reservations and insurance

[farleyman]

Hi everyone, long time reader, first time poster here. Wife and I are thinking of making a trip to the World this fall. I pretty much know enough to book my own room reservations, air, etc myself to save a few bucks, but we have a little dilema, and hope you can help. There is a chance that my wife and I might be moving to another area of the country, and would have to cancel our trip. If you book everything yourself, and you get insurance, will the insurance cover something like this? I guess I just totally don't understand the insurance thing. If I do everything myself, I assume trip insurance would just cover my room ressies, and tickets, but if I book my own airline tickets, I'm pretty much on my own on this regard, correct?
Sorry this is so long, but anyone with lots of experience booking their own "elements" to the trip, and any idea of how to be able to cancel each thing without paying an enormous cancellation fee for each, I certainly would appreciate any advice.

Many, many thanks in advance.

Jim

 

[BrianD]

I don't know that you can get insurance if you book everything yourself. I know you can get insurance if you book a package, and if you book a Basic Plan package (which is essentially a room only package) through WDTC you can get insurance added on. But I think that even on packages where airfare is included in the package, I don't think that airfare is covered by the insurance unless you buy unrestricted tickets ($$$). Someone correct me if I'm wrong...

 

[josierac]

Jim,
if you book the whole trip through Disney Travel then the insurance of $33.95 per person will cover every aspect of your trip.

Check with the air portion though. If you purchase what disney calls bulk air it is all covered. If they only have scheduled air available there may be some restrictions.

If you book your airfare seperately then you are on your own with the air. You can still can get insurance on the land part of it.

If you purchase park hopper passes ahead of time this is not covered in the insurance. If you book a package that includes the ultimate park hopper then it's covered under the insurance.

You can also just purchase the park hoppers when you get to Disney so this isn't an issue.

You can also get indepent insurance through travelguard that will cover your air if you purchase it on your own. I believe they have a website.

 

[farleyman]

Thanks a million for all your help!!

 

[indigo]

<< There is a chance that my wife and I might be moving to another area of the country, and would have to cancel our trip >>

Just having 'vacation insurance' does not guarantee you are covered if you have to cancel. VI only covers certain reasons. When you call to get the insurance ask to see a list of what is covered by the insurance. specifically ask if your situation will be covered.

 

[Michelle]

Jim, ONE BIG CAVEAT -- do NOT get the insurance added until your final payment is due, if you decide to get it.

The insurance premium is NON-REFUNDABLE once the deposit is paid, which means that if you cancel prior to 45 days out you lose your insurance premium.

If you do NOT have insurance and cancel prior to 45 days prior, you get your whole deposit back.

Only add the insurance, if you decide to do so, when you make the final payment. That is when you want to protect your investment.

 

[NancyIL]

Here's a link to travel insurance I bought when I put together a family trip a few years ago: http://www.csatravelprotection.com/insure/html/tr_happen.htm

If you piece together your own trip, you'd probably get just enough insurance to cover the airfare and maybe the first night's hotel room. You don't need it to cover admission tickets that can be used at a later date.

Be aware that most policies won't cover you except for emergencies - such as sickness or a death in the family.