Disney Vacation Account Holders, read this immediately!

[AuburnJen 777]

http://www.chipandco.com/disney-vacation-account-discontinued-276872/

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Today, with little to no warning, Disney announced that the Disney Vacation Account savings program has been discontinued. Disney Vacation Account members began receiving emails today notifying them that the program has ended and the closure notification was listed on the official website as well.

 

From the Disney Vacation Account website:

To current account holders:

 

Thank you for your participation in the Disney Vacation Account program. At this time, we are discontinuing the program and no new accounts or contributions are being accepted.

The Disney Vacation Account was launched in December 2013. The program provided both a savings program for future Disney vacations as well as online planning tools to assist in estimating the cost of future vacations. The program also offered an incentive of a $20 Disney gift card for every $1,000 spent on qualified Disney vacation purchases.

No official reason was given for the discontinuation of the program. However, the following options are listed on the Disney Vacation Account website for current account holders.

As a true Disney fan, and to show our appreciation for your participation in the program, below are four (4) options you can choose from. If you have more than one account with the Disney Vacation Account program, you may want to take action for each account.

Option 1
Use the total amount in your account to purchase a Disney Gift Card (depending on the amount in your account, you may need to purchase multiple Disney Gift Cards) by September 27, 2017, and we’ll add an extra 5% on your Disney Gift Card(s). We’ll email the gift card right to your inbox for immediate use. If you are entitled to more than $10,000 in Disney Gift Cards (after including the extra 5%), they will be emailed to you over the course of a few days.

Option 2
Redeem your Disney Vacation Account toward the Disney vacation of your choice. And, if you haven’t already booked a vacation, here is an amazing offer for Walt Disney World® Resort:

Stay and play for just $899
for a family of 3 with this package that includes
a 3-night stay in a standard room at Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort or
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort AND 2-day Theme Park tickets!
For stays most nights 7/25–8/5, 8/27–9/9,
9/24–10/5, 10/22–11/4 and 12/10–12/21/17.
Book through 9/27/17.
Ask about great rates available at other Disney Resort hotels! Price based on 2 adults and 1 child (ages 3 to 9). The number of rooms allocated for this package is limited. Tickets valid for one Theme Park per day and must be used within 14 days of first use.
Length-of-stay requirements may apply. Additional per-adult charges may apply if more than two adults per room. Advance reservations required. Offer is nontransferable and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Call (407) 934-7639 for more information or to book.
Be sure to mention your unique offer code found in your email or letter.

Option 3
Do nothing. Starting after September 27, 2017, Disney will begin to close Disney Vacation Accounts and process refunds. If you have funds in a Disney Vacation Account after September 27, 2017, then some time after that date you will receive a full refund of your balance to your original form of payment or by check to the mailing address we have on file for you. Due to the nature of the program, Guests may experience delays in the refund process.

To thank you for your participation and for your patience during the refund process, a bonus of 2% of your closing balance or $5.00 (whichever is greater) will be placed on a Disney Gift Card and emailed to you. The bonus Disney Gift Card will be delivered separately from your refund. Please allow up to 15 days between the delivery of the refund and the bonus Disney Gift Card.

Option 4
Request a refund before the refund process described in Option 3 is completed, and your full unused balance will be refunded to your original form of payment or by check to the mailing address we have on file for you. With this option 4, you will not be eligible to receive the bonus Disney Gift Card.

Thanks again for your participation and for your understanding. All amounts in your Disney Vacation Account are fully refundable.

 

[DaveInTN 3,247]

So they are giving participants 4 options....1 for each person that signed up.  

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

1 hour ago, DaveInTN said:

So they are giving participants 4 options....1 for each person that signed up.  

I have actually had a large number of clients who were using this options and are very sad to see it go. It's been the talk of a lot of agents today. 

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Interesting. I assumed since Disney was abruptly canceling the program that it wasn't popular. Guess I should know what assuming does.

 

Sent from my handheld doohickie

 

 

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

10 minutes ago, DaveInTN said:

Interesting. I assumed since Disney was abruptly canceling the program that it wasn't popular. Guess I should know what assuming does.

 

Sent from my handheld doohickie

 

 

I am guessing it wasnt popular enough for what they wanted but we will never know of course. 

[ftwildernessguy 778]

My take is the administrative costs of running the program weren't offset by the money that would be spent.  A savings program like this is attractive to people who have to actually save for a vacation, and can perhaps only afford to go every couple of years or so.  While this may be the demographic Walt was interested in, the current bean counters are obviously interested in attracting a higher end clientele.  

[Duane 152]

I'm surprised there is not an Option 5...  "Click here to apply for your very own Disney Chase Visa credit card. Once your card is approved, any funds remaining in your Disney Vacation Account will be transferred into your Disney Rewards Account with Chase."

[Retired and Happy (Ken) 101]

We were using the program for the first time.  Judy used Option 1 and got gift certificates the same day.  We're just hoping those bar codes really mean something when we go to use them (3 paper printed "cards", I believe).  It was being tried as a convenience for us to have the site paid for when we got there, but we'll never know now.  The plan now is to take the gift "cards" when we check in.  if Disney won't take them, we know no one will.