Is Disney travel insurance worth it?

[GeekDad]

My wife and I are thinking about booking a trip back to WDW for this coming September. We will probably be booking within the next few weeks and we don't usually book that far in advance so I was thinking about travel insurance just in case.

Through the Disney website I can get travel insurance for the whole trip (My wife, our 3 year old, and myself) for about $150. Has anyone purchased the Disney travel insurance before and is it worth it? What does it cover? How easy are they to work with in the event of needing to make a claim. Do I have to book airfare through the Disney site to have that covered? Should I consider looking somewhere else for the travel insurance?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Foolish Mortal]

In my opinion, yes !! You never know whats going to happen between now and your trip. Even DURING your trip. Better to pay the money and get some of it back instead of none of it. Think of it this way....you insure just about everything else in your life.

 

[Master Yoda]

It depends on this situation. Like any insurance you need to do a cost benefit analysis.

If you are doing a cruise, get insurance. End of story. A medical emergency requiring an air lift is a 5 digit bill not covered covered by most medical insurance plans. Travel insurance does cover it.

If you are doing the typical vacation package with tickets rooms and/or dining and are driving in, you financial risk if you have to cancel on the day of is only $200. If you are flying in the cost of airfare will have to be consider depending on the airlines cancellation policy. You have to look at your own individual situation and what you have to loose. Paying $160 to protect against possibly having to pay a $200 cancellation fee is not a wise investment. $160 t protect against a $200 cancellation fee and $2000 worth of airfare makes more sense.

You also want to consider the likelihood of you using it. Do you have preexisting medical conditions that could cause you to cancel? Do you have a direct relative that is near the end whose passing would cause you to cancel, etc. Look at what is required to make a claim, and see if anything lines up with your current situation.

Disney's insurance does cover airfare regardless of where you get it.

If you do decide to get insurance I would look at a third party provider for travel insurance. You can find equal or better coverage elsewhere. Just make sure you are comparing apples to apples.

It is also worth noting that some credit card companies offer free travel insurance for vacations charged to the card.

 

[NYwdwfan]

@Master Yoda correct me if I am wrong...but...I believe that the $200 Disney cancellation fee only applies if you cancel - if you postpone the trip to later dates the money you paid will just be applied to the later dates (which can then be modified if you decide on a different timeframe). Then you are not at risk at losing anything - as long as you plan on going back sometime in the future.

 

[Master Yoda]

@Master Yoda correct me if I am wrong...but...I believe that the $200 Disney cancellation fee only applies if you cancel - if you postpone the trip to later dates the money you paid will just be applied to the later dates (which can then be modified if you decide on a different timeframe). Then you are not at risk at losing anything - as long as you plan on going back sometime in the future.

Correct.

 

[GeekDad]

We are only doing the typical parks vacation. Total loss if we canceled would be about $1000 ($200 from disney plus airfare). I'll have to check on the airline cancellation policy. What about if someone gets sick during the trip? My wife has gotten sick on some of our previous trips but usually either rests in the room or she toughs it out and hits the parks anyways so it probably won't matter.

 

[Master Yoda]

We are only doing the typical parks vacation. Total loss if we canceled would be about $1000 ($200 from disney plus airfare). I'll have to check on the airline cancellation policy. What about if someone gets sick during the trip? My wife has gotten sick on some of our previous trips but usually either rests in the room or she toughs it out and hits the parks anyways so it probably won't matter.

It will depend on the policy. Some travel insurance can sometimes help with that in the form of medical bills which can be quite helpful for dealing with out of network expenses and the like. Some will also refund part of your vacation if you have to leave early.

 

[PigletIsMyCat]

shop around and check your credit cards too. amex offers numerous different levels of trip insurance that i have used in the past, they're very affordable to card holders. master yoda has excellent advise re: out of network medical expenses and shortened trips. read all the tiny print and consider what the potential issues are.

 

[Kingdom Konsultant]

Here is some of the information from Travelex which is the new company that Disney works with for their WDW packages
$75.95 per adult in the room which is actually refundable for the first 14 days after you add it. This new company gives you a free look trial period. Otherwise it is non-refundable. If you would like to see the whole policy, I can email it to you if you want to send me your email in a pm.

