A $10,000 gift card almost cost the family a trip to Disney World

Strange but true

by Ben Cost

They want to get value for their Mini.

A family’s long-awaited trip to Disney World was almost over before it even began, as a ridiculous combination left them temporarily unable to use $10,000 worth of gift cards they had set aside for the vacation.

“Do I have a story for you! Please help!” Andrea Coston, 41, from Illinois, wrote in a comment: This week’s viral video in detail Her problematic pilgrimage to the most magical place on earth.

The social worker said her elderly parents had planned to visit the House of Mouse in 2020 – but postponed the trip due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They are finally scheduled for Christmas this year, according to Coston, who noted that 16 people are scheduled to leave.

To save money, the Midwesterners’ mom and dad bought $10,000 worth of Sam’s Club gift cards to use on tickets and restaurant meals. Except they were Disney+ Gift Cards.

“Yes. “We have 10,000 Disney Plus streaming services,” a panicked Coston wrote in text over the 38-second clip that attracted 2.4 million views. “That’s over 70 years of Disney+.”

The Post has reached out to representatives for Disney+ and Disney World for comment.

A devastating TikToker implored commenters to help convert Disney+ gift cards into Disney World gift cards before Orlando theme park tickets go on sale.

“We’re leaving in six days, and the parks are sold out because it’s Christmas,” lamented a despondent Coston. “Mom is distraught, Dad is frustrated, and the kids are worried we won’t get into Disney.”

Many critics in the now-deactivated comments sections were skeptical about such a seemingly avoidable mistake.

but, In the follow-up videoCoston explained that her parents are 78 years old and aren’t familiar with the differences between Disney+ and Disney World.

Coston said the rest of the family didn’t understand, as they were “looking at the back of the cards with the numbers” and not the front with the Disney+ sign.

She also expressed her disbelief at how her parents were allowed to purchase “so many cards on streaming services” in the first place.

Fortunately, the Disney drama has a happy ending: in a The video update was posted on MondayCoston shared that Disney contacted her parents to say it would transfer $10,000 from Disney’s streaming services to the equivalent amount in Disney parks gift cards.

“I’m glad this has been resolved,” the grateful girl gushed. “I really hope this doesn’t happen to other people.”

She also suggested that Disney+ change the design of its gift card so people can more easily distinguish it from its Disney World counterpart.

Unfortunately, these types of gift card mistakes are fairly common, financial expert Michael Ryan told Newsweek.

To avoid disaster, it is recommended to double-check the exact details of the product, as well as the terms and conditions, before purchasing.

If a problem arises, Ryan said contacting customer service is the first and best option.

Customers can also recover most of their losses by reselling their gift cards through third-party platforms, such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace, he noted.