Disney Wouldn't Reimburse for Unexpected Death

[SugarMag]

Last year, we arrived in Disney to go to the Start Wars hotel. It was my gift to my partner and we were bringing my brother and brother-in-law. The day after we arrived and the day before our experience began, my partner's father died unexpectedly. We called Disney to find out our options, and were told there were no options. Go on with the trip our lose our money. So my brothers went forward, and we flew home to arrange the services. We figured two might as well continue if we were paying for it anyway.

It took months before I was able to reach out, but I reached out to Disney to let them know how dissapointed I was in how they handled everything. I know we didn't get insurance, but I run a small business and I've never made someone pay me when death is invovled. Ultimately, it's just wrong, I think. They had someone who seemed like an insurance agent call me back. He apologized for our loss, so insincerly, it hurt. He told me all about how great Disney insurance is (which wasn't helpful at this point). And he kept saying if we wanted to reschedule we could have for a 100% reschedule fee, which just felt like a crummy way to word our options. I'm just sharing because I've heard Disney has reimbursed people for death and I was told to call by someone who regularly goes to Disney, but I've just gotten nothing from them. I've reached out twice since my converstaion with the man who sounded like an insurance salesman.

Thoughts? Or just deal with our decision not to get insurance?

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don’t think there’s much you can do here.

It’s unfortunate.
I’m also sorry that you paid for line dancing that they can’t give away now either.

 

[Chi84]

Last year, we arrived in Disney to go to the Start Wars hotel. It was my gift to my partner and we were bringing my brother and brother-in-law. The day after we arrived and the day before our experience began, my partner's father died unexpectedly. We called Disney to find out our options, and were told there were no options. Go on with the trip our lose our money. So my brothers went forward, and we flew home to arrange the services. We figured two might as well continue if we were paying for it anyway.

It took months before I was able to reach out, but I reached out to Disney to let them know how dissapointed I was in how they handled everything. I know we didn't get insurance, but I run a small business and I've never made someone pay me when death is invovled. Ultimately, it's just wrong, I think. They had someone who seemed like an insurance agent call me back. He apologized for our loss, so insincerly, it hurt. He told me all about how great Disney insurance is (which wasn't helpful at this point). And he kept saying if we wanted to reschedule we could have for a 100% reschedule fee, which just felt like a crummy way to word our options. I'm just sharing because I've heard Disney has reimbursed people for death and I was told to call by someone who regularly goes to Disney, but I've just gotten nothing from them. I've reached out twice since my converstaion with the man who sounded like an insurance salesman.

Thoughts? Or just deal with our decision not to get insurance?

May I ask how you contacted them? Who did you call?

 

[SugarMag]

I was given this email: WDW.Guest.communications@disneyworld.com
And I got a call back from the insurance guy, but no one since.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Last year, we arrived in Disney to go to the Start Wars hotel. It was my gift to my partner and we were bringing my brother and brother-in-law. The day after we arrived and the day before our experience began, my partner's father died unexpectedly. We called Disney to find out our options, and were told there were no options. Go on with the trip our lose our money. So my brothers went forward, and we flew home to arrange the services. We figured two might as well continue if we were paying for it anyway.

It took months before I was able to reach out, but I reached out to Disney to let them know how dissapointed I was in how they handled everything. I know we didn't get insurance, but I run a small business and I've never made someone pay me when death is invovled. Ultimately, it's just wrong, I think. They had someone who seemed like an insurance agent call me back. He apologized for our loss, so insincerly, it hurt. He told me all about how great Disney insurance is (which wasn't helpful at this point). And he kept saying if we wanted to reschedule we could have for a 100% reschedule fee, which just felt like a crummy way to word our options. I'm just sharing because I've heard Disney has reimbursed people for death and I was told to call by someone who regularly goes to Disney, but I've just gotten nothing from them. I've reached out twice since my converstaion with the man who sounded like an insurance salesman.

Thoughts? Or just deal with our decision not to get insurance?

Did you try telling what happened in an email to , wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

I have gotten real results using this address.

Of course, the local media would love to hear this too, but try this first.

 

[monorail81]

Sadly, that’s what travel insurance is for. No one ever thinks they are going to need it, but when they do need it and haven’t gotten it…………

 

[Riviera Rita]

Last year, we arrived in Disney to go to the Start Wars hotel. It was my gift to my partner and we were bringing my brother and brother-in-law. The day after we arrived and the day before our experience began, my partner's father died unexpectedly. We called Disney to find out our options, and were told there were no options. Go on with the trip our lose our money. So my brothers went forward, and we flew home to arrange the services. We figured two might as well continue if we were paying for it anyway.

It took months before I was able to reach out, but I reached out to Disney to let them know how dissapointed I was in how they handled everything. I know we didn't get insurance, but I run a small business and I've never made someone pay me when death is invovled. Ultimately, it's just wrong, I think. They had someone who seemed like an insurance agent call me back. He apologized for our loss, so insincerly, it hurt. He told me all about how great Disney insurance is (which wasn't helpful at this point). And he kept saying if we wanted to reschedule we could have for a 100% reschedule fee, which just felt like a crummy way to word our options. I'm just sharing because I've heard Disney has reimbursed people for death and I was told to call by someone who regularly goes to Disney, but I've just gotten nothing from them. I've reached out twice since my converstaion with the man who sounded like an insurance salesman.

Thoughts? Or just deal with our decision not to get insurance?

