should I cancel our vacation

[miceli20]

Okay, I need help. some real honest opinions from people who understand where I'm coming from. Our last trip to wdw was in 2006. We have a trip scheduled for Sept during free dining. This is saving us about $1000. We will be traveling with me, dh, dd 13 and is a child with autism, dd 12 and ds 21. My problem, husband got hurt at work and is not back yet, in the mean time the company gets bought out and now he has no job. I sprained my foot and will be off work for about 3 weeks. I'm a hairstylist and manage the salon where I work. The trip is paid for and I have about 2 weeks until our 45 days comes up so that I can cancel with 100% refund. My question do I cancel my trip and just hold onto our money or do I go ahead and take the trip? If my dh doesn't go back to work I know my job will support us, even though there is no room for extras. It will just be temp until dh gets back to work. Thanks

 

[RMulieri]

Only you can make that decision.....now, If it were up to me, I would cancel( as much as it would break my heart).No one knows what the next few months could bring in this country.What happens if Dh doesn't get a job? what if things got so bad you weren't getting as many clients? seriously think about things before you make the decision.Once you spend the money you can't get it back.If things get better for you, you can always plan another trip.I love Disney, but if Dh was out of work, and I was the only means of support in this economy, I would cancel.

 

[Diehl2229]

If you think you can manage things until DH goes back to work then by all means take the trip. I'm sure your kids need it and are expecting it, especially your Autistic DD I also have two Autistic kids DS 11 and DD 14. They would not understand if I cancelled a trip so close to being here. Take the trip and try and forget about the problems you have for awhile. IMAO

 

[DreaGirl]

Not knowing your exact financial situtation I can't really give you an answer. If it were me and my DH didn't have a new job lined up, I would cancel the trip. In this economy it would make me so nervous not having a job and going on a big vacation. It would break my heart, but you have to think in the long run.

 

[EthansMom]

Only you know your finances well enough to make the decision. Do you have any savings put away in case of an emergency... for instance, what would you do if your car broke down??? Also, what are the chances of your DH getting a new job soon? Would you be out any money, such as non-refundable airfare, if you did cancel the trip?

If I wouldn't be out any money for cancelling, then I'd seriously consider "postponing" the trip, if I were in your shoes. WDW isn't going anywhere and will still be there when you've got more financial stability.

If, on the other hand, you'd lose $$$ by cancelling the trip, then I'd look at reasonable ways to make the trip more affordable. If you had park hopping on your tix, maybe you could drop that. Likewise, it might still be possible to drop down to a less-expensive resort if you had booked a higher-grade one.

 

[Tinker*Shell*Bell]

Hy 13 yo son is HFA so I totally understand that that will play a part in your decision.
I would personally go. It is hard to say that, but I know if Matt expected a trip and I cancelled it, there would be HELL to pay. For all of us, for weeks. Many, many weeks He is just coming to terms with the idea of going back TO Disney, if it changed tomorrow it would be months before he was over the major plan change (it has taken him 4 months to get used to the idea of going there.)

That is not to say that the kids rule the show, and if I 100% could not afford my current living without the money for the trip, then I would cancel and pay the proverbial piper.

But is sounds like you will be ok for a while without the 2nd job, and if that is the case, I say go and have fun and reality will be back as soon as the trip is over anyway. You deserve the break.


BUT_-If you or hubby are likely to still be recovering and physically unwell by the trip, then I would cancel. It is hard enough with any children, the ASD adds a whole other dimention that a recovering parent might not be ready to deal with .

 

[miceli20]

Thanks everyone for your replys. As for our finances, we have some in savings and my job is secure. I work for a franchise company and I get paid by the hour plus tips, so having customers is never a problem. Having dependable employees however that is another story As for the kids my dd with autism is having a hard time understanding when we tell her we may have to move the trip back. DH dosen't really want me to cancel b/c he thinks everyone will blame him, not true. Life happens. I do have non-refundable airline tickets and night of joy tickets. We are staying at the value resorts and I ahve knocked 3 days off our original stay. I even have extra tickets from last year to make up a day while we are there. In all honesty we will be spending $2200 for the five of us in 2 rooms. Like I said I have paid all but $200 which is due on July 15th. So if I cancel we will get back our $$$ from disney, but not night of joy or airline. Thanks again for the input and I will continue to pray until "d-day".

 

[Diehl2229]

Hy 13 yo son is HFA so I totally understand that that will play a part in your decision.
I would personally go. It is hard to say that, but I know if Matt expected a trip and I cancelled it, there would be HELL to pay. For all of us, for weeks. Many, many weeks He is just coming to terms with the idea of going back TO Disney, if it changed tomorrow it would be months before he was over the major plan change (it has taken him 4 months to get used to the idea of going there.)

