This is still a
Disney cruise, so you can still get your money back (all of it) if you cancel before the paid-in-full date.
Here's the details from
DCL:
Cruise Cancellation Fees:
Cruises of 10 days or More and Cruises Less Than 10 days where Embark and Debark is non-U.S. Port
Days prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
45 days or more Deposit per Guest for Suites/Concierge staterooms
89-45 days Deposit per Guest for Non-Suites/Concierge rooms
44-30 days 50% of vacation price per Guest
29-15 days 75% of vacation price per Guest
14 days or less 100% of vacation price per Guest
For reservations made prior to January 19, 2011, the cancellation fees assessed will be based on the cancellation fees listed on the original confirmation unless the sailing date or vacation package is modified.
Air Cancellation Fees:
Any changes or cancellations to your
Disney Cruise Line air arrangements (including, but not limited to, sail date/air travel date changes and name changes/corrections), will result in cancellation fees assessed as follows:
Domestic Air Cancellation Fees
Days prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
74 to 45 days 10% of the air supplement per Guest
44 to 31 days 50% of the air supplement per Guest
30 to 0 days 100% of the air supplement per Guest
International Air Cancellation Fees
Days prior to Vacation Commencement Date Fee Amount
89 to 45 days 50% of the air supplement per Guest
44 to 0 days 100% of the air supplement per Guest
Domestic air cancellation fees apply for sailings where both the embark and debark port are in North America. International air cancellation fees apply for all other sailing itineraries.[/I]
So, if you are in a non-suite room (and not one of the very restrictive rule IGT/OGT/VGT rates - which should not be available until much later - you can cancel until 90 days pre-cruise.
If you have older parents, you might seriously consider getting some form of
trip insurance, be it from DCL or an independent company. If not from DCL, you will need to purchase it fairly soon after booking so pre-existing conditions are covered.
Without insurance, see above for cancellation cost.
My 2010 EBTA was roughly $800 pp; I think the 2011 WBTA was more expensive, closer to $1100 pp - (although I booked with the OGT rate, so it was different).
Use this for comparison: October 2012 Hawaii, inside cabin, Cat 11A (sideways), 2 adults, around $3500, purchased pre-public pricing (best available). The same day, a verandah was roughly $6000. Hawaii should cost more than the TA.
I think you can safely estimate $100 / adult for a lower- category cabin (kid perhaps $449).