Fed employee disapointed

[jongoff]

Really disappointed in Disney. We have a trip planned for early December and my wife as a federal employee is currently not being paid. Our deposit is due at the end of this month and we may need to use the trip money to cover living expenses until back pay is restored; if it is restored. Disney was not willing to extend the period of when final payment is due. Reply was to come for less time or stay in a cheaper resort. Hope we don't have to cancel our first family trip to the mouses house!!! Really surprised.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Really disappointed in Disney. We have a trip planned for early December and my wife as a federal employee is currently not being paid. Our deposit is due at the end of this month and we need to use the trip obey to cover living expenses until back pay is restored.

Disney was not willing to extend the period of when final payment is due. Reply was to come for less time or stay in a cheaper resort.

Hope we don't have to cancel our first family trip to the mouses house!!!

Really surprised.

I'm sorry but what do you expect? Disney is a company and needs to operate as one. Should they also change their rules for all of the other people who have actually lost jobs and also can't come up with a deposit as well?

 

[BigAlsGal]

Really disappointed in Disney. We have a trip planned for early December and my wife as a federal employee is currently not being paid. Our deposit is due at the end of this month and we need to use the trip obey to cover living expenses until back pay is restored.

Disney was not willing to extend the period of when final payment is due. Reply was to come for less time or stay in a cheaper resort.

Hope we don't have to cancel our first family trip to the mouses house!!!

Really surprised.

That is a bummer . I hope things work out so you can go.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This is too bad, but seriously? I am sympathetic about the government shutdown, but if your pay being delayed a little over a week (so far) is so financially damaging, it's probably not a good idea to take an expensive vacation.

Why in the world are you surprised that you are expected to honor Disney's payment terms?

 

[DisFam11]

Also a Fed employee, going to Disney in December. Not sure why your upset with Disney, they deserve to be paid, they are a business. You should be upset with your elected officials.

 

[arihillfarm]

We're in the same boat with my husband being both a federal employee (furloughed last week and now working without pay this week) and he is also currently "laid-off" from the National Guard. It was to be our first family Disney trip since he came back from Afghanistan 10 months ago. He really wanted to go to WDW again around the holidays. :-(

My suggestion is to call back and book a room-only reservation (hopefully your trip did not fall under a package promotion that is now expired) and then cancel the package. You can add dining and tickets to a room only reservation up until 3 days before check-in and you'll only owe the first night's room rate as a deposit. You'll then pay for the package in full when you call to add your tickets and dining and they will refund your one-night room deposit (although that can take a while). If you don't add dining and tickets, the balance will be due when you check in. You'll get your documents at the resort if you purchase a package at the last minute. I'm not sure why the CM didn't offer you that option.

to you and your family too.

-Astrid

 

[wendow]

I'm sorry. I hope you are still able to take your trip.

 

[smitch425]

Really disappointed in Disney. We have a trip planned for early December and my wife as a federal employee is currently not being paid. Our deposit is due at the end of this month and we may need to use the trip money to cover living expenses until back pay is restored; if it is restored. Disney was not willing to extend the period of when final payment is due. Reply was to come for less time or stay in a cheaper resort. Hope we don't have to cancel our first family trip to the mouses house!!! Really surprised.

to the Disboards! DH is a federal employee also, and his income is the only one for our household. We leave for our trip next Friday. We were already paid in full, but anticipated the shutdown coming. We were prepared to use some of our savings if needed, but we managed to pinch pennies during the sequester, and so far our savings is in tact. Please don't take this trip if you are that strapped for cash. Disney may not let you pay late, BUT they will let you move your trip to a later date and the money paid so far can be applied to that future trip. Perhaps you could just delay the trip instead of cancelling. That way you still have a trip to look forward to without being as worried about coming up with the money so soon. Best of luck, and I am hoping this ends soon. It's so unfair to so many people!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

to the Disboards! DH is a federal employee also, and his income is the only one for our household. We leave for our trip next Friday. We were already paid in full, but anticipated the shutdown coming. We were prepared to use some of our savings if needed, but we managed to pinch pennies during the sequester, and so far our savings is in tact. Please don't take this trip if you are that strapped for cash. Disney may not let you pay late, BUT they will let you move your trip to a later date and the money paid so far can be applied to that future trip. Perhaps you could just delay the trip instead of cancelling. That way you still have a trip to look forward to without being as worried about coming up with the money so soon. Best of luck, and I am hoping this ends soon. It's so unfair to so many people!

I agree with this 100%. My DH is also a federal employee but he us essential so he has been working this whole time without pay. My vacation was due to payoff today for our trip next month and since we had separate savings for it I went ahead and paid it off.

I did call Disney last week though, and they said that they would extend it for 15 more days, making the payoff 30 days before our trip. She said basically they give you up to 15 days to pay it but you have to agree to some email that they send. anyway, that may be an option for you. Hopefully you will know something by then. I certainly hope so anyway.

