Need help cancelling - loss of job

[Sienna]

We booked a trip (air, AKL, park tickets, meal plan, trip insurance) through Disneyworld.com and we were supposed to leave in two weeks. My husband lost his job today. Even though the trip has been paid in full, we're thinking we'd better do the responsible thing and cancel and at least get some money back. Haven't totally decided, but I need to know what our options are. Has anybody been through this? What do I need to do?

 

[kaffinito]

I am so sorry to hear that! I hope things get better for you soon.

Honestly, I haven't had to cancel a trip to WDW before, I've just rescheduled them. Hopefully someone on here can help you with this.

 

[design_mom]

I am so sorry about the job loss.

The cancellation policy on our trip reads that your package (room, dining plan, tickets) would be refunded in full EXCEPT for a $100 cancellation fee if you cancelled between 44-6 days before arrival. (Less than 6 days notice would be a $200 cancellation fee.)

HOWEVER, if you booked services not provided by Disney as part of your package (like air), that portion of the trip would be governed by the provider's cancellation policy. If you bought non-refundable tickets, for instance, that portion might not be refunded at all. We did not purchase our airline tickets through Disney, so I don't have more info on how it works.

However, since you mentioned that you bought trip insurance, you might be entitled to more back, although the trip insurance fee itself is non-refundable according to Disney's policy. What you're entitled to would depend on your policy. We bought it for our last trip (did not for this one), but we did not buy Disney's policy. When comparing policies, I noticed that some covered job loss and others did not. I hope that you're covered under yours!

Definitely read your trip insurance policy FIRST and see if you think you are covered. Then call Disney and talk it through with them to make sure you're all on the same page.

Good luck -- and good luck finding new employment as well.

 

[momeeyore]

I am so sorry for your family. I wish you all the best of luck in getting back to work! I have gone through this before and I know the pain and fear, so my thoughts are with you.

I just pullled out the insurance policy for my upcoming trip. It does say the following is covered by the insurance: "The Insured or the Insured's Traveling Companion is terminated or laid off through no fault of his or her own, provided that he or she has been an active employee for the same employer for at least five years. Termination must occur following the the effective date of coverage."

I believe the "effective date of coverage" is when you paid for the insurance.

 

[CANDICE]

Sorry to hear this. I can kind of relate. We were supposed to go Dec 2009, but I had to quit my job 8/08 due to health problems. I had been planning for a while and it was such a dissapointment. Now I am a bit better and hope to go to work soon. Praying for you and your family that your DH finds work soon!

 

[vettechick99]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Boy does that suck!!

If you would end up losing most or all of your money on the air, I would keep the trip and downgrade your room and drop the dining plan. I have stayed at many of the moderates and at least one value, and they are fine! Plus, you can eat much cheaper at WDW not using the dining plan - just skip all but 1 or 2 sit-downs, eat breakfast in the room, and eat counter-service most meals. You can go to WDW very inexpensively compared to what you are paying now.

GL!

 

[Microcell]

While I agree with Vettechick, the only exception is that if you have tickets through SW you can use the funds for later travel... up to a year after booking. Maybe try to reschedule for another time?

My DH still has his job but his bosses are very unstable so you never feel very safe, and we are in a similar situation, supposed to leave in three weeks but if his job gets threatened we know we shouldn't go either, and one of the "benchmarks" to figuring out if his job will be in danger is 11 days before the trip!

So while we are worrying about his job stability and feeling sad about possibly missing this trip, I came up with a plan, that if he does feel like he needs to look for another job we will reschedule everything for September (when we usually go) and depending on our situation then we will re-evaluate.

That being said, if my DH isn't told outright to "look for another job" we will go even though cooler minds would say we need to save every penny. Sometimes you just need to get away and recharge.

So, depending on your own financial situation, there should be room to decide if you just "need" to get away and then like Vettechick said, downgrade, make your trip shorter, eat breakfast in your room.. it can be done and cheaply! We have always done values before this trip and now that we have "upgraded" to WL I am actually afraid the kids will be dissappointed that we won't be at ASMO! It feels so much like "Disney" there.

Good luck!

 

[Luv2Roam]

With trip insurance it could be the only money you will be out is for the insurance. Call Disney and see what they suggest.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I am not familiar with packages--so even if you lost maybe a portion of the package, it would be better than going without all that money that you could use right now. I would be inclined to accept up to a 50% loss depending on the cost of the whole trip and what my job prospects were in addition to the ability to sustain my family.

DH lost his job Nov 1--he did end up getting a new job Dec 1 (out of state)--we had to cancel a trip to California for money reasons--mostly b/c we needed the ticket credits to be able to see daddy during our transition time. For a very short period--we did not know how to stretch ourselves for 6 months. We ended up getting a modification on our mortgage and setting ourselves up for a long term unemployment--just in case.

