wwyd? should I cancel?

[PEANUT1]

So I need some opinions please.
We have a trip planned in November to go to the BWV for 5 nights then Swan for 2 nigths. We are taking the auto train which is paid for and we have annual passes which are paid for too.

Here is the rub...Hubby lost his job 5 weeks ago. I do believe that he will have a new job by our trip but I am wondering if we should still go or cancel?

I am working. I was only working part time but picked up hours since this happened. Finacially we are ok...but I am not sure if this trip is wise.

I am leaning towards going bc everything is paid for except for the meals and spending money which we can do cheaply. I have a vacation account through work which should cover all of this.

What would you do?

 

[Cee]

You must go. I'm sure this has been stressful for you and since it's all paid for you should go and relax/enjoy because you need it! It will also give you a neutral place to clear your minds and discuss your future. In Disney World, all things become clear. 's to you and have the time of your life.

 

[jnsolomon]

Definitely don't cancel until you are 31 days away from check-in. You wouldn't really gain anything by canceling now and hopefully you will have more info as the 31 day window approaches.

 

[gbsb1011]

You should definatly go...this happened to my family in March when we had a spring break trip planned. It helped my husband regroup and feel better. If he does get a new job before that he should just tell them, as soon as he is hired , he has a vacation planned and has to take it because it is all paid for and you will lose all that money....
Most employers would understand.

 

[RLRDA]

Definitely don't cancel until you are 31 days away from check-in. You wouldn't really gain anything by canceling now and hopefully you will have more info as the 31 day window approaches.

I agree with this advice. If you're still OK financially at that point I'd say keep your plans and enjoy your trip.

 

[tjkraz]

I agree that you can wait until 31+ days out to make a decision...unless you are faced with a banking deadline and need to do so sooner.

But consider the fact that if he does get another job, he may not be able to get a week off of work so quickly. Many employers are willing to accommodate if the situation is brought-up prior to hiring. However, he will almost certainly have to take the week off uncompensated which means more lost income. A new employer isn't going to give him paid vacation time so soon after hiring.

He will also have to decide if he is even comfortable taking the time off. Many employers have probationary period. Even if the absence is approved by the higher-ups, there could be some loss of good will among coworkers or immediate managers for missing time so soon after hiring. If he is undergoing training or working in a competitive environment, those are just more complications to leaving.

It all depends on the situation.

Now, if he DOESN'T have a job as the trip approaches, consider that you could cancel and rent the points to bring in some income. I understand the mental health aspect of "you just need to go anyway", but if it were me, the last thing I would be able to do is relax while unemployed.

Everyone is different. Consider what is right for the two of you.

 

[sweetdana]

Agree.. cancel only last day without losing $$. I don't know what swan and Dol. policy is, but unless you are booked on points, I thought it was 5 days ahead with no cancel fee. But points are 31 days.
If you can afford to go and DH can get time off.. GOOOOO. If he cannot go rebook in 6 months when he can.

 

[addiln]

it is all paid for so you might as well go. you can eat cheap and not spend too much money there. if it was not already paid for then maybe i would say not to go but you are spent the money so you might as well enjoy

 

[DenLo]

Without knowing the cancellation policies for the auto train and the Swan, it's really hard to give good advice. I would wait as late as possible to cancel everything as you can. For the DVC that would be 31 days out. But if you are using banked points in your reservation you will need to use those points before the UY ends or move the points into RCI.

If you really think you can financially handle the expenses, take the vacation. Right now you and DH will really need to get away from it all. But if your DH does get another job, will he be able to request a week off for this vacation?

I hope it works out for you.

 

[superdiz]

Could you maybe downgrade the hotels and save a bit of money in that respect? I'd still go. You can't take money with you. In my experience, it seems if you are up front about a planned vacation when offered the job, most companies are ok with that.

 

[mybabesuz]

It doesn't seem like you have much to gain financially if you don't go.

I would still go.

 

[johnsonville5]

Two view on this. My gut reaction to suggest you cancel and do not spend a penny until he has a new job. Then again, When I lost my corporate high paying job what did we do? We went to Disney World with the kids and it really helped me focus on what was important to me - family. Things worked out for the better. I guess if you can afford it and don't put it on credit cards - go for it.

 

[ChiSoxKeith]

Go for it.

 

[PEANUT1]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

We can cancel the Autotrain up the day of the trip...the Swan I think needs like 48 hours. I am leaning towards going but it seems so frivolous at a time like this. We have all kinds of dining reservations made which of course I can cancel.

Our room at BWV is paid on points already..I think the Swan is 169/night for 2 nights. I am thinking this will be changed to something cheaper or I will just try to "splurge" and use points for the weekend (although there may be no availability).

 

[ccgirl]

Definitely go. Since you have the BWV you could always try to eat some nice romantic meals on the balcony to save some $$$. I got a new job after being laid off right before we went. When I was offered the job I told them about the vacation. They said no problem; it happens all the time and we made the time off a condition of my unemployment. As a PP stated, it was not paid. However, since I was laid off anyway and went from unemployment compensation to FT compensation, we could "afford" the week without pay. Go have fun, and relax. Life is too short. Best of luck to your DH with getting a new job.

 

[loveswdw]

Our room at BWV is paid on points already..I think the Swan is 169/night for 2 nights. I am thinking this will be changed to something cheaper or I will just try to "splurge" and use points for the weekend (although there may be no availability).

Just a thought on your Swan room...do you have any Delta SkyMiles built up? You can book rooms through the Delta SkyMiles Marketplace with them either for free or a discounted rate depending on your miles. You can do a combination of cash and miles too. This past June I booked 2 nights at the Swan for $13+! Yep...that's it. And they didn't charge us the resort fee or the parking fee. I'm not sure if that was a fluke or not. I had planned on being charged for those but they never did charge so we ended up just out of pocket for a little over $13 for 2 nights. I felt like that was a great deal. And we had a great room on the 10th floor overlooking the entrance with views of ToT, BWV & WS.

 

[PEANUT1]

No we don't have any Delta miles. We have USair, Continental and United though.

That sounds like a great deal you got!!

 

[lucyem]

Personally I would still go but I would shorten or adjust the trip to make it less expensive. Only stay on points, stick to quick service meals. Look at the cost of the auto train vs driving.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I believe if I went at all, I'd take a "modified" vacation. I'd cancel the S & D, since that's extra $, and (it looks like there are just two of you?) use what you'd normally use for grocery money for eating that week. Since everything else is already paid for, it really wouldn't mean any more $ out of your pocket than if you stayed home.

I'd keep in mind what another poster wrote, if your DH does get another job, it might be difficult taking the time off.

But personally, if this were me, I'd cancel and wait for when DH is employeed again. We've been in the one-income quandry between January 2010 to May 2010....it was very nerve-wracking and depressing. I was actually having anxiety attacks, because I felt if something happend to me (who was the sole supporter at the time) that we'd lose everything. Yeah, a trip to WDW may have made us feel better, but we are adults and knew we needed to do the adult thing and tighten our belts. It was a really trying time, but looking back on it, it was kind of fun too....DH did all the cooking,cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. It was so nice to come home to a "wife" every day!! He was actually better at keeping to the grocery budget than I was, I was very impressed!!

 

[Pixieflip]

Go. Been a rough year. Be smart about spending, but enjoy yourselves anyway. Take a deep breath on Main Street and spend some time together ignoring the real world for a while. Doesn't that sound nice??