 

[arihillfarm]

I didn't even notice that the OP was new here. OP. I'm sorry you had to find the boards under these circumstances. Have you purchased airfare yet (if you are flying)? If not, I agree with smitch that it might be best to move your trip. There are discounts offered for Jan.-Mar. that are available to book now and if you should decide to cancel, as long as you are outside of your 45 day final payment date, your $200 deposit is still 100% refundable. Here's hoping there is some in your future!

-Astrid

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

If you we 3 days out and need to cancel you only lose 200 bucks...

 

[princessfionasmom]

Welcome to Disboards!!! I'm in the same boat. DH is federal employee and not getting paid. Living without his paycheck is very tough on us but we are still going oct 23rd. Flights already booked and tickets bought. We are lucky in the sense that my best friend is using her DVC for a two bed villa at GFV so we can cook in the room. We had a bunch of meals booked so I just has her take us off the ressies. There is another couple going so my friend will still have fun and we'll all hang out at the parks. We were already having food delivered and I'll bring wine. DH and I will get to enjoy the resort and take it at a slow pace. I should probably cancel but I'm sure this federal stuff will resolve and eventually he'll get paid. Good luck!!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[Ofinn]

We're in the same boat with my husband being both a federal employee (furloughed last week and now working without pay this week) and he is also currently "laid-off" from the National Guard. It was to be our first family Disney trip since he came back from Afghanistan 10 months ago. He really wanted to go to WDW again around the holidays. :-(

My suggestion is to call back and book a room-only reservation (hopefully your trip did not fall under a package promotion that is now expired) and then cancel the package. You can add dining and tickets to a room only reservation up until 3 days before check-in and you'll only owe the first night's room rate as a deposit. You'll then pay for the package in full when you call to add your tickets and dining and they will refund your one-night room deposit (although that can take a while). If you don't add dining and tickets, the balance will be due when you check in. You'll get your documents at the resort if you purchase a package at the last minute. I'm not sure why the CM didn't offer you that option.

to you and your family too.

-Astrid

You cannot add tickets to a "room only" reservation. A room only is exactly that a room only. You can buy tickets when you get there and IMO the dining plan is a waste a money. I would cancel the package. Book a room only and go from there.

 

[ssawka]

Sorry about that, but to put things into perspective, government contractors on furlough are not getting paid or are using up all of their leave. I suspect many of them will have to cancel their trips due to lack of funds or lack of vacation time.

 

[POOHsie]

Really disappointed in Disney. We have a trip planned for early December and my wife as a federal employee is currently not being paid. Our deposit is due at the end of this month and we may need to use the trip money to cover living expenses until back pay is restored; if it is restored. Disney was not willing to extend the period of when final payment is due. Reply was to come for less time or stay in a cheaper resort. Hope we don't have to cancel our first family trip to the mouses house!!! Really surprised.

I'm very sorry, and you have our family's sincere hope for quick reversal of the present situation. Others have suggested that you change to a room-only reservation, and this is a good idea. You would owe one night's room rate upfront, balance on arrival. You could get tickets on your own thru Undercover Tourist (a DisBoard favorite, and I agree). Or you can buy tickets at arrival. As far as dining, you have to check pricing of the plan vs. paying out of pocket. For guests with an idea of where and what they want to eat, it may well be very similar in price for either choice. Dining Plan info is under the Forum, "Disney Dining Plan." At the top of the forum is a Sticky explaining 2013 pricing and restaurants. Menus are at the top of the DisBoards website, under "Dining." You can also get menus from AllEars.net. Also, check for any room discount offers for your time period (ask a Disney Reservations CM by phone), or at least, AAA might offer some savings. I hope you decide to do your trip. It will be just the tonic for your anxieties right now. Good luck.

 

[smitch425]

Just a guess, but OP could be booked with a free dining stay. December fits the timeframe of the deal.

 

[aubriee]

I'm very sorry, and you have our family's sincere hope for quick reversal of the present situation. Others have suggested that you change to a room-only reservation, and this is a good idea. You would owe $200 upfront, balance on arrival. You could get tickets on your own thru Undercover Tourist (a DisBoard favorite, and I agree). Or you can buy tickets at arrival. As far as dining, you have to check pricing of the plan vs. paying out of pocket. For guests with an idea of where and what they want to eat, it may well be very similar in price for either choice. Dining Plan info is under the Forum, "Disney Dining Plan."

Actually with a room only, the deposit is the price of the room for one night and the balance is then due at check in. A pkg you must pay a $200.00 deposit and balance 45 days out.

 

[POOHsie]

Actually with a room only, the deposit is the price of the room for one night and the balance is then due at check in. A pkg you must pay a $200.00 deposit and balance 45 days out.

Sorry, I was definitely in error. I'll fix my post.

 

[ilovemk76]

Interesting first post.


Your wife's employment is not Disney's problem.

 

[lauradis]

Interesting first post.

Your wife's employment is not Disney's problem.

Agree with you. Ouchee

It's really nice of Disney to extended payments for extra 2 weeks.

Have you asked them if you can keep free dinning but at later date?