Just had to cancel VGC and Aulani for next week - just rambling

[travelbug]

Wow, I just saw this thread for the first time. I'm SO sorry to hear of this turn of events, but very glad that your son was diagnosed before getting on a plane. Sure hope all goes well with his recovery and that he feels 100% very soon.

I've enjoyed reading all your posts about Hawaii, as you and I were planning our Aulani trips at about the same time. Now you get the unexpected pleasure of a WDW trip very soon, and hopefully an extra wonderful Aulani trip next summer!

Great job negotiating refunds, tickets, reservations, and other arrangements so quickly! I'm in awe of all you've been able to accomplish in such a short time.

 

[Anal Annie]

DOH! I was just trying to log onto the DVC member website to look at availability in January since we have to use those Delta flights by then and I got this crazy message:

Error:
Invalid activation, please verify ClubID and Activation Code


What is THIS? Where have I been? WHAT activation code? When I hover over the little question mark it says it was provided in my membership papers. WHAT? Are they kidding me?? What are they talking about? GRRRRRR!!!

 

[edk35]

DOH! I was just trying to log onto the DVC member website to look at availability in January since we have to use those Delta flights by then and I got this crazy message:

Error:
Invalid activation, please verify ClubID and Activation Code


What is THIS? Where have I been? WHAT activation code? When I hover over the little question mark it says it was provided in my membership papers. WHAT? Are they kidding me?? What are they talking about? GRRRRRR!!!

If you have used the site before.....you should be able to log in. Clear your browser and try logging in again. Sometimes if you mess up with the sign in...it takes you to the page as if you are logging in for the first time ever. Or try a different browser.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

That error code happened to me before. I'm not a technology person, but I think my son told me to clear all cookies. It had something to do with being logged into WDW website & then trying to access DVC website.

Good luck. I know you have a lot going on. I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel for you soon.

Please keep us updated.

 

[Sandisw]

I know how excited you were and sorry this happened and I hope things heal quickly for your son...

 

[Anal Annie]

Well, so the trip cancellation continues. We were able to cancel our Maui reservation with the Westin and our Starwood points went back into our acct. BUT since we booked they've changed the point requirements and increased how many we'd need. Won't have enough to rebook exactly what we HAD so will just have to wing it for Maui next time I guess. That kinda sucks. Meanwhile, she said the points would expire in Oct. unless we use our Starwood acct. So I said you mean like EAT at the Swan or Dolphin at Disney & she said YES! So now I need to plan a meal over there while we're there!! OY!!

I was also able to snag a standard studio at Jambo House over MLK weekend which coincidently falls at the end of DS's first semester of HS next winter - so our school district gives the teachers a "professional day" after the end of the semester - which means in addition to getting Monday off for MLK they also get Tues. off - means we can have a long 4-night weekend at Disney to use up our Delta flights that we have use by Jan. 27th!! NOW to figure out which of the Delta flights are the best option. They pretty much SUCK from this area. Nothing direct. The best airport with the best time has a flight that goes thru Detroit - it has a 1 hr. 10 min. layover - something I'm not comfortable with in JANUARY in DETROIT. So now I think I want to find something thru Atlanta since it's January. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

 

[dianeschlicht]

So sorry to hear you had to cancel! Glad you were able to get something else planned right away too. I am not surprised Delta was the problem. I try not to fly them if I can help it, but living in Minnesota, there isn't much choice a lot of times.

 

[Anal Annie]

Oh no! I hope that your son recovers soon! My DD is a swimmer and she just told me that she touched the bottom of the University of Wisconsin's pool (17 feet!) last week. She's a scuba diver so she said she equalized on the way down. I didn't think anything of it last week but it's kinda freaking me out in retrospect.

You should be able to get your SPG points back without an issue. I would also call Priceline about the car. They are more flexible than most people think. I'm so glad that you found something in WDW!

I think I'm finally done cancelling stuff. Wanted to let you know you were right about the Priceline car deal. They held a $15 cancellation fee but refunded the rest once I provided them with the pulmonologist's name & ph # and the diagnosis!

All in all we came out pretty lucky. I just finished faxing the dr's note to Hawaiian Airlines and hopefully they will come thru as well. I have been dealing with a few cancellations every day. Today I finished by calling Priceline, Aulani (to cancel our cabana) and I cancelled the car on Maui (which was NOT a Priceline deal). I finally settled on flights to rebook for the Delta flights but it was late last nite by the time I had a chance to talk to DH about them and by today they'd gone up by $10 pp so I may sit tight & watch them for a few days. I hate that airline price game. The only ones that meet our price point really suck. They either have long layovers, go thru Detroit (in January) OR get into Orlando at like 12:15 AM. The better ones which go thru Atlanta and have less total layover time and better overall times would've run us $45 more pp yesterday ($55 more today). I hate to pay ANYTHING more so I don't know what to do.

