I rented points - may not be able to go....advice wanted

[mamawanavacation]

Nothing like waiting until the last minute, believe me I know! So we rented points from someone and we are supposed to arrive next Wednesday! My hubby is self employed and waiting for a check...that he expected quite a while ago, that we must have in order to go. He's been promised that he will get it in time, but we're really not too sure it will happen.

I don't believe that we have any options if we can't go. I know I can't get our $4100 back for the room (10 days at ssr 2 bedroom), but I'm hoping someone might have an option I haven't thought of. Possibly seeing if someone will buy the rental off of us last minuteis all I can think of. But really I can't imagine that anyone could do this last minute anyway. Also, I don't know if it's allowed.

Do I have any options? Like I said, I don't think I do, but I thought I'd ask just in case someone has an idea I can't think of.

I can't even begin to convey how stressed I am or sad I will be if this doesn't happen. Having a self employed husband is sooooo stressful!

Jan

 

[PEANUT1]

it looks like you are flying since you are from California...correct? so you must have already purchased your flights. If you order groceries you can save alot on food. I think finding someone this late is probably impossible. I don't know your situation but to lose over 4 thousand dollars seems like a lot. I would probably just go and hope for the best. Good Luck

 

[Chuck S]

I'm afraid that the owner you rented from has their hands tied, as well. There is no way even for them to be nice and refund your money, as we owners are within a penalty period if we cancel less than 30 days out.

As the previous poster noted, you'll be out the airfare either way, unless you purchased expensive refundable tickets. And you'd need to go through the owner, even if you found someone else to rent to reservation from you, as only the owner can change the name on the reservations.

I would bite the bullet and go, you've already got the most expensive part of the trip paid for, the lodging and travel.

 

[mamawanavacation]

Unfortunately there's more to it than just that. We are also supposed to be on that Westbound Panama Canal Disney cruise that leaves May 10th. It's all paid for also, but it looks like we may need to cancel that as well, and we'll lose A LOT more from that one!

When we planned all this and paid for all this we expected everything to be fine, but this economy thing is killing my husbands business all of a sudden. We would have canceled earlier, but even up to a couple of weeks ago, we really thought people would pay what they owe by now.

It seems so easy to say we should just go, but we still have a lot of costs to come up with between the two vacations, (theme park tickets, tips for the cruise ship, etc) plus we need May's utilities and house payment made before we go. So if we don't get that check my husband has to work on May's living expenses instead.

This just stinks! I'm more scared of having to tell my kids than anything else....of course my husband is more upset about losing soooo much money.

It doesn't look like we have any options then, so please please please keep your fingers crossed for us, and if you pray please do so for us as well. I would appreciate all the positive thoughts you can send our way. Hopefully we'll get paid.........sigh.

Jan

 

[ktbugsmom]

I am sick for you regarding this. I realize it is a big expense - but if the plane tickets are paid for and the SSR room is paid for - I would go.

My suggestion would be maybe to skip the park tickets... that seems tough with kids at Disney - but it is a lovely resort and there are other things you can do. The pools are wonderful at SSR. You can take Disney transportation to other properties and explore. You could use the community center at SSR for some fun crafts. You can get a free ride to the resort using Magical Express. You could have groceries delivered (wegoshop.com or gardengrocer.com are two I know of) and save money eating in the room. You can still have a lovely vacation - and won't lose out on $4000 points and at least $1000 plane fares.

That is just my suggestion. If I thought I could take some time off of work - I would offer to buy your reservation... but unfortunately - I can't. Good luck to you.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Is there a way you and the kids could go and let hubby keep the home fires burning and the money coming in? I agree that there is plenty to do without going to the parks, and maybe you could just do the cheapest tickets or only one park to satisfy that part of the trip.

 

[mamawanavacation]

Thanks for you sympathy.

I was just talking to my husband about this. Thinking that I could just take the kids and stay at the resort while he stayed home working on living expenses. But he reminded me that we were taking the cruise from Fl. back home to Ca. So, I'd have to buy more plane tickets to get home. As of right now, we don't even have enough money to do that. He might be able to come up with money for a flight home while we were away, but what if he can't? Can't take that risk with 5 little ones.

We've been trying to play every angle we can think of, but I don't know how it can happen (besides that check coming in.) Please send positive vibes.

Thanks for the suggestions though, I do appreciate it.

Jan

 

[lisaviolet]

Do I have any options? Like I said, I don't think I do, but I thought I'd ask just in case someone has an idea I can't think of.

