Unsure what my options are

[jocin3]

I need help please-we are due to arrive 10/26.My husband has been dealing with some medical issues for the past month & yesterday I fell and bruised my ankle-now it is looking more and more like I might have to cancel (and I am just sick about the though of not going)

Since I haven't dealt with this before what are my options as far as canceling our 1 bedroom? I'm not sure if I understand what "holding" points are-will that be the case? Or will I lose them totally? Of course this is the ONE trip I did not purchase travel insurance for and I am kicking myself.

I should add that I've been waiting to see if my husband's issues resolve or I would have acted sooner.

Should I call member services today-do you think they will make a 1 time exception?

Thanks for any help. I am feeling so sad right now

 

[CarolMN]

I'm so sorry - it's no fun to deal with medical issues and it just makes that worse when you have to cancel a vacation. Hope you both get better very soon.

If you cancel a reservation 1-30 days prior to arrival, the points go into holding. (If you cancel on the day of arrival, the points are forfeited).

Briefly, holding points expire at the end of the use year in which the reservation falls. They can't be banked. They can be used to book something that is no more than 60 days away. Here's what the member website says about them:

Holding Account Guidelines

A Holding Account is a "parking space" for vacation points from a Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation that has been modified or cancelled 30 days to 1 day before your check-in date.

The vacation points in your Holding Account can be used for a new reservation booked 60 days or fewer before check-in within the following time constraints.

Use Vacation Points Anytime During Your Use Year for:

Disney Vacation Club Resorts
Disneyland Resort in California
Tokyo Disney Resort
World Passport Collection

Use Vacation Points More Than 4 Months Before the End of Your Use Year for:

Disney Collection (except Disneyland Resort in California and Tokyo Disney Resort
Concierge Collection

These vacation points cannot be banked or borrowed and must be used by the end of the Use Year or they expire.

 

[jocin3]

I'm so sorry - it's no fun to deal with medical issues and it just makes that worse when you have to cancel a vacation. Hope you both get better very soon.

Briefly, holding points expire at the end of the use year in which the reservation falls. They can't be banked. They can be used to book something that is no more than 60 days away.


Thank you for your response. I want to make sure I understand things correctly. Our UY is August. If I need to cancel, these points will need to be used prior to July 31, 2014?
We already have reservations for a March 2014 four day trip. Would I be able to extend that trip with holding points?

Sorry that I am just not thinking clearly at the moment..I appreciate the help.

 

[Dean]

I need help please-we are due to arrive 10/26.My husband has been dealing with some medical issues for the past month & yesterday I fell and bruised my ankle-now it is looking more and more like I might have to cancel (and I am just sick about the though of not going)

Since I haven't dealt with this before what are my options as far as canceling our 1 bedroom? I'm not sure if I understand what "holding" points are-will that be the case? Or will I lose them totally? Of course this is the ONE trip I did not purchase travel insurance for and I am kicking myself.

I should add that I've been waiting to see if my husband's issues resolve or I would have acted sooner.

Should I call member services today-do you think they will make a 1 time exception?

Thanks for any help. I am feeling so sad right now

I'm sorry for the time you're having right now. Disney will often give you special consideration for such circumstances. I'd call them and ask if you can cancel without penalty if that's your preference at this point. While I personally would like them to be more consistent, they often are not and you should see if you can take advantage of their flexibility. Even if you get the answer that doesn't help you, call a second time and if needed, ask for a supervisor. If that doesn't work, email the member satisfaction team right away. I bet you'll have the option of canceling without penalty.

 

[jocin3]

I'm sorry for the time you're having right now. Disney will often give you special consideration for such circumstances. I'd call them and ask if you can cancel without penalty if that's your preference at this point. While I personally would like them to be more consistent, they often are not and you should see if you can take advantage of their flexibility. Even if you get the answer that doesn't help you, call a second time and if needed, ask for a supervisor. If that doesn't work, email the member satisfaction team right away. I bet you'll have the option of canceling without penalty.

Dean, thank you for the advice. My husband is going to go back to the doctor's tomorrow morning to hopefully see what can be done. I'm hobbling around with a cane-I think I can power through but unsure about him.
I will wait to see what the doctor says tomorrow and try to call MS later tomorrow.
I know it's not the end of the world (thankful for our DVC) just kicking myself that I did not purchase travel insurance this time.

 

[Dean]

Dean, thank you for the advice. My husband is going to go back to the doctor's tomorrow morning to hopefully see what can be done. I'm hobbling around with a cane-I think I can power through but unsure about him.
I will wait to see what the doctor says tomorrow and try to call MS later tomorrow.
I know it's not the end of the world (thankful for our DVC) just kicking myself that I did not purchase travel insurance this time.

You're welcome, we're all hoping for the best for you.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

I am so sorry to hear that! If you can't, you may consider renting the reservation and using the $ to rent points for a replacement trip

 

[Anal Annie]

I need help please-we are due to arrive 10/26.My husband has been dealing with some medical issues for the past month & yesterday I fell and bruised my ankle-now it is looking more and more like I might have to cancel (and I am just sick about the though of not going)

Since I haven't dealt with this before what are my options as far as canceling our 1 bedroom? I'm not sure if I understand what "holding" points are-will that be the case? Or will I lose them totally? Of course this is the ONE trip I did not purchase travel insurance for and I am kicking myself.

