Trip Insurance: Who purchases it?

[LglBlonde]

"That said, however, Disney was very accommodating to many people who lost park days. Many of us were given complimentary PHPs for the missed park days. From what I've read and heard, they were also very flexible about arrival dates, cancellations, etc. during the hurricanes."

Was Disney accommodating to both those who lost park days w/ and w/o insurance? I hope I'm not coming across as tenuous, but we are concerned about our trip being during prime-hurricane season too, but at the same time, don't want to spend money in vain.

 

[Anewman]

Sounds like in your case, there is no HUGE risk.

But in my case Flying from LA the CHEAPest airfare we can find is close to $1300 and non refundable. Once ticketed there is no turning back without losing that money.

And I am sure that most that book Air inclusive packages through Disney, AAA, Sams Club etc... Get non refundable tickets with their package.

 

[NancyIL]

I have purchased travel insurance for cruises, and I bought the insurance shortly after booking the trip. That's the only way the pre-existing conditions waiver will be in effect. If you wait until final payment to buy your insurance, and your grandfather with cancer dies a week before your trip - I think you would be out of luck to get a refund, since cancer in a family member would be considered a pre-existing condition.

If you buy insurance within 10-21 days of making your first deposit, and you decide to cancel the trip before final payment is due...you ARE out the money spent for insurance....UNLESS you transfer it to another vacation.

I was on a cruise last month for my birthday, and I was supposed to travel with my sister. Her husband had quadruple bypass surgery 3 days before we sailed, so she had to cancel. We had insurance, and she will get all her money back.

 

[NancyIL]

Sounds like in your case, there is no HUGE risk.

But in my case Flying from LA the CHEAPest airfare we can find is close to $1300 and non refundable. Once ticketed there is no turning back without losing that money.

And I am sure that most that book Air inclusive packages through Disney, AAA, Sams Club etc... Get non refundable tickets with their package.

Most non-refundable airline tickets can be cancelled, and the amount paid can be applied towards a future ticket (to be booked or used within one year of booking the original ticket), minus a cancellation fee of usually $50-$100 per ticket.

 

[Sleuth]

Okay, I was under the impression from reading the back of my package confirmation Disney sent me, that if you cancel your trip less than 45 days prior to trip date, you lose ALL OF YOUR MONEY. It is non-refundable (unless you have insurance). You have to pay the total amount of the package 45 days prior to the trip anyway, so no, you wouldn't be losing only $200 if you have a package, you would be loosing the entire package price providing you paid in full as required to do.

I went ahead and got the insurance this time. The Disney travel agent at CRO told me that yes, it does cover hurricaines (one of the reasons why I got it) she read to me a statement about it coving "unforeseeable weather". The second reason I got it is because I am pregnant with baby #3, and God forbid something happens and I deliver early and cannot go. I just feel better having it I guess.

 

[NancyIL]

I haven't read the fine print about hurricanes. However, there's a difference between not wanting to go on your vacation because you might encounter a hurricane while at WDW, and not being able to go because planes aren't flying into Orlando. I think the first would not be covered, but the second would.

 

[Sleuth]

I haven't read the fine print about hurricanes. However, there's a difference between not wanting to go on your vacation because you might encounter a hurricane while at WDW, and not being able to go because planes aren't flying into Orlando. I think the first would not be covered, but the second would.

Yes I agree, I am more concerned about our flight being cancelled due to a hurricane than being down there during a storm. I would rather at least make it to Disney then be stuck in Detroit! That's the main reason I am concerned about hurricane season- flight cancellation.

 

[Anewman]

Most non-refundable airline tickets can be cancelled, and the amount paid can be applied towards a future ticket (to be booked or used within one year of booking the original ticket), minus a cancellation fee of usually $50-$100 per ticket.

Cancellation vs Change.

Yes change fees average $50-$100. But some times that can be just as high as the price of the original ticket, "one ticket" can be considered one way so that $50-$100 times 2 and then by the number of persons in your party may apply. But that is a CHANGE not Cancellation.