The SPG points will stay in our Starwood acct. - since we have to use the Starwood acct. by Oct. to keep them active I booked a Sheraton Four Points hotel in Savannah, GA to spend the night at on our way to WDW next Friday. It was $100 more than just stopping at say a Comfort Inn BUT the other option was to eat a dinner at the Swan or Dolphin & we really didn't want to do that either. Figured we'd spend $$100 on a meal we didn't want but since we wanted a place to stop this seemed like as good of a compromise as anything.

I managed to find 5 ADR's we could do so I think I'm just about done (for THIS trip). I'll deal with ADR's for the January trip later!

I gotta tell ya'll tho all of these Aulani threads are just KILLERS to read. I sure hope we can work everything out for next summer.

On a bright note DS's visit to the pulmonologist was good. The xrays showed this thing is getting smaller and he won't have any restrictions when we go to WDW. We go back again on Friday for a follow-up & more xrays but hopefully it will be all but gone by then.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

On a bright note DS's visit to the pulmonologist was good. The xrays showed this thing is getting smaller and he won't have any restrictions when we go to WDW. We go back again on Friday for a follow-up & more xrays but hopefully it will be all but gone by then.

In the end this is what's most important, the rest is just $$$! Great news!

 

[jekjones1558]

Although you have had to invest a ton of time and headaches, it sounds like the $$ hit will not be too bad. Your DS is doing well. You will be at WDW soon. So much to celebrate. Now we just have to get you going to Hawaii! Good luck!

 

[Cinderpamela]

I gotta tell ya'll tho all of these Aulani threads are just KILLERS to read. I sure hope we can work everything out for next summer.

On a bright note DS's visit to the pulmonologist was good. The xrays showed this thing is getting smaller and he won't have any restrictions when we go to WDW. We go back again on Friday for a follow-up & more xrays but hopefully it will be all but gone by then.

I am just catching up on this thread!!! Ackk!! So sorry that this happened, and after all the research and work you have put into planning!

Just like PP's have said... I am especially bummed as I was really looking forward to reading all about your trip!!

Glad to hear DS is doing better! Has he considered taking up rowing? My DS (16) is also a swimmer, and just starting rowing Crew last spring.... Loves it!! Plus at your DS's weight he would be at a huge advantage for the boys "lightweight boat" category.... just a thought....

Anyways ... as you said before....the big plus (if there is one) is you won't have to deal with construction or a cabana thats next to construction!!

 

[Airb330]

Well, so the trip cancellation continues. We were able to cancel our Maui reservation with the Westin and our Starwood points went back into our acct. BUT since we booked they've changed the point requirements and increased how many we'd need. Won't have enough to rebook exactly what we HAD so will just have to wing it for Maui next time I guess. That kinda sucks. Meanwhile, she said the points would expire in Oct. unless we use our Starwood acct. So I said you mean like EAT at the Swan or Dolphin at Disney & she said YES! So now I need to plan a meal over there while we're there!! OY!!

While the point requirements did go WAY up the past 2 years for the Westin Villas (it was 12,000 points per night in 2011), the hotel itself is still 12,000. While I know it isn't quite the same, perhaps you could make the Westin hotel work out, at least for part of a future hawaii trip.

We're actually staying at the Villas this October if we don't need to cancel due to a terminal illness. We previously stayed at the hotel 2 years ago for our honeymoon; it was pretty nice. I wish you the best and good job putting stuff together so last minute. I hope we're not in the same boat in a few months!

 

[aclov]

Oh no I'm sorry to hear you won't be going to Aulani! I know you've been posting on threads especially the cabana one. At least hopefully you will be at WDW to enjoy some magical time and hope your son recovers quickly.

 

[fishing gal]

I just noticed this post today--So sorry about all your troubles. I just wanted to mention that many times your credit card will have trip insurance included for purchases you made for travel. I was just reading my Chase Visa terms and conditions and it says that by purchasing travel (air tickets, etc.) with your credit card you are eligible for their trip cancellation insurance. I know you've already done a bunch of leg work, but whatever credit card you bought those Delta flights on might qualify through this type of insurance. It might be worth checking into. Good luck!

 

[mkunichi]

I just noticed this post as well and am glad your son is getting better. As others have said that the #1 thing. The #2 thing is that you'll still be on vacation with everyone in your family!

The SPG points will stay in our Starwood acct. - since we have to use the Starwood acct. by Oct. to keep them active I booked a Sheraton Four Points hotel in Savannah, GA to spend the night at on our way to WDW next Friday. It was $100 more than just stopping at say a Comfort Inn BUT the other option was to eat a dinner at the Swan or Dolphin & we really didn't want to do that either. Figured we'd spend $$100 on a meal we didn't want but since we wanted a place to stop this seemed like as good of a compromise as anything.

I don't know your feelings on credit cards but if you want to top off your Starwood account to have enough for Maui you could always get a Starwood Amex card. It's one of the best rewards credit card out there. The downside: $65 annual fee. The upside: your Starwood points never expire.

 

[Anal Annie]

I just noticed this post as well and am glad your son is getting better. As others have said that the #1 thing. The #2 thing is that you'll still be on vacation with everyone in your family!


