Hurricane Resort Refunds

[Mrs. Toaster]

I'm sorry if this question has already been asked. We just returned from Disney and I'm now getting back into reading these boards! We were due to arrive with other family members on Saturday, 8/14, the day after Charley hit. Due to the Orlando airport being closed, we did not fly in until Sunday. We are now trying to obtain a refund for the first night we missed at the resort. Disney is really jerking us around on this! They first told us it would definitely be refunded (this was at the resort itself), but that we had to call Guest Services once we returned home from our trip. Well, we all called when we got home, and now they are saying they may not refund anyone. I really hate that they are fighting us over something that was caused by a natural disaster!

Anyone else had any luck getting a refund for the 13th or 14th?

 

[lzj21428]

Did you have travel insurance? I got stuck getting out of Orlando on the 14th and have filed a claim w/ the travel insurance company for the hotel I had to stay in overnight, plus food, plus the limo I had to hire to get me to another airport. If you did have the travel insurance, I would give them a call and see what they can tell you.

Good Luck, I hope it all works out for you.

 

[tiggersmom2]

It really sucks that Florida experienced a hurricane but look at it from Disney's point of view - it is not their fault that the hurricane occurred, they cannot control nature. Why should WDW be out all this money because of an unforseeable natural disaster?

I stay in the moutains ALL the time and they always put a disclaimer in the reservations *not responsible for inclement weather*. I don't mean to sound harsh but this is how it should be IMHO.

 

[Pkdcoastrs]

I hope Disney holds their word, did you get anything in writing by any chance? Well here's to hoping you get your money back!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by tiggersmom2
It really sucks that Florida experienced a hurricane but look at it from Disney's point of view - it is not their fault that the hurricane occurred, they cannot control nature. Why should WDW be out all this money because of an unforeseeable natural disaster?

Goodwill, desire to attract repeat customers, hard to justify not allowing people to skip one or more days (without paying) when the government tells people to stay home. I guess taking the same position it's not the customer's fault the hurricane occurred. Why should we be out a day at the park? How dare Disney close most of the parks early and AK for 2 days? How dare Disney tell customers to stay in their rooms. How dare offsite hotels not have electricity just because they cannot control nature?

How dare the airports not run all of their flights on time just because the hurricane occurred?

When weather conditions result in a state of emergency ompanies have to relax their rules.

 

[Jeanny]

I know you're joking.... aren't you??

 

[epcotfan]

This is why one should always purchase travel insurance.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by epcotfan
This is why one should always purchase travel insurance.

ITA epcotfan!!

Just a side note - I was stranded in the mountains of TN during the blizzard of 1993 for an extra WEEK!!!!! Do you think I got a break from the rental co. for that - not. I have also been unable to get to a cabin (in Colorado) due to an avalanche - the rental co. did not refund my deposit.

All I can say is people should be grateful it was not worse.

 

[airjoe]

Disney is waiving all cancellation fees during the time of hurricane Charlie!!

They are also giving all Cast Members who don't have a place to live free rooms at All Star Sports. What other company would do this for employees??

 

[susy]

I agree with having travel insurance, but I only have a $79 deposit. If I can't come next week I don't see why I can't reschedule. They will make more money when I come back than if they refuse to give me my $79 and I decide to stay eslewhere from now on.

 

[robinb]

I was able to fly in a day early and ride out the storm at Pop Century, along with many people who evacuated out of the Tampa area. I have to admit that I am shocked the Disney is sticking to their cancellation policy in this case. The entire state of Florida was under a State of Emergency! There was no way these guests could make it to the resort since the airport terminals sustained damage and flights were cancelled. For instance, I know that Southwest was not able to fly into MCO until Sunday afternoon.

There are special cases for a cancellation policy and I think that the resort being hit by a hurricane should be one of them. I wonder if they did the same to people who were supposed to check in on the week of 9/11.

 

[ripleysmom]

"I agree with having travel insurance, but I only have a $79 deposit. If I can't come next week I don't see why I can't reschedule. They will make more money when I come back than if they refuse to give me my $79 and I decide to stay eslewhere from now on."

Um....because you agreed to those terms when you made the reservation.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

I have a question. If people weren't able to get in for their reservations, doesn't that mean other people weren't able to get out and had to stay at WDW instead of leave? How many rooms were occupied anyway? Should WDW make money twice for the same room?

Serious question. How should that be handled?

 

[ChristyJ]

We has friends who were at CSR during all of this and one thing that Disney DID do was for the people who were at the parks on Friday when everything closed down at 1pm- they gave those people who had used a one day pass (or a day of a park hopper pass) another full day park pass. Our friends had a package deal with ultimate park hoppers, and they spoke with management that Sat. and were also given a 1 day park hopper pass to use in the future.

 

[susy]

Oops..I didn't mention that there is another major hurricane coming. I am in south FL and it POSSIBLY could hit here. We won't know for several days.

 

[ladydancer]

We were stuck in Vegas years ago because a snowstorm hit Chicago and that is where our plane sat. We were told it was an "act of god". I couldn't believe how many people were sleeping in the lobbies of the hotels as these people had gambled all there money! We were able to leave the next day but had to get a room for a extra night.

 

[ChristyJ]

We once went to Nantucket for the day (or so we thought) on the ferry, leaving our car behind-we had a hotel room on the cape that we were supposed to come back to that night...

Well it started raining and the seas got rough and they cancelled the ferry, so we were stuck on Nantucket overnight-all we had on us was my purse-it was May and we were able to check into a B & B (usually everthing is booked there months in advance in the summer time)-anyway...same thing-it was an act of God, and we were stuck paying for 2 hotel rooms for that night. Nantucket was pretty though...

 

[nuthut]

Sorry, but there is no way Disney and their stockholders (myself and lots of others on this board) should have to pay for your reserved room because you were unable to fulfill the terms of the agreement you made with Disney when you made the reservation. Stop trying to blame everyone and everything else and take the loss.

 

[Mrs. Toaster]

Boy, I didn't realize this would generate such a debate! I really appreciate everyone's responses. The advice about travel insurance is a good one. Just to clarify, we had a fabulous trip and were most impressed by what Disney did in response to the hurricane. We are also financially just fine if we don't get our money back. I only bring it up because I and other family members were told by several different front desk cast members that they would be refunding our money. We were told this at check-in and a week later before we checked out. I wouldn't make an issue of the refund, if we hadn't been told this. I realize that cast members may have mistakenly told us this, but we were told this several different times. When my brother first called Guest Services upon returning from the trip, he was also told that he would definitely receive a room refund. When I called for my room refund, I was told that they had changed their minds and decided against refunds. I don't mind if they don't want to refund us, but I don't think it's a good company practice to change your minds after telling guests they would receive a refund. Right now, it's in the hands of Accounting, and we are awaiting a decision. Just wanted to share all of the facts!

 

[JoiseyMom]

If Disney said they were going to refund the money, they should do it. Not doing it will result in bad feelings, and people not going back to Disney World. Yes, you should have travel insurance. But on the otherside of it. Don't you think Disney has insurance also to cover these losses????

To those of you who paid by credit card. Put in a dispute for the amount with your credit card company.