UGH! Trip cancelled - have I lost all my money?

[Tina in FD]

Well...the trip we have been planning for two years (since the day we stepped off the plane in 1999) is going to be cancelled. My DH wants to cancel the trip we have planned for Nov. 28 - Dec. 4 with our DS and DD. He isn't thrilled with the whole anthrax, terrorist, war thing and just doesn't want to "endanger" our kids. I totally understand and agree somewhat, but I really want to go! I know all of you probably have the same doubts, but are going anyway. He's afraid WDW is going to be on the terrorists list of hit sights with so many visitors. Anyway, I don't want to get into that debate, I've gone over and over it with him to no avail.

My main question is, the tickets I made are non-refundable and to transfer them there is a penalty, am I basically out the money? I haven't even called to check I'm so depressed. I've paid my deposit plus some to my ressies too. I have 4 tickets to MVMCP too that are for Nov. 29. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. The kids took it well, telling them we would go again and we could take a short closer to home trip to make up for it. I'd love to hear your responses. Thanks for everything.

A depressed Mickey-nut,

Tina

 

[ducklite]

Plane tickets: You should be able to apply the value of them towards another trip in the next year or so. You might have to pay a fee ($50-100 depending on the carrier) to do so. But something is better than nothing.

MVMCP: You are probably out, WDW does not generally make refunds on these, but I'm sure someone will be interested in purchasing them, at least at a reduced cost. Again, something is better than nothing.

Rooms: I don't know if you bought a package, went through CRO or WDTC, but you should be able to get a refund on at least some of this.

You really need to call the various providers directly to get the answers rather than relying on advice from people who do'nt know the entire story.

Or tell your husband that if he doesn't want to go, he can stay home, and take the kids, go and have a great time. That's what I would do. But that's me.

Anne

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> Your key phrase was, "I really want to go!".

Please go. Your kids will have a marvelous time. Don't waste a beautiful Disney vacation.

Since you will play "single mom" during the trip, don't put so much pressure on yourself and the kids to be up and out the door first thing in the morning even without early entry. Relax and enjoy the scenery. And don't force yourself to stay out late in the evenings, unless the kids insist.

Hubby can fly down later and meet you if he stayed home at first and then changes his mind. At any rate you would lose no more than one plane ticket, his.

More Disney tips:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

9/65 Disneyland
3/75 (World Inn* off I4 near DD)
4/85 (Kon-Tiki* on 192)
'80s Disneyland once or twice
7/94 PORiv
9/97 ASMu
11/98 ASMu
12/98 (Knights Inn on 192)
9/99 ASMo
12/00 ASSp
9/01 ASSp
11/01 ASSp planned
*no longer exists

 

[The shadow knows]

what airline are you flying? call their customer svc department, the one who takes complaints not reservations and speak tot hem. they should be able to help you hopefully. I would still go.

 

[aprincessmom]

Danger lurks around every corner every day. I believe a life lived in fear of what could happen is a life not lived to its fullest.

It's time for a little fun...especially fun so long in the making.

 

[Beverly Lynn]

what carrier are you flying? we went down to disney sep 19th and it was wonderful!

 

[Tina in FD]

we're flying out on American, early on the 28th and mid-pm back on the 4th, through DFW (out of DSM and into MC of course), I haven't cancelled anything and am toying with the idea of trying to talk him into going (it's going to take A LOT to convince him), I had almost all of the money saved and ready to go too - he wants to pay off our new fence - how depressing!

I totally understand where he is coming from, isn't worried about endangering either of us, but is worried about the kids (guess I know how important I am! Life is just too short to stand on the sidelines, but I would never want anything to happen to any of us. As you can see, I'm wavering too. We've only been to WDW once, in 1999, and all of us loved it.

I just checked the aa.com website and it sounds like if I cancel I'll get to transfer my money to another flight for a penalty, but it needs to be used within a year. I can't imagine that this whole terrorism thing is going to be over by then, so not sure what I'm going to do.

UGHHHH!! I hate decisions like this. Thanks everyone for your responses, I really appreciate it and anything else you have to add.

Distraught in Iowa,

Tina

 

[DebbieB]

When checking on cancellation rules, check on deadlines you need to cancel by. If it willn't make any difference if you cancel now or 1 week before your departure date, why don't you wait. Maybe by then there will be more lenient cancellation rules in place and you may also have a better perspective on what you want to do. They say MVMCP tickets are not refundable, but I have heard cases where people are getting refunds, so push for that.