That is not to say that the kids rule the show, and if I 100% could not afford my current living without the money for the trip, then I would cancel and pay the proverbial piper.

But is sounds like you will be ok for a while without the 2nd job, and if that is the case, I say go and have fun and reality will be back as soon as the trip is over anyway. You deserve the break.


BUT_-If you or hubby are likely to still be recovering and physically unwell by the trip, then I would cancel. It is hard enough with any children, the ASD adds a whole other dimention that a recovering parent might not be ready to deal with .

I TOTALLY AGREE During Hurricane Dean that hit Jamaica, we were staying at a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale for our early morning flight the next day to Yes Jamaica. Staying at the Beaches resorts. We told the kids we were going to cancel because of the storm. Well no body got any sleep that night at the hotel. Alot of screaming and crying. Anybody that has kids that are Autistic will understand.The next morning my DW said lets just go. So we hurried to the airport and flew to Jamaica. We live in Florida so a Hurricane is just another storm to us. We had a great time. Only one day of bad weather. I'm just telling a story of what happens when a Autistic child has been planning something for months and then you try to alter it in some way. Its just not going to happen. If I lost my job tomorrow I would still have to go on the trip for my kids sake. I would worry about the other stuff when I got home.

 

[a1tinkfans]

Thanks everyone for your replys. As for our finances, we have some in savings and my job is secure. I work for a franchise company and I get paid by the hour plus tips, so having customers is never a problem. Having dependable employees however that is another story As for the kids my dd with autism is having a hard time understanding when we tell her we may have to move the trip back. DH dosen't really want me to cancel b/c he thinks everyone will blame him, not true. Life happens. I do have non-refundable airline tickets and night of joy tickets. We are staying at the value resorts and I ahve knocked 3 days off our original stay. I even have extra tickets from last year to make up a day while we are there. In all honesty we will be spending $2200 for the five of us in 2 rooms. Like I said I have paid all but $200 which is due on July 15th. So if I cancel we will get back our $$$ from disney, but not night of joy or airline. Thanks again for the input and I will continue to pray until "d-day".

Just want to wish you DH "best of LUCK" in getting an even better job than he had before! You have a lot on your plate, tough decision!

 

[dbarker]

Only you can make that decision for yourself.

My story:

About 3 years ago, we had a trip planned for WDW -- end of May, 1st of June. DH lost his job, but was able to draw unemployment benefits. Our trip was already paid for. DH one day looked at me real sad like and when I asked him what was wrong, he let me know that we had to cancel our trip. I said, "What?!?! " No, we did not cancel our trip. We had a great time and our finances were just fine even though DH was unemployed for about 4 months.

 

[miceli20]

Hi everyone, again thanks for your encouraging words. I let DH read the posts and he now realizes that people have some of the same decisions as we have. He has decided to go ahead with the trip. Like ya'll said everything is still here when we get back. He does have a supplemental paymeny coming in so we are not destitute. He has decided to have a yard sale, , much over due beings that I'm such a pack rat, not really. But the girls have grown out of many clothing and toy items. I have tons of knick knacks that seem to collect dust only, how many do you really need , The girls are very excited as they were told they could keep the money they earn for Disney. This will keep down the urges for unneeded souveniors. If they spend their own money they won't buy anything. My son has decided to pay for a car service so that we have a stop at the grocery and this keeps his dsis from getting to aggitated in a long wait for the bus. We did not want our son to pay anything for a family vaca, he just wanted to do something special for us. I hope to have a pre-trip report up soon hope ya'll will be reading. Thanks and tons of pixie dust yoy way

 

[livie1205]

I do not think I could go on a vacation knowing we are not stable and dh being out of a job...thats just me, there is just no way. I know alot of people say hey it is already paid but I would get the airline tickets dates changed and go at a later date...if the tickets were pricey I would go and use very little money,stay less days and budget.did you not get trip insurance? I thought that covered airline tickets also? I might be wrong, but like I said maybe they will let you change the dates for a small fee.I would put the money in savings and dont spend it unless you have to and use it for your vacation at a later date when your stable BUT if you needed the money it would be there.

 

[Diehl2229]

I think you did the right thing Out of all the post of people telling you not to do it obviously don't have a Autistic child that will hound you for months about this. Your family will be fine. Your DH will get another job. You will have a great trip. Now get that Garage sale going

 

[livie1205]

I think you did the right thing Out of all the post of people telling you not to do it obviously don't have a Autistic child that will hound you for months about this. Your family will be fine. Your DH will get another job. You will have a great trip. Now get that Garage sale going

I am sorry but I do not see that as a responsible thing to tell someone IMO ...autistic child or not (some people do not tell everyone they have a autistic child) in this economy jobs are hard to come right now and IF he does not find another job in a timely manner they really may need that money, even more so with a special needs child.
I am not saying 100% she should not go BUT unless they have a good size savings (she didnt say) I would think twice...wdw is not going anywhere it will be there when things are stable for them.