I should add that I've been waiting to see if my husband's issues resolve or I would have acted sooner.

Should I call member services today-do you think they will make a 1 time exception?

Thanks for any help. I am feeling so sad right now

Just had a similar situation. My DS had a medical emergency with a lung where he wasn't allowed to fly for a month so we had to cancel a big trip to VGC and Aulani in August - just 8 days before we were scheduled to leave!! We had sooo many things involved with that trip that we had to cancel (multiple flights, rental cars, surf lessons, Pearl Harbor etc.). It was a total pain and I was sooo sad that our OV studio at Aulani may have gone empty if there were no last minute takers. We have a Dec. UY so we had to use our points before the end of Nov. or else lose them (we were not offered any "no penalty" options). Luckily when I called to cancel I asked what was avail. at WDW instead (thinking we could drive instead of fly) and we were able to get a 1-bedroom at SSR for 9 nights and only had to leave 7 points in the holding acct. MS will surely do all they can to help you out and hopefully you can re-plan your trip soon. At least you have more time to plan something since your UY is so far away. Good luck!!

 

[DebbieB]

Thank you for your response. I want to make sure I understand things correctly. Our UY is August. If I need to cancel, these points will need to be used prior to July 31, 2014?
We already have reservations for a March 2014 four day trip. Would I be able to extend that trip with holding points?

Sorry that I am just not thinking clearly at the moment..I appreciate the help.

60 days before your March check-in date, you could call and see if there is availability.

 

[jocin3]

I am so sorry to hear that! If you can't, you may consider renting the reservation and using the $ to rent points for a replacement trip

Thank you for your suggestion. It sounds like a good idea but I am not sure I could carry something out like that within such a short period of time. I'm trying to remain positive.

 

[jocin3]

Just had a similar situation. My DS had a medical emergency with a lung where he wasn't allowed to fly for a month so we had to cancel a big trip to VGC and Aulani in August - just 8 days before we were scheduled to leave!! We had sooo many things involved with that trip that we had to cancel (multiple flights, rental cars, surf lessons, Pearl Harbor etc.). It was a total pain and I was sooo sad that our OV studio at Aulani may have gone empty if there were no last minute takers. We have a Dec. UY so we had to use our points before the end of Nov. or else lose them (we were not offered any "no penalty" options). Luckily when I called to cancel I asked what was avail. at WDW instead (thinking we could drive instead of fly) and we were able to get a 1-bedroom at SSR for 9 nights and only had to leave 7 points in the holding acct. MS will surely do all they can to help you out and hopefully you can re-plan your trip soon. At least you have more time to plan something since your UY is so far away. Good luck!!

I'm sorry you also had to deal with a similar situation. I am certainly hoping that we can get things straightened out with my husband. But I do appreciate your suggestions. thanks!

 

[jocin3]

60 days before your March check-in date, you could call and see if there is availability.

Thank you for clarifying that for me-I think I was over thinking our situation.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

You could also see if your March trip is available to book at 60 days out. If it is, you could cancel and rebook with your holding points.

You could also cancel a portion of the March trip at that time, rebook using the holding points and link the two reservations.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

You could also see if your March trip is available to book right now. If it is, you could cancel and rebook with your holding points.

You could also cancel a portion of the March trip, rebook using the holding points and link the two reservations.

Not right now - that can only be done 60 days in advance with holding points.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Not right now - that can only be done 60 days in advance with holding points.

Correct. I have edited my post to reflect that.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

Thank you for your suggestion. It sounds like a good idea but I am not sure I could carry something out like that within such a short period of time. I'm trying to remain positive.

Timeshare Store or another rental co may have some insight!

 

[JimMIA]

I would still follow Dean's advice and see if you can get some "pixie dust." You never know until you ask, and the worst they can do is say no.

If that doesn't work, in addition to extending your March trip, there is another option.

Call in January (60 days out). If there is no availability, or if you don't want to extend that stay, see if they will let you swap your holding account points for regular points committed to that reservation. If so, you will be able to use the holding points, freeing up regular points...which you will then be able to bank.

Best wishes for a good resolution to the medical questions.

 

[Chuck S]

I agree to call, explain the situation, and ask what your options are. They may or may not be able to make any exceptions. But at least you'd know your options.

I think as the membership continues to grow, there will be fewer and fewer exceptions, but it never hurts to ask.

 

[loveswdw]

Definitely call! I had to cancel our trip this month (we were supposed to be in WDW right now). My DH hurt his knee and had to have surgery last week. We were already within our 31 day window when we found out he had to have surgery. Dr advised us to cancel our trip. I called MS and explained the situation. CM said she'd speak to the supervisor. She was able to cancel our reservation and put our points back and we can still bank them.

We have not had to cancel unexpectedly before so maybe that was our "special" exception. But it doesn't hurt to try.

 

[JimMIA]

... so maybe that was our "special" exception.

The "one-time, super-secret exemption" applies to those who forget to bank points within their banking deadline.

And, like most pixie dust, does not actually exist.