.H.O.- C.D.C.) not from CNN or FOX news.

Some real data and facts below for those who are interested:

Alert levels: The WHO is at level 5, US Pandemic Alert Level 0, the US CDC is at level 0.

"WHO advises no restriction of regular travel or closure of borders"

"In annual influenza epidemics 5-15% of the population are affected with upper respiratory tract infections. Hospitalization and deaths mainly occur in high-risk groups (elderly, chronically ill). Although difficult to assess, these annual epidemics are thought to result in between three and five million cases of severe illness and between 250 000 and 500 000 deaths every year around the world."

1 May 2009, 11 countries have officially reported 331 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection. The United States Government has reported 109 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Mexico has reported 156 confirmed human cases of infection, including nine deaths. The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (34), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (8).

US States # of laboratory confirmed cases of the N1H1 Virus
Arizona 4 California 13 Colorado 2 Delaware 4 Illinois 3 Indiana 3 Kansas 2 Kentucky 1 Massachusetts 2 Michigan 2 Minnesota 1 Nebraska 1 Nevada 1 New Jersey 5 New York 50 Ohio 1 South Carolina 16 Texas 28 Virginia 2
TOTAL COUNTS 141 cases, 1 death (infant in Texas)

For more information go to the CDC Site

 

[yitbos96bb]

Not sure but curious... What is the policy with Hurricanes and DVC points? I have to think it would be similar to that.

 

[JimMIA]

... but if you have concerns, read up on the actual facts and data from reliable sources (W.H.O.- C.D.C.) not from CNN or FOX news.

For more information go to the CDC Site

You sound like me during hurricane season!

Seriously folks...at some point you have to realize that the news media is more interested in selling you beer and Viagra than giving you facts. Facts simply don't sell anything.

Also keep in mind that politicians at all levels, and of all political persuasions, are going to milk the Swine Flu for every dot of media ink they can get. They're just like the news media.

Go to the CDC website (the URL above) and get accurate information. There is much more accurate information there than you have the patience to wade through, but it all boils down to: Healthy - wash your hands and stay out of enclosed spaces with sick people; Sick - stay home and cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze.

And remember this object lesson when hurricane season comes, because I'm going to be saying the same things about The Weather Channel and all those other marketing companies we call the "news media."

 

[CarolA]

As the story continues to unfold....

Media outlets are NOW reporting that this "pandemic" actually started in the US over a month ago. Proof that "what we don't know can't hurt us" And we are all still here posting away.

I posted on another board a link to a Time Magazine article where some researches had done a "study" and estimated just a few thousand infections in the US. Are they right? Who knows? But they seem to have just as much chance of being right as those in the media who think that we will all "wake up dead" tomorrow from this.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

The post on the Theme Parks board linked to the Florida Dept of Health Pandemic Influenza Action Plan, which was adopted in March, 2009. http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Disease_ctrl/epi/panflu/DOHPanFlu_11.2.pdf

Under that Plan, once a Level 6 pandemic has been declared by WHO and there are cases of the flu in a community, then the appropriate reponse would be determined by the Pandemic Severity Index (the PSI). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic_Severity_Index

The PSI is based on the number of anticipated deaths in the US from the flu strain in question. If the number of deaths (based on 2006 population) in the US is expected to reach more than 900,000, then the PSI is at level 4 and with more than 1.8M deaths in the US expected, then the PSI is at level 5. As a reminder, while the number of cases in the US remains a moving target, most agree that the number of deaths to date in the US has been 1.

With a PSI at level 4 or 5, closure of theme parks may be considered (level 4) or recommended (level 5).

With a PSI of less than 4, closure of theme parks is "Generally Not Recommended," which means that "Unless there is a compelling rationale for specific populations or jurisdictions, social distancing measures are generally not recommended for entire populations as the consequences may outweigh the benefits."

Even if the theme parks are closed, the DVC resorts may still be open.

It would not surprise me to find that DVC has no formal plan to deal with a prolonged closure of the theme parks, but I would expect that responses would be developed on a event by event basis. -- Suzanne

 

[JimMIA]

This afternoon, Governor Crist announced a Public Health Emergency in Florida in light of two CDC-confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Florida.

One is a 17 year old female student at Hallandale High School in Broward County, and the Broward County School Board has closed that school. The Miami Herald reports that girl recently visited Marco Island, but no mention is made of WDW.

The other confirmed case is an 11 year old male student at Spring Creek Elementary School in Lee County (SW FL, Ft. Myers area). No word on school closings there yet.

The Emergency declaration doesn't appear to change much at present, but it does give the state's Surgeon General power to take a number of actions...if necessary.

All of which means...we now have two confirmed cases in Florida, neither of them in Central Florida. I'm sure we have some additional cases being looked at.

 

[CarolA]

The post on the Theme Parks board linked to the Florida Dept of Health Pandemic Influenza Action Plan, which was adopted in March, 2009. http://www.doh.state.fl.us/Disease_ctrl/epi/panflu/DOHPanFlu_11.2.pdf

Under that Plan, once a Level 6 pandemic has been declared by WHO and there are cases of the flu in a community, then the appropriate reponse would be determined by the Pandemic Severity Index (the PSI). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic_Severity_Index

The PSI is based on the number of anticipated deaths in the US from the flu strain in question. If the number of deaths (based on 2006 population) in the US is expected to reach more than 900,000, then the PSI is at level 4 and with more than 1.8M deaths in the US expected, then the PSI is at level 5. As a reminder, while the number of cases in the US remains a moving target, most agree that the number of deaths to date in the US has been 1.

