FTP Trip - Interrupted by Hurricane Isabel

[spectromagic fan]

We arrived at the Poly on Sat., 9/13 to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. We were on the FTP and had booked a GV room the first day the FTP was announced. We LOVE WDW, but we can only afford to go every few years (our last visit was in the summer of 2000). We were so excited and had looked forward to our trip more than anyone can ever know. We were pleasantly surprised to be given a semi lagoon view room overlooking the volcano pool (3rd floor w/balcony--Samoa, Rm. 3610). The view was great, but the pool created a LOT of noise. On the afternoon that we arrived, we were treated to sparkling wine, a beautiful rose and candies that we enjoyed tremendously. We thought we were beginning a truly magical week! We went to MK and enjoyed SpectroMagic (my favorite thing in DW) & the fireworks. We kept worrying that Hurricane Isabel would hit FL or our home in VA, so we checked the weather several times a day. On Sunday we had a great time at EPCOT where we eat at some of our favorite spots. We also went to Boardwalk & MGM. Monday was spent enjoying ourselves at EPCOT again. We watched MK fireworks from the Poly beach and enjoyed the water parade. We were so happy! Late Mon. night we realized that Isabel was heading directly toward our home in Va. Beach, so we agonized whether to return to Va. Beach to secure our home. After a sleepless night and many calls to family in Va. Beach, on Tues. a.m. we realized we had to go home. I tried to talk to the CMs at guest services about our early departure and they said that since I booked the FTP through Disney Travel, I had to call them. They gave me the phone number & sent me on my way--they were not concerned about our problem at all. DT wasn't very helpful either. They said they wouldn't refund anything because we were on the FTP. No one seemed to care that everything we owned was in danger of being destroyed, and there was no way we could enjoy ourselves while our home and family were in danger. We were very upset, but knew we had to leave. We checked out at noon on Tuesday and flew home that night. SW Airlines charged extra to change the flight, but after we got home I called and they removed the extra charges because of how severly our area was impacted by Isabel. Our Governor declared a state of emergency before we left FL, and the President has declared our area a federal disaster area. I'm glad we left, as our area was hit hard by Isabel. A tree fell on our brand new roof and put a hole in it and another tree fell on our power lines. If we hadn't boarded up our large windows they would have been broken and our house flooded. We were without electricity from early Thursday until Sunday night. A numer of people in our area are still without power, and everything is still a mess here--tress are down everywhere, power lines are down and waterfront areas have been washed away or severly damaged. On Thursday (during the hurricane) I again called Disney Travel. I told them to turn on TV and look at the Weather Channel and they could see why we had to leave. They agreed to turn the matter over to Accounting to consider refunding part of our trip $$. Accounting called later and said that since we stayed 3 of our 7 nights, they would refund a bit less than 25% of our $$. They kept saying we were on FTP, so we were only paying for 4 nights. Well, we stayed three nights & went in parks 3 days, and I'm very disappointed that Disney wasn't more cooperative or understanding. Our 3 nights in a GV room & going in parks ended up costing over $1,600. WDW is my favorite place in the world and the Poly is my favorite hotel, but I now have a bad taste in my mouth because they weren't helpful and they were very uncaring. It was definitely a business deal to them. Earlier this summer we booked a 4 night cruise for July 2004 to take our son & grandson on a cruise on The Wonder (we've never been on a Disney curise). We had planned to spend a few days at the Poly before our curise. Right now I'm so upset that we missed out on most of our long planned, magical vacation, and the CMs were so uncaring towards us. We've had many wonderful trips to WDW, and this experience has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I'm not sure I even want to go on the cruise. I hope time will make me feel better. Has anyone else had any similar experience? If so, were the CMs understanding to you about your situation? We didn't have trip insurance, but I don't think it would have covered our situation. One part of me thinks I'm being unreasonable to have expected more caring treatment, but at this point I don't know. Thanks for any encouragement or thoughts you can give to help me get over feeling so down and depressed.

 

[zurgswife]

I'm sorry that your area was hit soo hard but if I read your post correctly DT was agreeing to refund about 25% of your vacation...if i understand FTP correctly it as 7 nights for the cost of 4...so you stayed 3 so there was only 1 night left to refund which would be about 25%....while I'm sorry you didn't get to stay your 3 free nights....I won't expect them to split your cost for the 7 nights...that wasn't how the package was advertised...

Trip insurance would probabaly have covered you..

Your home being made uninhabitable or Your company being made unsuitable for business by fire, flood, burglary, vandalism, or natural disasters.

Hopefully the part the agreed to refund will come back quickly...

 

[>>^..^<<]

Hi.. I am sorry your home and community was damaged by Isabel but I have to say that I was a travel agent for 12 years and saw many a hurricane or tropical storm disrupt my clients vacations.

Unless they had purchased insurance to protect themselves from these things they were out of luck. Airlines, hoteliers and resorts can not afford to reimburse everyone when these things happen.. that would put them out of business or force them to charge higher rates.

Disney is a business... and I don't really want to be charged more on my next trip because past guests didn't buy insurance for theirs.

I can't believe Disney is refunding you considering you were travelling on a reduced package price to begin with... and even though they have agreed to give you a partial refund you still seem upset like you deserve more? Southwest came through for you too but you seem upset.

Sorry... I don't understand where you are coming from but the important thing is your home is okay and no one in your family was hurt. Next time take insurance!!

>>^..^<<

 

[bjakmom]

I can certainly understand your disappointment! We live just north of you and on the coast, so we were also spending our days securing the house and yard just in case Isabel veered NE (at a time of great family tragedy when we had little energy to spare - such is our life in the NE during hurricane season!) - we were impacted, but certainly not like you were in VA. At least you know you made the right decision in coming home- I'm glad to hear that your family is all safe! It is unfortunate that booking the FTP package cost you not only the 4th day you technically paid for, but the 3 free days I'm sure you had your heart set on! I don't know what would be considered "fair" in your circumstance - perhaps speaking with other travel agents would give you another perspective, like >>^..^<< did, and you can compare what you were offered to what others in similar situations have received. I hope that as time passes you feel well enough to continue with your cruise plans and that the next trip is full of all the magic you deserve!

 

[floridafam]

We probably would have gone home, too.

I think Disney is being fair. By being on the FTP, you were only paying for 4 nights and 4 days of park tickets.

I would have been happy with a refund for one night and one day of park passes, if anything.

Try not to feel too bad. I really think Disney is doing a nice thing and shouldn't be faulted for it.

Just be glad you and your family are safe and able to enjoy your upcoming cruise.

 

[johnsonet]

The bottom line is your vacation was ruined and I am sorry for that. Even if the travel company is being fair, it hurts and I can totally relate to how you feel. Especially if the CMs gave you the number to call and moved on to the next guest. It would have been nice for someone to maybe make the call for you or walk you throught he process a bit. I definitely know how you feel. It was just a huge stroke of bad luck for you and I know it will leave a bad taste in your mouth. I hope you will still proceed with your cruise - I'm sure it will be terrific and a nice Disney experience will help you heal from this bad one...Again, my sympathies are with you.