Our friends are cancelling their entire Oct trip...

[pyrxtc]

Can they still opt into the insurance and then cancel next week? Or maybe they could move it to a few months away and then cancel it so they are not out so much money??

 

[DreadpiratK]

We were in MK on 9/11. We were probably at the farthest park of the park (in the play area in toon town near the train). We were told they were evaculating the park because of the attacks. At that point all we had known was that 1 plane hit the building and they thought it was an accident. We left our room and went for breakfast after that and then to the park. So as we were leaving we heard rumors that there were 2 other planes in the air - a lot of rumors went around because noone had a tv in MK. The next day we had plans to go to Universal. The couple we went with were afraid to go so they canceled on us. We figured we couldn't do anything so we might as well go about life as normal. I have never seen an amusement park so empty! Point is, you can't live your life for what might happen.

On a lighter note - I'm sure someone here would buy the trip off of them for 1/2 price!!

We were right there with you, except we were at TL on 9/11. Same thing, evryone debating what to do, should we go home, ect. It was the middle of our trip, and we saw no advantage to anyone in us leaving, so we finished out. Went back to TL the next day, and it was soo empty. They silly thing was that the hotel was packed with people just milling around, not knowing what to do. Why? They were no safer at the hotel, just more stressed out.

If these events causes people to seize up financially like 9/11 did, the economy really will tank.

 

[Disney's Fab 4]

I think that is your friends own personnal opinion!!! I think you should talk to your son and pump up the fact that this will be a great vacation! And if I am understanding you correctly it will just be your family, so that will make it extra special.... I too am going in October and worry of all the same things as your neighbor... but I put it all aside and look forward to our amazing trip..
Good luck, I am sure you will all have a wonderful time and your friends will probably wish they had gone....

 

[mom23boys]

Wow, I am sorry that they said all that in front of your Son. It is a shame that they are so fearful of what may or may not happen.

My middle DS (6) is really afraid to fly and of course I put on the news a week before we left for our vacation and he saw an airline crash. The one in Athens, Greece. We talked it out and he sat with me on the plane last week. I could see he was really scared, but I just hugged him till he felt comfortable enough to watch out the window. My point is a little of Mommy's love goes along way.

Just remind him of all the great things you will do on vacation and maybe you can plan something else special for him while you are down their.

Sharon

 

[Tinkerbellz]

I have lived in Louisiana my entire life (all 37 3/4 years of it) and I have lived through many hurricanes. Now granted, the devastation on the gulf coast this time is worse than I have ever seen it. I am not cancelling my October trip unless there is a hurricane pointed at WDW. Yes they happen, and yes they can be catastrophic, but I'm not going to stay in my house in fear.

I feel sorry for the OP's son. I hate that he feels afraid to go on his trip. I think once he gets to the world...he'll have the time of his life. I hope that all works out for the OP's family and that they have a wonderful trip. I know I will in October.

All well wishes and prayers also go out to all of those in chaos right now on the gulf coast.

 

[Lewisc]

Can they still opt into the insurance and then cancel next week? Or maybe they could move it to a few months away and then cancel it so they are not out so much money??

Insurance doesn't cover wanting to cancel because you think there might be a hurricane.

I don't know why everyone is assuming the friends are out all their money. With a package you can get a full refund more than 45 days out and a full refund, less $100, 6-44 days in advance. Now the airfare is a different situation.

 

[Vickie46]

I understand they are scared.. but you can't stop living... I am so sorry they scared your son.. that is terrible. Have a great time... enjoy quality family time!

 

[KristiKelly]

Insurance doesn't cover wanting to cancel because you think there might be a hurricane.

I don't know why everyone is assuming the friends are out all their money. With a package you can get a full refund more than 45 days out and a full refund, less $100, 6-44 days in advance. Now the airfare is a different situation.

That's what I thought as well. If there is a hurricane, I would think WDW would reimburse as well or allow to reschedule. I thought they allowed up to 48 hours to cancel.

I have a friend who cancelled @ 24 hours and they gave full refund. Her youngest DD has leukemia and her blood counts were too low to travel though. They might make exceptions for medical purposes.

We are planning a trip for 9/24 and flying. I hate to fly, scares me to think about it but I am not about to share my thoughts & fears with my children. We will watch the weather and if a hurricane starts to threaten Orlando then we will consider changing our plans.

 

[drewc]

Hopefully lot's of people will do this and it will be nice and quiet that week.

Kidding aside, we flew in for our first WDW trip as a family in October 2001. Yes, we debated it, but in the end you can't live in fear, especially when it is not rational. We looked at it like we were doing our part to help get the economy moving again.

 

[angiedora]

I'm sorry to hear about what your friends said in front of your son. My DH and I would have been livid! I hate to say it because they ARE your friends, but you'll have to let your son know that your friends are being unreasonable. He'll be learning a valuable lesson, just because they are adults it doesn't mean that they are making the best choices. At 11 years old I think he is old enough for you to go through this thread and read some of the comments you have received from other adults. Whenever I was afraid as a child my Mother always told me that I couldn't let fear rule me. It's only an emotion. HTH!