Some Trip Insurances include job loss in their contract--so if you had that, I would be checking my insurance first.

Having gone through a job loss and the fear of "what's going to happen now"--I would decide fairly quickly how this trip figures into the entire equation of housing and feeding your family.

It is quite easy to suggest to just take the trip anyway since it is paid for. But feeding my kids for a week on vacation at the possible expense of feeding them for 2-3-4 weeks at home, is just something that cannot be ignored.

But if you find that on the homefront, your family has the financial solvency to get through the next 6-9 months in the event DH cannot become reemployed (or he becomes reemployed at a lower salary)--then it would be quite okay to take the trip.

So--

1. I would immediately ascertain my home situation and my ability to pay bills and such (with severance, emergency funds, and unemployment). Make necessary adjustments that allow the pennies to stretch farther.

2. Do what I Can to make the trip more affordable. (I'd not necessarily cancel a dining plan...maybe cut back to CS or something.)

3. Cancel the trip if I could get at least half the money back (or postpone the trip)--if going on the trip compromises the ability to care for my family in the near future.

HTH--It sucks, just keep your chin up and tell DH to be open to any job prospect that he can find. One of DH's co-workers is insisting on staying locally and is finding out that he may be out of work for the long haul. While it sucks to have DH away--it is nice to know that he found a very secure position and the company is doing their best to work with us, knowing that relocation of all of us is very tough right now.

On the airlines--depending on who you fly, while they have a no-refund policy in most cases, they do allow you to slide tickets out and use the credits. (So DH now flies SW a lot--we had a change in our home schedule and 4 days before he was supposed to come home for a weekend, he was able to rebook his ticket to a better time period that we needed him home and then got a credit for a future ticket b/c that ticket was cheaper than what he had originally booked.)

If you have trip insurance--this could all be a non-issue.

During this difficult time and my prayers and thoughts to your family as you embark on a new journey.

 

[snowbunny]

It always amazes me that people suggest going ahead with a Disney vacation after a major job loss. I would take the package refund (less cancellation fee) and bank the money to use for necessities. There is no way I could walk around WDW and enjoy myself while worrying about how long we will to be able to keep up with mortgage payments. WDW is not going anywhere, it will be there still when you are more financially secure.

 

[PinkRhombus]

OP: You just have to take a couple of deep breaths and do it. I don't want you being in a situation 3 or 4 months from now kicking yourself because you went.

It always amazes me that people suggest going ahead with a Disney vacation after a major job loss. I would take the package refund (less cancellation fee) and bank the money to use for necessities. There is no way I could walk around WDW and enjoy myself while worrying about how long we will to be able to keep up with mortgage payments. WDW is not going anywhere, it will be there still when you are more financially secure.

Agree...but it depends on a few other things.

Does the OP's family have large enough savings to last them 6 months?

Does the OP's husband get any type of severance?

If they DO have either or both, I might be more apt to do a downgrade...BUT probably wouldn't, personally, because the OP's husband has a new full-time job of finding a new job...that's more important.

 

[Sienna]

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. I am absorbing all of the feedback. I'm sure this will change a thousand times in the next few days, but at this point we are leaning towards taking the trip. We have savings that will easily get us through the next 6-9 months, and that's without knowing what kind of severance will be offered (I know, it's weird, he won't find out about that until next week).

We are already doing the quick service meal plan, and I like that it's already paid in advance. Yes, we'll have a few meals out of pocket, but we'd also be eating if we stayed home. Good thoughts on downgrading the room or hotel - I may look into that. Is there a penalty for that? I booked under the 4/3 deal, would I lose the discount?

I can't imagine taking the trip if we were leaving in the next few days - we are a wreck right now. But hopefully the dust will settle soon and we'll be in a better place to look forward to the trip. While we are shocked at the job loss, he's had some difficult circumstances at work for a while, and I think this vacation might be just what he needs to come back refreshed and ready to get the job search off on the right track. Besides, once he gets a new job, we might not be able to take a vacation like this for a while. I don't know, so many things going through our minds right now.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I just want to say that I feel for what you are going through and I know your hubby will get another job soon! Sometimes things happen for a reason and something great will come from something not so great!

I have had to cancel many a trip for many a reason but mostly mine have been just room reservations..if yours is a package maybe you can move the dates way into the future so you do not lose anything?

 

[design_mom]

It always amazes me that people suggest going ahead with a Disney vacation after a major job loss. I would take the package refund (less cancellation fee) and bank the money to use for necessities. There is no way I could walk around WDW and enjoy myself while worrying about how long we will to be able to keep up with mortgage payments. WDW is not going anywhere, it will be there still when you are more financially secure.

Normally, I'd agree. I'm usually quite conservative with money. However, I don't think the OP has given us enough info to really offer suggestions one way or the other, so I don't see any harm in people mentioning all the options.

