Travel insurance....worth it?

[cavecricket]

OK,

First time DVCer here.

As we travel during hurricane season, and we cant just get a refund if we need to cancel last minute. Is travel guard worth it?

I called them and they quoted us at

$5 per point reimbursment for ariport or road closings....severe weather ( state of emergency ) or hotel fire....and a few other things


The insurance for our trip will cost roughly $90.00-$100.00

If weather caused us to cancel we would be reimbursed about 1500.00 for our lost vacation points.

Would the DVC do anything or make an exception for "forfeiting" points due to severe weather if it was bad enough to shut down roads and airports?

or would you be s.o.l. ?????


thanks

Paranoid, RI

 

[dianeschlicht]

It is unlikely DVC would refund points in those cases. It isn't something that comes under their control. You would need to decide if the $1500 is enough to cover it to your satisfaction.

You can imagine how the bookeeping for points would end up if everyone who had to cancel due to inclement weather called in their points at the same time. That would put the rest of the membership in an unfair situation.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I just wanted to add, that the few times WDW has had to close due to the passing of hurricanes, they did the right thing for all of their guests. There were meals provided etc, and safety updates. I guess if I had to be on vacation during a storm like that, Disney is the place I'd want to be. Good luck making your decision.

 

[MissD]

We live in FL, and after the storms of 2004, I told my DH that next time the "H word" and our area come up in the same sentence..."We're going to Disney World".

I can't think of a better place to ride out a storm...

 

[JimMIA]

$5 per point reimbursment for ariport or road closings....severe weather ( state of emergency ) or hotel fire....and a few other things

Roads almost never close, except along the coast, between barrier islands and the mainland, etc.

Airports generally close when the winds reach Tropical Storm strength (39 MPH). However, the airport being open and you being able to fly in are completely different concepts. Typically, airlines stop flying in well before the airport closes, so you need to ask Travel Guard (excellent company, BTW) if they pay in the event that your airline stops flying in due to an approaching storm -- that's a very different situation.

Under Florida law, a "state of emergency" is a legal designation that gives the Governor expanded powers to, among other things, order mandatory evacuations. That's a very different thing from bad weather, and is probably the most liberal application of travel insurance, if in fact it's covered. For example, with Tropical Storm Alberto, a state of emergency was declared (not for the Orlando area), but Alberto was little more than a minor rain event.

States of emergency are normally declared by county, so Orange County would have to be included for this provision to kick in.

If you did happen to catch a storm while you were at Disney, as others have posted, you'd be completely safe and there might not be a better place to ride out a storm.

Also, keep in mind that we watch hurricanes for days, sometimes weeks, but the actual time period when you are affected by the storm is seldom more than 12 hours. You hunker down, get bored, go to sleep...and when you wake up, it's over.

 

[DebbieB]

I think you also need to look at the use year compared to your date of stay. If your date of stay is early in your use year, you would have plenty of time to possibly reuse them, even if they are in holding status. If you are towards the end of your use year, insurance might be a good idea so you don't lose the value completely.

 

[cavecricket]

Thanks guys!


I agree that there is no place I would rather be for a storm!

if I needed to take out additional points for an extended stay....that is something I would gladly do!

thanks again!