Welcome back to our weekly Friday series, where we present a Reader’s success or mistake story.. Last week we posted a bug from a reader who lost 100,000 Avianca Life Miles after misunderstanding the program’s expiration policy.
This week, we turned to one of TPG’s staff members, Caroline English, TPG’s Director of Social Media. When her young daughter fell ill during a recent family trip to disneyworld and her family of four had to miss most of the day at the parks, Caroline managed to turn a $12 insurance purchase into a $400 refund for her park tickets.
Missing a day at Disney because of a sick child
When Caroline booked a hotel last December for her family’s trip to Disney World in spring 2026, she accidentally opted for trip interruption insurance without realizing it.
“I booked [our hotel] through Marriott with points,” Caroline said. “Apparently, on my initial booking, I opted for travel insurance but I didn’t remember.”
Related: The best travel insurance policies and providers.
Cut to a few months later.
“As soon as we boarded the flight, I noticed that my daughter’s breathing was a little faster than normal, but I thought it might be because the air on the plane was dry. When we landed, it was a little worse, so when we checked into the hotel, I asked them if there was a doctor they recommended we could take her to, just to be safe, and they recommended a service through the local hospital that has a doctor come right to your hotel room,” Caroline said.
Although the doctor in the room did not have insurance and she had to pay cash, she opted for convenience.
“He came with so much equipment that he could literally dispense the steroids she needed right there in the room,” Caroline said.
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After the doctor gave her daughter medication, she was cleared to go to the park.
“She told us to take it easy and not to push her too hard, but that she was fine,” Caroline said.
Although they were able to enter the park for a couple of hours that day, Caroline said she regretted not purchasing travel insurance because Disney tickets are very expensive.
What happened after returning home?
Fortunately, he didn’t have to remember his accidental purchase from months before. When Caroline returned home, there was an email from Allianz in her inbox welcoming her and asking if any unexpected events had affected her trip. The email included links to their plan benefits and direct claims submission page.
Since she had forgotten that she had purchased trip interruption insurance, the email confused her.
“I was so paranoid that it was a scam, I literally opened a new checking account to get the direct deposit,” Caroline said.
He eventually returned to find another email confirming that he had opted to sign up and paid $12 for insurance when he initially booked his hotel.
In his complaint to Allianz, he made it clear that his family missed most of the day in the park, not the entire day. “And they still paid full park tickets that day because technically that interrupted our day at the parks,” Caroline said.
Because the insurance only covered the trip interruption, not the medical bills, she was unable to file a claim for the doctor visit. However, the cost of the park tickets he received was about the same as the doctor’s visit.
How to replicate this success
Next time you book a hotel or flight, it’s worth paying attention to the insurance offers on the checkout page. Just be sure to sign up at checkout for added peace of mind, especially if you’re traveling with small children prone to getting sick. Don’t forget to also note the coverage in your trip planning documents to remember that you have options if something happens during your trip.
While many travel credit cards include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, many do not cover refunds for event or theme park tickets unless booked as part of a larger travel package. Before purchasing additional insurance, check the fine print of what’s already covered with your credit cards.
Related: The best cards for trip cancellation and interruption insurance and what they really cover
It’s also worth noting that most credit card travel insurance doesn’t cover medical bills, like the one Caroline paid on her trip. A notable exception is the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees), which includes emergency medical and dental benefits that cover up to $2,500 in medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when you or an immediate family member becomes ill or injured 100 miles or more from home during travel.
In a nutshell
Most hotels and airlines partner with an insurance company like Allianz to offer travel protection coverage when you check out and pay for your trip. While many travelers, including me, often opt out to save money on the nominal fare, Caroline’s story may make you reconsider your option next time.
It also doesn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with your credit card’s trip interruption insurance, as you may already be protected without paying extra for additional coverage.
If you have your own story to share with other TPG readers, please fill out our error story form either success story form. (For ongoing issues where you believe you are owed compensation due to circumstances beyond your control, please contact the TPG Ombudsman, Michelle Couch Friedmanat ombudsman@thepointsguy.com.)
Related: What your credit card travel protection covers and what it doesn’t