Hi Jan,

I'm so sorry.

How about writing the owner asking if you could post to see if anyone would take it. And possibly share some of the payback. Some kind of split. Maybe 80% to you. The owner might be open to this having some sort of compensation for the extra "work" on the reservation. And you won't be out everything.

So if you can go and just enjoy SSR -the best of course. We do many trips without tickets. With kids - well they love Community Hall and DD being right there. But since you are looking for another option/advice to losing all I would approach the owner with re renting with a portion of the new $ going to him or her. With a lower point rate since it's so close to arrival. Someone might grab it. That's some money.

Once again, I'm so sorry. All the best to you,

Lisa

 

[Dean]

It seems the effort and extra planning to complete the trip is a small fraction of your total potential outlay with $4100 plus air plus a cruise. Potential additional costs are tips (cruise and otherwise), tickets at WDW, rental car unlikely with ME, transfers to and from the cruise if not already paid and food at WDW. Assuming 4 people, you could whittle the costs down a lot by not eating out and just maybe doing 1 or 2 park days. Even if you just go and hang out at the resort for the 10 days, you'll still be far better off than not going. Certainly you must make the decisions based on what you can and feel comfortable doing but it'd be a shame to let $1000-2000 or so wipe out what $15K trip or more even if you have to sort boxes UPS or deliver pizzas before/after to make it work.

I do hope it works out and I hate you have found yourself in this situation. Please let us know how it works out for you.

 

[Caskbill]

Assuming that you do have money coming that will definitely be paid, and the only issue is the timing of the funds, then maybe consider getting a small loan to complete what you need so you can go.

Then repay the loan when the funds finally come through.

 

[Mtnman44]

I agree. since so much is already paid for, go ahead an finance the remaining bit on a credit card or something and work on paying that off when you get back. As already said, even going and doing nothing, is better than wasting it. don't buy park tickets. Instead, make it a resort trip. Get all your food at the grocery store and don't eat out. Seriously, if you stay home, you are still going to buy groceries anyway right? If the cruise and airline tickets are already paid for, I don't fully understand what's holding you back. Park tickets for that many days are pricey, but you could cut those if you had to. Good luck, I hope it works out.

 

[SammieG]

i would go.... as others have said.. the expensive part of the vacation is paid for... beg steal or borrow the money... and have a great time..

that has to be better than having to lose all the money paid out already.. it doesnt make sense. On the cruise you will have very little expenses so its just disney and your accomodation is paid for already..

 

[mamawanavacation]

Hubby just talked to the company that owes him the most money and asked if they could send just part of what they owe. They said they would see what they can do. So there is still hope!

Also, I just remembered that one of hubby's best friends works for Jet Blue and offered him tickets whenever he needed, so if I just took the kids that would be a way back home. I can't wait for him to get home so I can remind him of that and see if his friend can do that. We didn't get the free Jet Blue tickets on the way down there because we didn't want any layovers....of course money was just fine at that time, lol!

Please keep praying and sending your positive vibes! Thank you so much everyone for your help so far!

Jan

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Assuming that you do have money coming that will definitely be paid, and the only issue is the timing of the funds, then maybe consider getting a small loan to complete what you need so you can go.

Then repay the loan when the funds finally come through.

I was going to suggest this also. As was mentioned you already have the largest expenses paid for so even if the money you are waiting on didn't come though you might still consider the loan and cut back on theme park tickets etc...... I wouldn't do a credit card however if at all possible. Banks lend money all the time for vacations. Especially if you have a close relationship with your bank it can all be done very quickly. You'd be amazed how many people do it.
Hope you get something worked out!

 

[lisaviolet]

Hubby just talked to the company that owes him the most money and asked if they could send just part of what they owe. They said they would see what they can do. So there is still hope!

Also, I just remembered that one of hubby's best friends works for Jet Blue and offered him tickets whenever he needed, so if I just took the kids that would be a way back home. I can't wait for him to get home so I can remind him of that and see if his friend can do that. We didn't get the free Jet Blue tickets on the way down there because we didn't want any layovers....of course money was just fine at that time, lol!

Please keep praying and sending your positive vibes! Thank you so much everyone for your help so far!

Jan

Good to hear Jan. Hope everything works out. Thinking of you tonight. Hope some more good news comes your way. My apologies for sharing my story earlier. It's awful to be in this situation.