 

[Canusa Family]

I am sorry but I do not see that as a responsible thing to tell someone IMO ...autistic child or not (some people do not tell everyone they have a autistic child) in this economy jobs are hard to come right now and IF he does not find another job in a timely manner they really may need that money, even more so with a special needs child.
I am not saying 100% she should not go BUT unless they have a good size savings (she didnt say) I would think twice...wdw is not going anywhere it will be there when things are stable for them.

New here but have been reading post the last few weeks.My wife and our two DD 14 & 4 wil be going to WDW July 28- Aug 6TH.This will be our first trip to WDW.We live about 1 1/2 hours from Disneyland,so we are excited to see WDW.I had to chime in here.I think you should go if you and your husband think you can manage.I do know you will be throwing your Airline tickets out the door,if you dont!Airline insurance?Thats a waste of money.Read the fine print on that.Not trying to be rude,but seems "livie1205" just seems so neg!

 

[Elmo888]

Hi everyone, again thanks for your encouraging words. I let DH read the posts and he now realizes that people have some of the same decisions as we have. He has decided to go ahead with the trip. Like ya'll said everything is still here when we get back. He does have a supplemental paymeny coming in so we are not destitute. He has decided to have a yard sale, , much over due beings that I'm such a pack rat, not really. But the girls have grown out of many clothing and toy items. I have tons of knick knacks that seem to collect dust only, how many do you really need , The girls are very excited as they were told they could keep the money they earn for Disney. This will keep down the urges for unneeded souveniors. If they spend their own money they won't buy anything. My son has decided to pay for a car service so that we have a stop at the grocery and this keeps his dsis from getting to aggitated in a long wait for the bus. We did not want our son to pay anything for a family vaca, he just wanted to do something special for us. I hope to have a pre-trip report up soon hope ya'll will be reading. Thanks and tons of pixie dust yoy way

I'm glad to hear that you are GOING! Learn from our experience...DH was out of work for 15 months a few years ago. Hindsight is 20/20, and if we knew at the beginning what we knew at the end, we SOOO would have taken a vacation to WDW a month after he was laid off. You just don't know what is going to happen. Another 2 or 3k in the hole wouldn't have made a tiny bit of difference in the end, and we would have had the memories with our first DD who was 2 at the time. And he would have had the fantastic "escape from reality" experience that one needs in this time. If you aren't going on an extravagant trip and/or your trip is paid for, I wouldn't think TWICE. I mean, don't go crazy (and it doesn't sound like you are), but enjoy yourself and the time with your family. That is the crazy part about being out of work - you have the time and not the money. And when you are working, you have the money and not the time. GO, GO, GO!

 

[Ashleyangel7]

In all honesty I would cancel it. There is always a better time when you are financially stable and don't have to worry about money to go.

 

[livie1205]

New here but have been reading post the last few weeks.My wife and our two DD 14 & 4 wil be going to WDW July 28- Aug 6TH.This will be our first trip to WDW.We live about 1 1/2 hours from Disneyland,so we are excited to see WDW.I had to chime in here.I think you should go if you and your husband think you can manage.I do know you will be throwing your Airline tickets out the door,if you dont!Airline insurance?Thats a waste of money.Read the fine print on that.Not trying to be rude,but seems "livie1205" just seems so neg!

I was NOT being neg...just carefull....what is NEGATIVE about making sure the reg things are taken care of first...I am not her mother so I can not tell her what to do I said I WOULD NOT DO IT...until my dh had a new job...also what is so bad about making sure there is a SAVINGS
to fall back on? I really do not understand this thinking (livie1205 is neg)now what happens is the worst happens (heaven forbid) and they end up needing some kind of help later....she will be FLAMED for going on a trip to wdw when they were not stable..call it what you will.

 

[miceli20]

I just wanted to say to everyone that I have not taken offense to any posts and that livie had some very good points. These are things my DH and I have been going over in detail. As someone pointed out when my DH is working we never have the time or it is very difficult to take time off. This trip has been planned since last September and we are just gonna go with it. My DH has several interviews coming up this week and we are praying for the best. Thanks again and remember I take everyones opinion in stride thats why I ask for some honesty and thats what I got. I will keep you informed.

 

[poohfriend]

Praying for your DH to get a new job quickly...

and for your large family to have a fabulous time in WDW.