Hurricane Resort Refunds

[Lewisc]

The government was telling people not to travel. The airlines were giving complete refunds to people who didn't want to reschedule. Even PL was issuing refunds.

People who didn't travel during that 2-3 day window are entitled to refunds. Certainly travel insurance might increase the window or cover you if the problem is weather where you live.

Hotels in Orlando were packed with people evacuating Tampa. Does anyone really think Disney is entitled to keep the deposits when FL told people to stay home and the rooms were rented (possibly at a higher rate) to local residents?

Now certainly there a lot of storms that a less severe, don't warrant any special treatment and guests who don't want to travel would be stuck with the terms of any travel insurance they bought.

 

[opal]

Disney had guests that could not leave due to the hurricane, I'm sure they paid to stay in their rooms, possibly extra nights. Disney had unexpected guests that came inland hoping to avoid the hurricane, reportedly paying rack rate. I

guess I just don't see why they should refuse to refund deposits for guests that were unable to get there due to no fault of their own. If guests stopped booking during hurricane season because they were fearful of losing their deposits, Disney would have a new "value season" during what is now one of their busiest times of year.

I've stayed in lots of hotels that if you cancelled by 6 p.m. on arrival day you lost nothing. Disney doesn't need to give people a new reason to stay off-site, IMHO.

 

[even1]

Hi all,

I was at the Silver Lake Resort ( just outside WDW) when Charley hit and we were scheduled to leave for Sand Key (on the Gulf Coast) on Sat. 8/14. We called ahead and were told that the Sheraton Sand Key was closed till Tues. 8/17 and I needed to make other plans!!!

I called WDW and was given the AP rate of $114. & tax for the WL 8/14 - 8/19!!!! As you know, the hurricane changed course and hit Orlando instead of the Gulf so the Sheraton remained open for business. We continued on with our vacation plans and Disney refunded our deposit when we called and cancelled. The CM couldn't have been nicer and I was told that a memo had gone out to refund deposits for hurricane related cancellations (room only ressies) and to rebook guests with packages without penalty.

My 12 yr old was SOOOO disappointed that we didn't stay at WL but our Sand Key stay was booked on Starwood Points so it was "free".

 

[JandT'smom]

As a travel agent I recieved a Disnay flash mail on Aug 12th that said any client who had booked through Walt Disney Travel Company would recieve a refund for Aug 13th and 14th If requested ahead of time with no penalities. If you booked through another travel company it is up to them what the refund would be. So Disney did offer it and should honor it as long as you booked with WDTC.

 

[SnackyStacky]

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 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.

I completely agree.

Except that Disney promised refunds to customers who had check in dates through August 15.

Definitely a courtesy, and not required. But if you promise something, whether or not it's out of the goodness of your heart, you really should follow through!

 

[Hippychickali]

Here's the thing I want to know:

When you called to cancel the night you couldn't make it to WDW, what did they say about the cost/refund?

When you got to the desk and were told that you would be refunded, didn't you think it was a little odd that they charged you in the first place? Also, it should be no problem getting your money back. Just show them the written statement issued at the front desk, right? That is, if you took the time to get one. Otherwise, why should Disney believe that you were guarenteed a refund?

You know, I agree with the stockholders who don't understand why they should pay for 1 night of hotel stay that none of them benefitted from just because your travel plans were delayed. Your travel insurance would cover it anyway and if you didn't purchase travel insurance, then that was a risk you were willing to take; a risk that resulted in a loss for you.

It seems to me that regardless of what you were verbally told by a CM or anyone else, you should not want something for nothing.

Ali

 

[DisneyWisher]

Originally posted by Hippychickali


It seems to me that regardless of what you were verbally told by a CM or anyone else, you should not want something for nothing.

Ali

We all agree that the hurricane is not Disney's fault nor is it the fault of the guests. For those people that said "well you planned your vacation during hurricane season what do you expect?" How crazy this sounds, does this mean Disney should close during hurricane season? Get real! Summer is Disney's busiest time and guess what, thats when hurricane season is. If the airport was closed and the OP had no way of getting to Disney that first day I think she should not have to pay for it. It was beyond her control. If it were me I would not have paid for that night to begin with. I would have had them take it off the bill then and there.

For the stockholders. If you make a guest mad maybe they never come back but go to Sea World or US instead. Losing tens of thousands vs losing $100. Lets think about that.

When Macy's first opened there was a customer that wanted to bring back a dress she had stained. Everyone would agree no way right? Well the owner of Macy's said go ahead and take it back. Know what? That same customer ended up being Macy's best customer.

Just my opinion,
Shirley

 

[airjoe]

For all three Huricanes, Disney waived the no-show/cancellation/change policy.

Normally a refund takes from 7 to 10 days. Due to the amount of cancelations this might be a little longer now.