Lisa

 

[iwannbindisnee]

Jan, things sound like they are looking up; Both myself & DH are self employed so I understand about stress. Just know I am saying prayers for you & sending pixie dust. Keep us updated. Deb

 

[Pennyguy23]

So what is paid for? 10 nights SSR 2 BR, Plane tickets down there, And then are you on the Repo cruise on May 10th with us? If so that is obviously paid for. That seems like a lot of money wasted to not go. Buy some food for you room, relax at the pool then take your cruise.

 

[StayFLA]

It seems the effort and extra planning to complete the trip is a small fraction of your total potential outlay with $4100 plus air plus a cruise. Potential additional costs are tips (cruise and otherwise), tickets at WDW, rental car unlikely with ME, transfers to and from the cruise if not already paid and food at WDW. Assuming 4 people, you could whittle the costs down a lot by not eating out and just maybe doing 1 or 2 park days. Even if you just go and hang out at the resort for the 10 days, you'll still be far better off than not going. Certainly you must make the decisions based on what you can and feel comfortable doing but it'd be a shame to let $1000-2000 or so wipe out what $15K trip or more even if you have to sort boxes UPS or deliver pizzas before/after to make it work.

I do hope it works out and I hate you have found yourself in this situation. Please let us know how it works out for you.

You've spent the money for THIS trip. Make it happen! You can limit park tickets and all, but think WHO this trip is for. If you can't pay it up front, pay it on the backside (within your means). You can do this. You may have to give up future trips to the beach during the summer. You will get back to doing that in the future (I'm an optimist). I work two jobs and have worked three just to get the little ones to Disney. Do not pass this up! Make it happen! When you get there, please just enjoy it for what it is!

Ralph

 

[mamawanavacation]

Oh you guys make it sound so easy, lol!

Here's the breakdown (If no frills....no amusement parks, no eating out, only resort stay...then cruise, no excursions, no souvenirs). By the way there are 7 of us, 2 adults, 5 kids.

1. Transportation to the airport - no biggie, just gas money
2. groceries - probably around $500
3. transportation to the port cost ?? (we were originally going to rent a limo for $204 tip included)
4. cruise tips ($1144.50 - remember there are 7 of us going for 15 days, so that's the minimum recommended tipping).
5. laundry onboard ship $100 approx. (I'm only bringing 7 days worth of clothes - luggage would be too much with 7 (1 baby 1 toddler...too much stuff) of us if I brought more.
6. transportation home from port - again just gas money if friend picks us up.
6. House payment $3300
7. utilities $1500

Total $6748, so you see why this isn't so easy? We only have $800 as of right now. Expecting much more....sigh.

Also we don't have any credit cards. We try to live debt free with no payments other than the house, not even a car payment. We didn't even finance our cruise. Which brings me to my next point. Getting a loan is not possible, not only in this short amount of time but because we don't have good credit. We used to have credit cards, car payments etc., which got us into trouble our first several of years in marriage which is why we paid off our debts as soon as we had the means to, and got rid of all credit cards. Now I wish we had kept some credit cards, lol! I actually applied for the disney credit card a two weeks ago (shhh hubby doesn't know) and got the letter yesterday that I wasn't approved.

My husband has been swallowing his pride and asking family and friends if they can help, but everyone seems to be in a tight situation right now.

On the plus side, we have somewhat of a solution I do believe!!

My husbands friend will fly us home on jetblue if needed. So, as of right now it looks like the kids and I will fly to Florida and just enjoy the resort, and in the meantime, my husband will work his butt off and try to make the cruise happen, (May's house payment, utilities and cruise tipping) then he'll meet us in Florida. Otherwise his friend will fly the kids and I home. That's something and I'm happy. Really there are worse things that could be happening!! I do feel blessed!

Thanks everyone for your feedback and well wishes. Please keep the positive vibes flowing for us.

Jan

 

[mamawanavacation]

So what is paid for? 10 nights SSR 2 BR, Plane tickets down there, And then are you on the Repo cruise on May 10th with us? If so that is obviously paid for. That seems like a lot of money wasted to not go. Buy some food for you room, relax at the pool then take your cruise.

If we make it on the cruise, and if you meet a Jan, please don't mention this thread to my husband, lol. He wouldn't be too happy knowing I was sharing such personal information with strangers. I just needed to vent and try to figure things out since I feel so helpless waiting and relying on him to pull this through. I do however hope I see you there!!

Thanks,
Jan