I don't know your feelings on credit cards but if you want to top off your Starwood account to have enough for Maui you could always get a Starwood Amex card. It's one of the best rewards credit card out there. The downside: $65 annual fee. The upside: your Starwood points never expire.

The Starwood points actually originally CAME from Amex Reward points - not a Starwood Amex, just a Gold Amex. So they are stuck now in Starwood. They can't go back to Amex. The problem now is that they changed the # of points required to book anything with the Starwood points AFTER we booked this Maui reservation last year. So while we DID have enough to convert for 3 nights at the Westin (along with $150 / n) we NOW only have enough pts. for 1 n + $275 / cash. I don't think we'll be staying at the Westin if we go back to Maui. That deal pretty much SUCKS. If we go I'll book something thru Costco or something. It just bites that those points will likely never get used because the requirements are so high now - and they could've gone so far as Amex. points. OH WELL. Nothing I can do about this one. I'm not even sure why I'm trying to keep these points "alive" as the requirements are so high everywhere now. We'll never use them.

Everything else has come out fine so far. I rebooked our LAX-HNL flights on Delta to WDW for MLK weekend and they were "only" $22 more pp so that's all we had to pay on those. I am still waiting to hear back from Hawaiian Airlines about getting a refund on our inter-island flights but those were cheap ($68 pp) so I'm not going to sweat it. Sounds like it may take up to a month to hear back from them. Alaska Airline was super. We have a year with them.

On the UP side we saw the pulmonologist again today for more xrays. This "thing" is 99% gone now so it's looking good. He's all clear for us to drive to FL with no restrictions. Since it was not 100% gone we will have to go back again 1 more time after vacation to get him cleared to go back to his competitive swim practices which will start back up the last week of August when school starts.

 

[mkunichi]

The problem now is that they changed the # of points required to book anything with the Starwood points AFTER we booked this Maui reservation last year. So while we DID have enough to convert for 3 nights at the Westin (along with $150 / n) we NOW only have enough pts. for 1 n + $275 / cash. I don't think we'll be staying at the Westin if we go back to Maui. That deal pretty much SUCKS.

Yeah, the cash and points valuations for the Villas just does not make sense. But for other Starwood properties the value is there - 12,000 points for a $369 room plus you don't pay room tax. That's $0.03 a point which is pretty good.

Anyway, it sounds like you transferred 24,000 points which isn't a lot of points so maybe burning them is the right move. The actual SPG Amex card is my go-to points card and I feel there are still good $0.03+ point redemptions to be had. Hilton points are a lost cause nowadays, though.

For the Westin Villas you might look for an owner referral deal. Over on FlyerTalk they were talking about getting 5 nights for $795 plus 5,000 SPG points (or $75 resort credit) plus $185 credit on an Avis rent-a-car.

Anyway, hope you and the family are doing well and enjoying the vacation? I'm guessing you're finishing up the drive today and will be "home" later today?

 

[Anal Annie]

Yeah, the cash and points valuations for the Villas just does not make sense. But for other Starwood properties the value is there - 12,000 points for a $369 room plus you don't pay room tax. That's $0.03 a point which is pretty good.

Anyway, it sounds like you transferred 24,000 points which isn't a lot of points so maybe burning them is the right move. The actual SPG Amex card is my go-to points card and I feel there are still good $0.03+ point redemptions to be had. Hilton points are a lost cause nowadays, though.

For the Westin Villas you might look for an owner referral deal. Over on FlyerTalk they were talking about getting 5 nights for $795 plus 5,000 SPG points (or $75 resort credit) plus $185 credit on an Avis rent-a-car.

Anyway, hope you and the family are doing well and enjoying the vacation? I'm guessing you're finishing up the drive today and will be "home" later today?

Actually we transferred over 60,000 Amex Reward points - they converted to about 24,000 SPG points. The conversion rate is not 1 to 1. At the time that I booked this trip the Westin was the only property that was available so that's the deal I had to book. ANYWAY....who knows what the deal will be by the time we can re-book. I'll deal with it then. I would be happy to stay at the Sheraton or something if it's available the next time...

And actually we're not leaving for WDW until NEXT Friday. With not knowing how quickly DS would recover I pushed the trip back by a week whenever I called MS to cancel / change. At that initial diagnosis time there was still a slight possibility that he could end up in the hospital for a few days so I wanted to build in a little extra cushion on the timing. I ran into availability issues starting on 8/19 & 8/20 so the 19th is our check-out date - I just worked it backward from there when I rebooked.

 

[bobbiwoz]

...
On the UP side we saw the pulmonologist again today for more xrays. This "thing" is 99% gone now so it's looking good. He's all clear for us to drive to FL with no restrictions. Since it was not 100% gone we will have to go back again 1 more time after vacation to get him cleared to go back to his competitive swim practices which will start back up the last week of August when school starts.

I'm so glad to read this!

 

[ABE4DISNEY]

Gosh, what horrible bad luck, but I'm so thankful you were able to figure out what was wrong with your son before flying!!

I am wishing you lots of for your trip!!!