Travelling with Confidence: How the Smith Family Made Their Disney Dream a Reality

Planning a big family holiday is always exciting, but when pre-existing medical conditions are involved, it can also feel overwhelming.

We recently helped the Smith family secure Travel Insurance for their dream trip to Florida, ensuring everyone, from 4-year-old Ethan to Nanny Caroline, was fully covered.

Now they’re back from their trip of a lifetime, Jennie shares their experience in her own words.

Q: Can you introduce your family and what made you choose Florida for your holiday?

“We’ve been planning this holiday for years but had to put it on hold when Ethan was first diagnosed with Infant Medduloblastoma on Christmas Eve in 2022. We’re a family of five, including myself Jennie, husband Paul, our 7-year-old identical twin girls, and 4-year-old Ethan. My mum Caroline also travelled with us as well as 6 other family members.

Florida has always been a dream for us, especially visiting Disney World and Universal. