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Travel complications ruined a surprise birthday trip to this Disney Park for a family of four with two young children last Friday, and now the Company has stepped in to try and solve the issue with a bit of Disney magic. Guests love Disney Parks worldwide for being where the magic happens and for providing joy to Guests everywhere, especially those who visit as children.
Indeed, there’s nothing worse than trying to surprise your child, only to find out that you can’t make their special day happen after all. That’s exactly the case for the Allen family, whose Disney trip in honor of six-year-old daughter Evah’s birthday ended in misfortune.
Credit: Disney
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Originally, 31-year-old parents Rachel and Greig planned a secret trip from their native Glenrothes, Scotland, to Disneyland Paris for Evah and her seven-year-old brother Joshua. As reported by the U.K.’s Mirror, the parents notified the young Disney fans on Thursday night, intending to travel cross-country on Friday, March 10, and spend Evah’s birthday at the theme park Resort.
Moreover, the trip cost a total of £1800 (approximately $2,191.95) for airfare and accommodations, plus Disney Park admission. In fact, in an interview with the publication, Rachel mentioned wanting to create “a nice memory” for her kids, with Evah being “ecstatic” to spend a special birthday “Where Magic Gets Real.”
Credit: Disney
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Unfortunately, this excursion to the land where wishes come true was not to be after complications of the French air traffic control strike left the family stranded on their way to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle. After arriving at Edinburgh Airport, the Allens say their travel company easyJet canceled their flight without notice, then offered the options of a refund or a free transfer.
Of course, they opted for the connecting flight, but upon arriving in Bristol, met the same issues, leaving them without a route to Disneyland or a place to stay. Devastated, Rachel shares that the airport was in such disarray, the family of four could not even make it past departures towards the Guest chairs, leaving her heartbroken children to spend the night on the floor of Bristol’s airport after a disappointing birthday dinner at its Burger King.
Credit: Mirror Online
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Plus, the airline’s only replacement flight was on Monday, but the Allens could not get their return dates changed from Tuesday to later in the week. Faced with the choice to put their kids through more travel for only one day in the capital city or return home, Rachel and Greig chose to cut their losses at an additional expense of £312 for the return journey.
Although the parents received a full refund for the airline and hotels, Rachel says the ordeal “destroyed” her daughter’s birthday, and more than the wasted cost, she’s upset that the kids had their “holiday taken away from them.” Luckily, Disney Parks offered “a little bit of hope” by contacting the family to move their reservation dates to a more ideal time when they can make the trip again after delaying their celebration.