Terms and conditions from disney website.
cancellation of a nonrefundable airfare results in a charge equal to the entire amount of the airfare

Regardless of the amount I was just trying to point out for some of us we do not risk just losing $200 like someone posted, it can be much higher.

 

[tlbwriter]

Well, this is annoying. My original CM gave me a tiered cancellation policy, but I called to double check and they said that applies to room-only reservations, not packages. Since I have a package, I can only get a refund if I cancel 45 days or more before my trip. I'm not annoyed about that, but I *am* annoyed that the previous CM told me the wrong thing!!!

 

[LglBlonde]

I've now had two CM's tell me:

you pay balance 45 days out.

6-44 days out - the full amount less $100 is refunded.
0-5 days out - the full amount less $200 is refunded.

Of course this is only for room-ticket packages and not those with airfare which can have substantially different cancellation fees!

 

[tlbwriter]

That's what my first CM told me, but the one I just spoke to said that doesn't apply to my reservation, since it's a package, and that I have the 45-days-or-nothing cancellation policy. I wish they could get their act together! I hope your two CMs were right.

 

[Sleuth]

I've now had two CM's tell me:

you pay balance 45 days out.

6-44 days out - the full amount less $100 is refunded.
0-5 days out - the full amount less $200 is refunded.

Of course this is only for room-ticket packages and not those with airfare which can have substantially different cancellation fees!

Okay, dug up my confirmation letter and what you are saying is pretty similar to the verbage on the back of the letter. Where in the heck did I hear that if you cancel it's all gone? I don't know but here's the wording:

Cancellation and Change Fees
For a cancellation made 44-6 days prior to arrival, there is a cancellation fee of $100 per package plus any cancellation fees assessed by hotels or other suppliers.

For a cancellation made 5 days or less prior to arrival, there is a cancellation fee of $200 per package plus any cancellation fees assessed by hotels or other suppliers. In addition with respect to Grand Gatherings experiences, for a cancellation made 5 days or less from the experience date, no refund will be given.

No refunds will be given to no-shows.

 

[Sleuth]

That's what my first CM told me, but the one I just spoke to said that doesn't apply to my reservation, since it's a package, and that I have the 45-days-or-nothing cancellation policy. I wish they could get their act together! I hope your two CMs were right.

Maybe your vacation is considered a Grand Gatherings...Whatever that is? It's so confusing.

 

[tlbwriter]

No, it's not a grand gathering. Just a regular room/tickets/dining plan. I'll have to dig out my confirmation letter when I get home.

 

[NancyIL]

Cancellation vs Change.

Yes change fees average $50-$100. But some times that can be just as high as the price of the original ticket, "one ticket" can be considered one way so that $50-$100 times 2 and then by the number of persons in your party may apply. But that is a CHANGE not Cancellation.


Terms and conditions from disney website.
cancellation of a nonrefundable airfare results in a charge equal to the entire amount of the airfare

Regardless of the amount I was just trying to point out for some of us we do not risk just losing $200 like someone posted, it can be much higher.

You pay one fee per roundtrip ticket, not per each one-way. That's a good reason to book your own airfare, rather than including it as part of a package. I don't know about the rules on all airlines, but if I cancel my non-refundable ticket on American Airlines, I have a year (not sure whether it's from the date of original travel, or date the tickets were purchased) to use the credit, minus $100/pp fee.

If I were booking a package that is completely prepaid in advance, I would buy trip insurance. If I were booking my airfare and hotel separately, and my only penalty would be $100/pp (on American - some airlines charge $50 and Southwest charges nothing) for the airfare - then I would probably forego the insurance. However, if my vacation destination was outside the United States, I'd get the trip insurance for the medical coverage.

 

[Jen D]

I don't buy it, and I don't see starting. I guess I just live on the wild side...

 

[mlwear]

applies to room-only reservations, not packages. Since I have a package, I can only get a refund if I cancel 45 days or more before my trip. /QUOTE]

That is what AAA told me, too. Maybe it is the "with dining"??? Ours is not a grand gathering.

 

[tlbwriter]

Well, I checked the back of my confirmation letter, and it gives the 45 day/5 day policy. So if for some reason I have to cancel and they don't give me a refund according to that policy, I will be raising hell!!!