Devastated they’ve shut Disneyworld

[thegreenlight]

We have a holiday booked for 23rd May and have to pay the full balance at the end of March. Flights BA so separate and probably non-refundable. Totally don’t know what to do. Will have a very disappointed 3 and 7 year old. I know I will get people telling me to get a grip because of the wider situation but that doesn’t change how I’m feeling right now.

Do I cut my losses and cancel (but situation may be improved and we have missed out on our long planned holiday) or do we sit it out and wait?

It's understandably going to seem devastating for children, yes. But adults? It's a disappointment not anything more.

Look up devastated in the dictionary

The advice all over the TV (wfh) has been consistent, if you cancel you won't get your money back, if they cancel you will get your money back.

Presuming you are ATOL protected. Not sure on park tickets, I bought separate insurance for those.

Dictionary definition: cause (someone) severe and overwhelming shock or grief.
"she was devastated by the loss of Damian"

So yes, devastated is an over-reaction.

Destroy, wreck, and ruin can be applied to the word devastated too according to the dictionary Nanna50.

Not sure what your point is?

Op is perfectly entitled to feel devastated on that basis.

It might not be your idea of the use of the word but according to the dictionary you told OP to read, it certainly is.

I’m so sorry, I totally get how disappointed you all are. Have you joined the Facebook group ‘it’s Orlando time’? It’s a British based Florida holiday group and there’s some good advice on there at the moment with regards to the virus and who to contact etc... it’s good as well as you won’t be alone in your feelings, as there have been a couple of hard replies to your post here, which I don’t understand.

We’re booked to go in June, but it’s a package deal and I’ve paid by credit card, so I’m hoping that we will be covered as we have travel insurance as well.

We booked our Disney tickets with the added insurance from the ticket supplier, which was about an extra £6.50 per ticket, so that means that we can cancel the tickets and get a full refund up until the point of ticket activation at the parks. I’m assuming you’ve booked park tickets? What’s the return policy on those?

*harsh

I think if you're going in May, I would just carry on as normal and I would pay the balance.

If you've already booked flights separately then there's nothing you can do about that anyway so you may as well go ahead and pay for the hotel because you'll get that back from Disney. I also don't think. Disney are likely to extend the closures that long.

In a regular Disney goer so I can only imagine what. How disappointed people going in the next few days are. We're booking for next year next month - who knows what the prices are going to be like now.

Devastated is a poor choice of word.

Losing money on a holiday is highly annoying. But presumably it's disposable income and not a loan?

The children will be upset, I get that. But this situation is actually going to be 'devastating' for thousands, if not millions, of people.

We were supposed to be going in 2 weeks. Our insurance is pretty comprehensive so we’ve been waiting for park closure or travel van to claim, and then we’ll rebook for next year.

Sorry, 3 weeks.

I don't think destroy, wreck or ruin in the context of devastation apply to not being able to go on holiday.

I heard on the news yesterday not to cancel then you are unlikely to get anything back. Pay full balance as normal (credit card if possible). We are also booked for a holiday in May and July and getting anxious about paying the final balance.

Of course a child is going to be devastated to find out they’re not going to Disneyland as planned. Don’t know why some people have to be dicks about everything, looking up dictionary definitions of the word

Look up devastated in the dictionary

Why don't you?

We're in the same situation -We fly out on May 16th. I have no idea what to do for the best! Like you we're due to pay the final balance next week, along with booking fast passes.

I would be upset if my trip to Disney was cancelled too.

Wonder when Ant and Dec are going to make an announcement about the SNT finale and 300 people they are meant to take to WDW?

WDW is only closed for 2 weeks. Stop panicking.

We go in May. Everything is booked separately.

Flights are virgin so if Parks are still closed or trump has banned the uk then I imagine virgin will still offer to reschedule as they are now.

We have insured our park tickets for £25 (bought via Florida tix) but they are valid for the entire year. If you don't think you will be able to go this year, call the company you bought them from or Disney direct.

As we don't go till may we are just hoping that things will be better by then but who knows. We can't cancel as will lose our money, we are covered if the foreign office says America is a no go area.

There really is nothing you can do but wait to see how things go over next month or so.
It's gutting and horrible not knowing.

I've been reading about people who were due to go after their last trip was cancelled due to Thomas cook going bust and now this! Terrible for everyone.

Have you looked at your travel insurance to see if you are covered? We have a similar situation with the balance of a very expensive holiday due. I think we are contracturally obliged to pay the balance, if we are not able to go because we are ill or they won't let us travel we should hopefully get money back. This is our first big trip for 13 yrs and if we lose out we won't be able to afford to rebook. So I get it - we understand this situation has bigger implications than a cancelled holiday but we are gutted.

Have you got insurance? I know some of them have withdrawn cover for COVID but if you had the policy before it all kicked off I can't see then having a leg to stand on.

I'd pay balance and then if the worst happens fight with either my credit card or travel insurance company.

@Nanna50 I have no interest in going to Disney whatsoever and don’t get it but even I can see how children would feel devastated about not being able to go as planned.

I don’t understand some people on this site. I’ve had some great advice, Thankyou, but quibbling over semantics of my word choices is not helpful. I’m one of those people who talk in superlatives and maybe use a few too many exclamation marks, I’m sorry if that irritates you. I think I will sit tight, pay the balance and reschedule (always fancied Mickey’s not so scary Halloween party!) thanks again for all the advice.

I would be absolutely devastated. Disney is my happy place and when I have a holiday booked it is the only thing that gets me through the year, I don't give a fuck if some people don't understand that. Disney have said they are refunding and rebooking where possible. Two months is a long time however so I wouldn't change anything if it was me.

PM said it will peak end of May. First time he hasn't lied.