For instance, the OP didn't say whether her husband was the sole wage-earner for the family. She didn't say whether there are kids in the picture, etc. I know (from experience) that any layoff is stressful for a family, but there are some families where it's a "major hassle" and other families for whom it's a "major catastrophe."

I am sure the OP will make the best decision for her family.

 

[tinkerfan1]

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. I am absorbing all of the feedback. I'm sure this will change a thousand times in the next few days, but at this point we are leaning towards taking the trip. We have savings that will easily get us through the next 6-9 months, and that's without knowing what kind of severance will be offered (I know, it's weird, he won't find out about that until next week).

We are already doing the quick service meal plan, and I like that it's already paid in advance. Yes, we'll have a few meals out of pocket, but we'd also be eating if we stayed home. Good thoughts on downgrading the room or hotel - I may look into that. Is there a penalty for that? I booked under the 4/3 deal, would I lose the discount?

I can't imagine taking the trip if we were leaving in the next few days - we are a wreck right now. But hopefully the dust will settle soon and we'll be in a better place to look forward to the trip. While we are shocked at the job loss, he's had some difficult circumstances at work for a while, and I think this vacation might be just what he needs to come back refreshed and ready to get the job search off on the right track. Besides, once he gets a new job, we might not be able to take a vacation like this for a while. I don't know, so many things going through our minds right now.

I think you have the right attitude. Since everything is already paid for and you would need to eat no matter where you were anyway, I think I'd be taking the vacation. In fact, I'm pretty doggone sure I would. This may be a welcome reprieve from the stress that you are feeling right now and it doesn't sound like it will put you in any further debt. You can always call, explain your situation, and ask if you can change to a less expensive room without losing what you already have. Maybe that would give you a little spending money as well. Good luck to you and your family. I hope that you are able to take this vacation because I know that all of your troubles would melt away while you were there. Then, you could go home with a brand new start. Best wishes!

 

[mlittig]

Sienna, thinking of you and wishing you blessings as you make your decision Please let us know how it goes and what you decide to do

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Instead of losing our money, our TA has moved our reservations for us. Yes Disney keeps all the monies and moves everything to the later date, and if we do decide to cancel the new dates later, we can get the money back. You should determine your own situation and needs at this time. If the money is necessary right this minute, by all means cancel and take the $100 loss. If not, keep the money where it is (at a later reservation date) and wait a while before you decide. I wish you the best, it hurts, I know we are there now. I miss Disney, but survival is more important right now. Hoping for better times ahead.

 

[Sue M]

Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and suggestions. I am absorbing all of the feedback. I'm sure this will change a thousand times in the next few days, but at this point we are leaning towards taking the trip. We have savings that will easily get us through the next 6-9 months, and that's without knowing what kind of severance will be offered (I know, it's weird, he won't find out about that until next week).

We are already doing the quick service meal plan, and I like that it's already paid in advance. Yes, we'll have a few meals out of pocket, but we'd also be eating if we stayed home. Good thoughts on downgrading the room or hotel - I may look into that. Is there a penalty for that? I booked under the 4/3 deal, would I lose the discount?

I can't imagine taking the trip if we were leaving in the next few days - we are a wreck right now. But hopefully the dust will settle soon and we'll be in a better place to look forward to the trip. While we are shocked at the job loss, he's had some difficult circumstances at work for a while, and I think this vacation might be just what he needs to come back refreshed and ready to get the job search off on the right track. Besides, once he gets a new job, we might not be able to take a vacation like this for a while. I don't know, so many things going through our minds right now.

Yes, there would be a penalty of $50 per package for changes after 45 days to downgrade rooms or package. Don't know if you'd loose the 4/3. Don't know what resort or room you booked. But say you booked POR water view and wanted to downgrade to a standard view room, I don't think you'd loose the 4/3 but it would cost you $50 to change your res. To get the definitive answer, you'd have to phone and speak with someone at Disney.

I'm so sorry to hear of your difficulties. Hope DH finds an even better job now. Sometimes one door closes and another opens. Best of luck.

 

[Elmo888]

Here's my hindsight...DH was laid off in 2001, we had one DD, and I was a SAHM. We just wish that we had taken DD and drove (I don't know, 20 hours?) to WDW. We could have taken our time and had a conservative trip, money-wise. We had all the time in the world and, relative to when he did get a job 15 months later, we did have some money to spend. After spending our savings and going into debt in those 15 months, it wouldn't have made a difference.

Since you have some savings, I would certainly consider taking the vacation. I don't feel this way if it is someone that doesn't have money and is adding to debt, but if you have some savings that will last you a few months or you still have a job, I would take the trip.

I understand the state of shock and the worry. What you have now is time, so use it wisely to spend with your DH. We didn't understand this until much later.

Good luck to you and your DH!

 

[a1tinkfans]

Sienna, thinking of you and wishing you blessings as you make your decision Please let us know how it goes and what you decide to do

Well said!