 

[DTsDisneyMama]

I live in Florida (2 hour drive south of Orlando) and we are fine!
In fact, we may be driving up to Orlando today.

 

[allie&mattsmom]

I say go and enjoy your trip. Try not to let your friends ruin it for you. I'm sorry that your son had to hear all of that and is now scared. It certainly takes away from the excitement of the trip. Just keep informed of the weather, and if you hear of a threat of a major hurricane brewing around the time of your trip, then maybe you can change your mind. We are going the beginning of October and are very excited about it, although we will be keeping an eye on the weather as well. The way I look at it is we can't live our lives in fear.

 

[CT15]

Sorry to hear that they were so insemsative to your chils fears. Be comforted that Disney will be sure that you are safe. They are not going to put guets in dangers way, and they will do what ever it takes to be sure of that.

They have emergency plans in place and have delat with bad weather and they know what to do.

You cannot live your life in fear, you won't have a life.
Go have fun and enjoy.

 

[Hincher]

You might tell your friend this. If he waits to see if there is a hurricaine at the time you're supposed to go, Disney might give him his money back if there is actually one. We went last September and the day we were supposed to leave home, we couldn't because Hurricaine Ivan came through our hometown so we got there a day late. And then the day we were supposed to leave Disney coming home, we couldn't because Hurricaine Jeanne went through Florida. They were extremely accommodating both coming and going. They even gave me a really good discount on our Tower room at the Contemporary because we were stranded.

We felt very safe at Disney during the hurricaine. They did a good job keeping us informed and helping us get prepared.

That said, I can understand wanting to avoid hurricaines, but it was not the end of the world. We're even going back this October.

 

[lmhall2000]

Let people be the way they are...you can't change them....

But you can request they not discuss their reasons with your son.

You can point out to your child that he will be perfectly safe and you all will have the best trip ever...but not to brag to their daughter...it's bad enough she has to live with neurotic parents.

ENJOY your trip! It's a great place to bond as a family and build memories away from folks that are so filled with fear and not hope.

We had a trip planned 9/12/01 and we were on the first flights once they resumed...had a WONDERFUL trip, just a week later.

Don't let them steal your joy with their neuroses.

Tara

 

[Mr Poohbrain]

Go for it!!

We had friends that cancelled on us last year at the last minute when Ivan was on it's way. We went down anyway and had a glorious week with beautiful weather (at least in Orlando). They (friends) went down a week later and had to leave early b/c of Hurricane Jeanne. Go figure.

Mrs. PB

 

[tjmw2727]

That is unfortunate, especially the way they handled the situation in front of your son. I would think about telling them that just as you respect their decision to cancel please respect your decision to continue on with your plans. I would also try and limit talk of the trip between now and then if you can - so that your son dosen't feel any worse and their child dosen't get jelous. It has to be hard on him/her as well and maybe that is why she is talking to your son - not saying its ok but may be a reason.

My dd is turning 11 and I was thinking about what I would do if she were afraid of a hurricane during our trip. At 11 they are very bright and also are starting to think for themselves. If he is nervous about hurricanes help him research the weather, use the computer and the weather channel as well as the library. You can honor and respect is concerns without cancelling your trip. If he is afraid of a plane crash help him research statistics. I find letting the child lead helps in the understanding process.

Its been hard with all the sad news of the hurricane aftermath to think about a trip but we are going on with our plans for very good personal reasons.

Our family is also doing and planning several things to directly and indirectly help those affected that we can. My dd is showing some signs of guilt for just having clean water and food never mind a trip to disney. It's a hard age IMHO they know more than they can sometimes deal with.

HTH
TJ

 

[bopper]

There is another thread somewhere that the poster tells that she is canceling because she didn't feel that she would enjoy the vacation because of all the suffering of the people in the gulf coast area. Maybe your friends just don't feel very magical right now?

 

[chrismb22]

Tell them to donate their trip to a family who lost everything due to the hurricane -- then the family who will be in need of the happiest place on earth will get some much needed relaxation and these loons will no longer be near the parks when I get there on Oct. 15.

Besides, if they are that afraid of things, could you imagine them on the Tower of Terror????

 

[kangaroodle]

YIKES! Talk about being paranoid! Do these people not realize how far WDW is fromthe ocean? WDW has only closed ONE time due to hurricanes and that was last year! Please tell your son that. As far as the plane crashing....well, unfortunately no one EVER really knows when that will happen.

Your friends are really over-reacting and being very insensitive to your son's feelings. Show your son a map. Maybe he can do a little reading about hurricanes. IF a hurricane were to hit Florida while you were there, I think the most you would get is a lot of rain and wind. The flooding in New Orleans is awful but not a usual occurance with hurricanes. I think your friends may need a geography lesson of their own!

Go and enjoy your vacation. Those friends seem like real downers. You'll probably have a better vacation without them. When you get back you can show them all your pictures of nice, SUNNY Florida!