 

[Lilly]

Tina, My family was at Disney during the Sept. 11th tragedy, and I would not hesitate to go back now. After the events of Sept. 11th, all the Disney parks were searching each and every backpack and fannypack on the way in. At the airport, security was heightened,
about 1 in every 5 people had their entire luggage searched. They used a wand to search every person after they have been through the metal detector. Only passengers can pass through this checkpoint to go to the gates. I hope your husband changes his mind and you have a great trip! If you have any questions, you may email me. I'd love to help a fellow Iowan! Lilly

 

[tinaluis]

We were sort of on the fence about an upcoming trip, feeling the same way that your husband does -- what if something happened to our kids? But we've decided to go anyway and hope for the best. Good luck to you.

 

[kbeverina]

Have they changed your flight times at all or made it connecting when it once was non-stop? If so, you could probably get a full refund on that without penalty. My friend did. Also, she was able to mail her MVMCP tickets back and get a full refund on those. Just call and tell them your concerns--they were very nice to her about and gave her no problems.

 

[seashoreCM]

KBeverina makes a good point. If the airline took away my nonstop flights I would spend time on the phone trying to get comparable flights of my choice, even changing the dates if I wanted.

In your case you can ask for the total refund first (if you decide to knuckle under to your husband).

You might want to find out what second choice flights you will accept firs. But even after talking to the airline over the phone you don't have to make your final decision (fish or cut bait) on the first phone call after you find out your original flights were cancelled. You can refuse their first offer saying you will think about it, then call back later with other flights of your choice.

 

[CarolMN]

I know (from another thread) that you are still hoping to go. Any luck changing your DH's mind?

Pixie Dust to you (and Luck and anything else that will help)!

 

[ripleysmom]

Tina maybe you should add up everything that it is going to cost you to cancel and give him the total dollar amount. In other words tell him that it will cost approx. $500 plus the difference in price in whatever the plane tickets will be when you finally do go to not go. I know I sure wouldn't want to spend that much money and not get something from it, he might feel the same way. You might also want to mention that you are going at a slower time. I would think that the terrorists would hit at a busier time.

Good Luck with whatever you decide to do......

 

[travelcoupons]

Tell him not to be a 'whuus' and go.

 

[carolsherman]

Hey don't feel bad my husband was the same way he refuses to go down and cancelled our November 9th trip I said see ya and rebooked for the first week of December. I refuse to let myself or my children become afraid because of these loser terrorists. I want to enjoy life as it is to short already and enjoy it with the company of my kids. This anthrax terrorist thing could just as well happen at home as well as Disney. Good luck!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tina in FD]

Well....tried to convince him again this weekend, but no luck. I'm going to add up the final "here's how much money we're going to lose" tally this week and then see what he says (great suggestion by the way!) That might help me because he is a tight-wad, but I'm afraid he's already mentally dealt with the money we'll lose. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but when he starts giving me the reasons why we shouldn't go, I agree with him at the time, then kick myself because even though they are very good, valid reasons, we can't stop living our life. I don't know....I'm such a sissy....I know I'll knuckle under to him (so strange because I'm such a hardliner to almost everyone else!).

Thanks everyone for all of your advice, I'm really tempted to let him read the threads and see for himself what everyone else's thoughts are.

Still thinking.....

Tina

p.s. Carol - what are you going to do?

 

[HelphelpmeRhonda]

I cancelled my trip and got full refund on non-refundable airline tickets. The flight times had changed and they had me connecting in a different city. I cancelled and got full refund no penalty. I called WDW ticketing and explained we weren't coming and was told to put MVMCP tickets in envelope and when they receive they will cancel and refund my credit card. They asked me why and I said we were afraid to travel and they said no problem. They are soooo used to it now, they are like on autopilot for cancellations.

 

[winnie11]

You can try to sell your MVMCP tickets on ebay. I saw some listed on there this past week and it looked like they were bidding up on them.

 

[Darla and Alfalfa]

Tina, you are not a sissy. You are a good partner who listens and tries to understand the others point of view. Don't beat yourself up. I was also in the same boat. My husband wanted to cancel because of the cut-backs. We talked about it a lot and decided to still go. You sound like a wonderful person. Just sad and disappointed. I am so sorry for you.