Deal with your decision not to pay for insurance. My insurance company advises to get insurance the day before you book a holiday and I always have.
I don't know about the US, but, here in the UK there seems to be a culture of not buying travel insurance and setting up GoFundMe pages when the worst unfortunately happens, which I actually find so wrong and irresponsible to expect others including strangers to fund funerals and repatriation after an accident or death.
I don't mean to offend, but, not getting insurance especially as Disney even offers it, is your problem and not Disney's.

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Did you try telling what happened in an email to , wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

I have gotten real results using this address.

Of course, the local media would love to hear this too, but try this first.

Why would the local media care? If you reserve a wedding venue then cancel a day before, they aren't going to reimburse you. It's just one of those things that is unfortunate, but you either move on or ruminate on it.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Why would the local media care? If you reserve a wedding venue then cancel a day before, they aren't going to reimburse you. It's just one of those things that is unfortunate, but you either move on or ruminate on it.

Just my opinion, local media eats this stuff up.

 

[Chi84]

Last year, we arrived in Disney to go to the Start Wars hotel. It was my gift to my partner and we were bringing my brother and brother-in-law. The day after we arrived and the day before our experience began, my partner's father died unexpectedly. We called Disney to find out our options, and were told there were no options. Go on with the trip our lose our money. So my brothers went forward, and we flew home to arrange the services. We figured two might as well continue if we were paying for it anyway.

It took months before I was able to reach out, but I reached out to Disney to let them know how dissapointed I was in how they handled everything. I know we didn't get insurance, but I run a small business and I've never made someone pay me when death is invovled. Ultimately, it's just wrong, I think. They had someone who seemed like an insurance agent call me back. He apologized for our loss, so insincerly, it hurt. He told me all about how great Disney insurance is (which wasn't helpful at this point). And he kept saying if we wanted to reschedule we could have for a 100% reschedule fee, which just felt like a crummy way to word our options. I'm just sharing because I've heard Disney has reimbursed people for death and I was told to call by someone who regularly goes to Disney, but I've just gotten nothing from them. I've reached out twice since my converstaion with the man who sounded like an insurance salesman.

Thoughts? Or just deal with our decision not to get insurance?

One other question. How much were they going to charge you to reschedule?

 

[AndyS2992]

I'm sorry for your loss, though this is why taking out travel insurance is so important. You can try pestering Disney, they can only say no, worth a shot.

 

[Chi84]

I think the OP is a new member who knows what travel insurance is for and regrets not taking it. He’s asking for help - if possible. We drive people away with some of these callous responses.

 

[JIMINYCR]

I can understand your predicament and sympathize with you. I also run my own business and have had customers who lose a spouse or family member and I help them out. But you have to realize our small businesses are very different in what we do and we are freer to be more human. Dis is on a much larger scale and they don’t operate as we can or do. There’s no comparison in you deciding to help and a Dis rep bending rules. You are dealing with a large corporation that has different regulations in place. Trip insurance is an option available to all and while you were caught without it , you can’t blame them for the loss you had to endure.
Large corporations have places where they show heart and where they have to hold the line and not compensate.
You can try reaching out other ways that posters have given you but you probably won’t get compensated.
Sorry for the loss of one you cared for.

 

[SugarMag]

Deal with your decision not to pay for insurance. My insurance company advises to get insurance the day before you book a holiday and I always have.
I don't know about the US, but, here in the UK there seems to be a culture of not buying travel insurance and setting up GoFundMe pages when the worst unfortunately happens, which I actually find so wrong and irresponsible to expect others including strangers to fund funerals and repatriation after an accident or death.
I don't mean to offend, but, not getting insurance especially as Disney even offers it, is your problem and not Disney's.

NO I agree with you. We don't normally get it because we used it and the one time we needed it, it was awful to deal with...but that's a different, long story.

 

[SugarMag]

Did you try telling what happened in an email to , wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

I have gotten real results using this address.

Of course, the local media would love to hear this too, but try this first.

Yes--that's who I reached out to

 

[Disstevefan1]

They didn't get insurance, that's their fault.

I understand what you are saying, I was just offering a suggestion at this point in time.

And I did not say it would work either.

Its super easy to say they didn't get insurance after the fact.

 

[SugarMag]

One other question. How much were they going to charge you to reschedule?

The entire price we paid.

 

[Riviera Rita]

I think the OP is a new member who knows what travel insurance is for and regrets not taking it. He’s asking for help - if possible. We drive people away with some of these callous responses.

A dose of reality is not callous. I've spent a fortune on insurance over the years, I have travel insurance, pet insurance, buildings and contents house insurance and car insurance. I hope to never have to use them, but, I'll be glad I did especially the pet insurance.
Take this OP as a lesson into buying insurance because no one can predict the future.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Yes--that's who I reached out to

Sorry for your loss. I recommend trip insurance for everyone if going on a (real) cruise.

Even maybe trip insurance for a WDW vacation IF YOU were in bad health.

But if folks were honest, the vast majority of them do not take out trip insurance for a WDW vacation.

I hope they do something for you, at least some sort of credit.

You paid money for something you didn't get.

Any business, large or small, should understand that.

I am ready to get flamed now.

 

[Chi84]

The entire price we paid.

That makes it harder. The only thing I can suggest is writing a concise email explaining the situation and sending it to Robert.iger@disney.com. This worked for me with a past president - I got a call from someone from the president's office. Maybe that was just lucky, though, or maybe it was because the situation was truly Disney's fault. It's a long shot, but I hope you get some pixie dust.