Pam

Description of Coverage
Policyholder: disney destinations, llc
Policy Number: SDW 0913
Schedule of Coverages & Services
Coverages listed are up to the limits above and underwritten by
Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company.
*Travel Assistance is provided by Travelex’s designated provider.
Please read this Description of Coverage in its
entirety for a summary of your terms and conditions.
Coverage is included for travel to and from a Disney resort as
long as the travel dates do not exceed seven days prior to or
seven days beyond the Disney resort stay.
Important Notes
This program is effective only when the appropriate Plan cost
has been received by Disney Destinations, LLC. Please keep this
document as your record of coverage.
Fourteen Day Free Look Period
If you are not completely satisfied within 14 days of purchasing
this plan, Disney Destinations, LLC will refund your plan cost, if
you have not departed on your trip or filed a claim.
terms of coverage
Who Is Eligible For Coverage
A person who has arranged to take a Covered Trip, and pays the
required plan payment.
When Coverage Begins
All coverages (except Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation and Post-
Departure Trip Interruption) will take effect on the later of 1) the
date the plan payment has been received by the Policyholder; 2)
the date and time you start your Covered Trip (up to seven (7)
days prior to the Disney resort stay); or 3) 12:01 A.M. Standard
Time on the Scheduled Departure Date of your Covered Trip.
Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation coverage will take effect at
12:01 A.M. Standard Time on the day after the date your plan
payment is received by the Policyholder. Post-Departure Trip
Interruption coverage will take effect up to seven (7) days
prior to the Disney resort stay.
When Coverage Ends
Your coverage automatically ends on the earlier of:
1. the date the Covered Trip is completed;
2. the Scheduled Return Date;
3. cancellation of the Covered Trip covered by the plan;
4. your arrival at the return destination on a round-trip, or the
destination on a one-way trip.
All coverages under the plan will be extended if your entire
Covered Trip is covered by the plan and your return is delayed by
unavoidable circumstances beyond your control.
If coverage is extended for the above reasons, coverage will end
on the earlier of the date you reach your originally scheduled
return destination or seven (7) days after the Disney resort stay.
In no event will coverage be extended due to voluntary reasons
without prior consent from Travelex Insurance Services.
Plan Benefits Maximum Coverage
Per Person
Trip Cancellation Up to 100% of Trip Cost
Trip Interruption Up to 100% of Trip Cost
Trip Delay $600 ($200/day)
Baggage & Personal Effects $2,000 ($500/per item)
Baggage Delay $500
Emergency Medical &
Dental Expense $25,000
Emergency Evacuation
& Repatriation $100,000
24 Hour Accidental Death &
Dismemberment $25,000
Rental Car Damage $25,000
Travel Assistance* Included

 

[copcarguyp71]

For us...in a word...YES! We have always bought it and had the peace of mind it affords.

 

[sring]

My wife and I are thinking about booking a trip back to WDW for this coming September. We will probably be booking within the next few weeks and we don't usually book that far in advance so I was thinking about travel insurance just in case.

Through the Disney website I can get travel insurance for the whole trip (My wife, our 3 year old, and myself) for about $150. Has anyone purchased the Disney travel insurance before and is it worth it? What does it cover? How easy are they to work with in the event of needing to make a claim. Do I have to book airfare through the Disney site to have that covered? Should I consider looking somewhere else for the travel insurance?

Thanks in advance!

I usually don't book travel insurance for purely domestic trips. I did for my last land/cruise Disney vacation, largely because of the cruise but also because of the (expletive deleted) winter we've been having in the Northeast.

I did not take the coverage offered by Disney because of pre existing medical conditions. However I did get a policy through Tripinsurance.com which offered several different options. Some of which did not exclude pre existing conditions and/or cancellation for any reason.

As far as your wife getting sick, again of you are staying domestically, check to see what your current medical policy would cover. Some may be more restrictive as to in/out of network coverage than others.