A heartwarming family trip to Disney took an unexpected turn when a major mistake came to light. Andie Coston, a TikTokker, shared the story on social media, recounting how her family’s plans for a big Disney vacation had been derailed by a simple oversight.
After the pandemic disrupted their initial plans, Coston and her loved ones were finally excited to embark on their long-awaited trip to Disney. To save some money, her parents made the decision to purchase $10,000 worth of Disney gift cards for tickets and restaurant reservations.
But when it came time to use the gift cards, things didn’t go as smoothly as they had hoped. “I went home this weekend, and they were having problems loading the gift cards correctly and purchasing the tickets,” Coston explained.
That’s when the unfortunate mistake was discovered: the $10,000 worth of gift cards were actually meant for the Disney+ streaming service, not for use at the theme park. Coston assured everyone that it was an honest mistake, as her parents, who are 78 years old, were not familiar with streaming services.
To make matters worse, the numbers on the back of the gift cards had already been scratched off, rendering them ineligible for return. Coston’s mother was distraught, her father frustrated, and the kids worried that their Disney dreams would be dashed.
In a desperate plea for help, Coston took to TikTok, tagging Disney, Disney Parks, and Disney+ in her caption. Her video quickly went viral, receiving nearly 3 million views and thousands of comments in less than 24 hours.
Luckily, Christmas came early for Coston and her family when Disney reached out to them and resolved the issue. They were able to transfer the money from the Disney+ cards to $10,000 worth of gift cards specifically for Disney Parks.
“I am so glad we were able to get it resolved, especially for my parents’ sake,” Coston shared with People Magazine. She also expressed her relief in knowing that their experience was not unique, as many others reached out to her with similar stories. Coston hopes that sharing her family’s mishap will raise awareness about the differences between the two types of cards and prevent others from facing a similar situation.
Remember, when it comes to gift cards, always double-check the details to make sure you’re purchasing the right one for your intended purpose. And if you do find yourself in a sticky situation, don’t hesitate to reach out for help – you never know when a little Christmas magic might come your way!