With a PSI at level 4 or 5, closure of theme parks may be considered (level 4) or recommended (level 5).

Even if the theme parks are closed, the DVC resorts may still be open.

It would not surprise me to find that DVC has no formal plan to deal with a prolonged closure of the theme parks, but I would expect that responses would be developed on a event by event basis. -- Suzanne

So... right now we have what 1 death in the US? Sounds to me like we are a LONG way from a PSI of 4 or 5. We have around 150 CONFIRMED cases of flu and one death. So right now it's a death rate of 0.7% and I don't even think I can figure out what percentage of the population 150 is! (OK I did check and it's less then 0.00%) For those of you following along in statistics my number for the US population was 306,332,183

I admit that the Mexico numbers are worse, but I find it interesting that while Mexico claims lots of deaths etc they still seem unable to give demographic data etc on the deaths. By now we should be able to have that it would seem. Just saying 'young and healthy' doesn't cut it IMHO. What's your definition of "young", etc.....

I work in the health care industry and while we are monitoring carefully we have made very few changes even in our South Texas facilities besides our normal "flu" stuff.

 

[JimMIA]

So... right now we have what 1 death in the US?

Yes, and I think I read somewhere that patient was a child who was brought to the US from Mexico for medical treatment.

Sounds to me like we are a LONG way from a PSI of 4 or 5.

Yep. Doesn't mean we can't get there from here, but it's a long way to panic time.

I work in the health care industry and while we are monitoring carefully we have made very few changes even in our South Texas facilities besides our normal "flu" stuff.

I'm getting daily emails from the National Assn of EMT's with helpful info, but it's mostly a reiteration of universal precautions and the kind of stuff we do with every patient anyway, regardless of their injury/illness.

Haven't even heard a peep from my employer, but our email was down most of today (what else is new )

 

[Deb & Bill]

...One is a 17 year old female student at Hallandale High School in Broward County, and the Broward County School Board has closed that school. The Miami Herald reports that girl recently visited Marco Island, but no mention is made of WDW.....

Well, we'll be at Marco Island three weeks from Sunday, so I'll let you know what's going on there.

I heard today that there are 12,000 tests waiting to be confirmed or not by CDC.

 

[Chuck S]

Yes, and I think I read somewhere that patient was a child who was brought to the US from Mexico for medical treatment.

I'm not sure the child was brought to the US for treatment, he and his family were visiting other family members living in Brownsville. But he did have additional medical issues. Upon becoming ill, he was taken to the hospital in Brownsville, and they transferred him to Houston. None of the other family members have tested positive for H1N1.

CDC: Relax, exercise due caution

Media: Panic, Run, be scared

 

[PamOKW]

back to the original question....

I'm not sure whether the insurance would cover it or not. That would be a question you'd need to have answered by the insurer...probably would depend on how this would be classified

The other poster who mentioned hurricanes was on to something. Generally, Disney has been very reasonable in responding to natural disasters and coming to some agreement of terms....generally they return points. There is no guarantee and nothing in writing but the track record has been good. If it comes to the point that Disney World shuts down for longer than a day or two I think we'll all have more to worry about than getting our points back. I know it's hard but we need to stay calm and take it day by day.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

I haven't read the threads carefully, but I've noticed a number on various cruise boards complaining that insurance isn't properly compensating people for changes to cruise schedules. I suspect there would be loopholes for the companies to weasel out of claims if all of WDW is shut down due to flu pandemic. I also suspect that collecting on a travel insurance policy is going to be one of the last things on our mind if we reach the point where theme parks have to be shut due to disease.

 

[JimMIA]

Media: Panic, Run, be scared

Yeah...but most of all, STAY TUNED!!!

 

[mmcguire]

back to the original question....

I'm not sure whether the insurance would cover it or not. That would be a question you'd need to have answered by the insurer...probably would depend on how this would be classified

The other poster who mentioned hurricanes was on to something. Generally, Disney has been very reasonable in responding to natural disasters and coming to some agreement of terms....generally they return points. There is no guarantee and nothing in writing but the track record has been good. If it comes to the point that Disney World shuts down for longer than a day or two I think we'll all have more to worry about than getting our points back. I know it's hard but we need to stay calm and take it day by day.

Thank you. That was very helpful, and I appreciate you answering the question I asked! I almost just closed my own thread, because until your post, it had turned into another thread about how many confirmed cases there are, and that we should wash our hands.

 

[CarolMN]

I haven't read the threads carefully, but I've noticed a number on various cruise boards complaining that insurance isn't properly compensating people for changes to cruise schedules. I suspect there would be loopholes for the companies to weasel out of claims if all of WDW is shut down due to flu pandemic. I also suspect that collecting on a travel insurance policy is going to be one of the last things on our mind if we reach the point where theme parks have to be shut due to disease.

Those complaining must not have read their cruise documents very carefully. Mine have always said that the ports are not guaranteed. I would be surprised if the insurance policies pay anything for cruise schedule changes.