The Unfortunate Mix-Up
Andie Coston, a resident of Illinois, found herself in a predicament when her parents unintentionally purchased $10,000 (£8,700) worth of Disney+ streaming vouchers instead of gift cards for a dream family trip to a Disney theme park. The well-intentioned parents were seeking to economize their Christmas holiday plans for their family of 16 by taking advantage of the discounted gift cards available on Sam’s Club, a membership discount service.
From 70 Years of Streaming to Park Tickets
In her quest for a solution, Andie turned to the popular social media platform TikTok. Her video detailed the mishap and caught the attention of both sympathizers and critics. While some TikTok users expressed empathy for her situation, others questioned why a well-off family required assistance. Nevertheless, the increased exposure proved beneficial. In a subsequent video, Andie joyfully announced that Disney had reached out to her parents, offering to convert the $10,000 in streaming vouchers to $10,000 worth of Disney Parks tickets.
A Relief and Gratitude
Expressing her gratitude in the TikTok video, Andie thanked the supportive users with a thumbs-up, proclaiming, “we got it done.” To those who had been less kind, she acknowledged their intentionally harsh comments, recognizing that they facilitated the attention from Disney and subsequently resolving the issue. With a sense of relief and satisfaction, she concluded, “I’m glad this is resolved.”
The Discovery and Plea for Help
In a video shared the day prior, Andie explained that the mix-up came to light when her elderly parents, both 78 years old, encountered difficulties while attempting to redeem the gift cards online. As she narrated the story, Andie revealed that they were now in possession of an astonishing $10,000 worth of Disney+ streaming services. Urgently seeking assistance, she emphasized the importance of transforming the vouchers into a more suitable form of payment. With their trip to Disney just six days away and the holiday season resulting in high demand for park tickets, her mother was distraught, her father frustrated, and the children anxious about missing out on the magical experience.
A Discounted Plan Gone Awry
According to US news channel 25 News, Sam’s Club frequently offers gift cards at a discounted rate of up to 25%. This means that a $100 (£87) gift card purchase would cost only $75 (£59), providing a potential saving of $2,500 (£2,000) on a $10,000 outlay. It was this significant saving opportunity that prompted the family to pursue this course of action, unaware that they would end up with an unexpected abundance of streaming services instead.