Morbid question

[MagikMom]

Hi everyone,
This is a very morbid question but Unfortunately, I have to ask it. My sister-in-law is 45 years old and she is dying of breast cancer. It could be weeks, months, possibly a year. We are very close to her and her family which includes my 9 year old neice, Shannon. I have a disney trip booked and we are staying at OKW in April on points. It's a good possibility that we will not be able to go. What happens to our points? Our use year is June. Do we have to use them or lose them by June? Any help with this is appreciated.
On a happier note: the parents a my neices school chipped in for a trip to Disney for my siter-in-law, brother-in-law and neice for one week in February. They will be staying at the Caribean Beach Hotel!!! Please send some pixie dust their way so my sister-in-law will be healthy enough to enjoy it all!

 

[Chuck S]

I'm sorry about your SILs condition, it is never easy to think about vacations under those circumstances.

First, I'll give you the official rules:

1) If your DVC reservation is canceled at least 31 days prior to your scheduled arrival at OKW, the points will be returned to normal status and can be banked or used as you see fit within normal banking deadlines.

2) If you trip is cancel less than 31 days prior to arrival, but not on the arrival day itself, they will go into holding status, meaning they will have to be used by May 31, 2007 or lost. Holding points can not be banked.

3) If you cancel on the day you are scheduled to arrive at your resort, all points are considered used and lost

That being said, Member Services can make exceptions for family emergencies, etc., at their sole discretion. And I would think they will give you some options, depending upon the circumstances.

 

[MagikMom]

Thanks for the Info Chuck. We really Don't want to cancel the trip if we don't have to but everything is soooo unpredictable. I think the next few weeks will tell us more about how my SIL is doing. At least I know I can cancel a month ahead and not lose the points. If worse comes to worse and we end up losing the points, then we lose the points. Losing her is worse.

 

[Grumpy Guy]

Sorry to hear about your sis-in-law. There is also insurance that you can get for your trip. There should have been a brochure in your reservation packet, if not call MS.
Chris

 

[Cindi0511]

I'm so sorry about your situation. It really hurts.

I have one suggestion, though, if you find out early enough that you cannot go, maybe you could try to rent the points and at least get some money for it instead of losing it completely.

Just a thought. My thoughts are with you.

 

[Dean]

Sorry to hear about your sis-in-law. There is also insurance that you can get for your trip. There should have been a brochure in your reservation packet, if not call MS.
Chris

I too am sorry for the situation. This is the proper approach, take the insurance.

 

[DebbieB]

Sorry to hear about your situation. Before you buy the insurance, check to be sure they would cover it since she is already sick.

My mom died about 90 days before a scheduled trip and they allowed me to bank the current year points even though I was past the banking deadline (by a few days).

 

[vakl_for_life]

I would suggest calling and asking if there is any possibility of banking your points. make sure you include your situation.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm truly sorry to hear what you're going through. It's always best to keep planning for the best and then make changes if you need to.

Familiarize yourself with the rules for cancelling. The thing that makes this "trickier" is that your trip is towards the end of your Use Year. You'll be past the banking deadlines so you'll need to use the points by the end May. Also, you can travel to non-DVC options during the last 60 days of your Use Year but the reservations themselves have to be made prior to the last 60 days.

As mentioned, DVC does sometimes make exceptions but it's generally for the most extreme circumstances (as in if she should pass away days before you leave for the trip). It never hurts to ask for consideration, but have your own back-up plan in place if the reason you want to cancel is not due to the most extreme of circumstances.

And my hope is that your sister and you will both have wonderful trips to WDW and that your sister will beat the odds!

 

[LarryM]

I also thought thier was a onetime exeception to the rules, but only once. We had friend cancel on us with in the 30 days and I called and was given a onetime exempton. If you do a search on the boards you may find other references to this. Wehn I did this they were very specific that it was a one time thing.

 

[kimberh]

I cannot express how sorry I am to hear about this. Please express how sorry we are to your entire family. I do hope that your SIL is in good enough health to enjoy her trip in Feb.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I'm so sorry to hear about your sister.

I believe the insurance everyone is talking about will pay out at $6/pt should you have to cancel. At least that's what it was when we used this insurance in the past.

 

[kdzgon]

MagikMom,

I am so sorry for what you are going through - we went through it with my sister - we lost her to breast cancer two years ago yesterday. Our dilemma was Christmas (I was ill - did I visit with her and chance worsening her condition, or stay away and miss what was ultimately her last Christmas?) and my brother's was he and his family was embarking on a five year journey cruising around the world with several other boaters.

Losing her will definitely be worse, but if she does not beat the odds before your trip, I would venture your heart will not be in much of anything else anyway and Disney might help pass a little time. I would not cancel yet, look in to the insurance and worry about the trip when or if it becomes a definitive issue. Unless you feel you would be intruding, I might also look in to changing the dates to accompany your SIL and family on their trip. Family helps distract from a lot - either way, the fantasy of Disney will go a long way for your SIL - our prayers and best wishes to her and her family for a great time there!

 

[dianeschlicht]

So sorry to hear about your SIL. I lost my Mom to breast cancer, and hers did linger for 4 years with chemo.

I think you have been given excellent advice so far. I'd certainly take out the trip insurance offered in your DVC envelope, and try to make the best decision. You have a good attitude about it. You are so right, losing her is MUCH worse than losing the points.

 

[nmere]

My thought's and prayers are with you, your family and your SIL. I can relate to what you are going through, Spent since 12/22/06 going from hospital to hospital, my daughter Anastasia was born two months premature (31 weeks), My father had a brain tumor removed on 1/17/06 and is in recovery, and my 11 yo step son has been fighting a brain tumor for 8 years, 5 surgerys, on his third round of chemo. Anastasia and and my dad are doing well, Step son has some issues on his last MRI.

Through all of this I just booked two two bedrooms and a studio in Nov at VWL to celebrate my parents 50th Anv. Even flighing in their best friends from germany as a surprise, they will stay in one of the 2 bedrooms together.

Anyway, Like someone else said up their, maybe you can go in Feb with your SIL, I know that I lean on family for support, I bought DVC with enough points to take everyone with us to the magic.

May God bless,
Nick

 

[greenban]

Just sending Pixie Dust and good wishes to you all, especially DSIL's Kids and Husband.

-Tony

 

[beachblanket]

DCL has a heart and makes exceptions to point loss rules in exceptional circumstances. I know this from personal experience.

In August 2003, my family checked into the Grand Californian on points for a four night stay. The night of our arrival, we returned from dinner to a flashing message light on our phone. My wife checked the message, which was from my brother in law simply saying "call me as soon as you get this."

Our guts told us this was not good news, and we were right. Upon reaching him, we learned my father in law had suddenly and unexpectedlty died that afternoon.

I won't get into what receiving that sort of news is like at the start of a vacation in the "happiest place on earth." Suffice to say all plans were immediately cancelled, and we had to check out the next day.

I got around to calling DVC the day before the funeral. Amazingly, the Grand Californian had already contacted them and explained the circumstances of our aborted stay, and DVC had already returned to my account all the points for the three unused nights.

 

[MagikMom]

Thanks to everyone for your support and suggestions. I will look into the trip insurance. They came to WDW with us a few years ago. That was their first time and my SIL wanted to go back again. We won't go with them because I thnk they need some time alone together as a family. NMERE, I have an 11 year old son and a 14 year old daughter. I can't imagine them going through what your step son is going through. It's just so WRONG for a child to have cancer. I wish your family the best of luck and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. As for little Anastasia, Congratulations!! I am a pediatric nurse and I've seen many 31 weekers do just fine and she will too!!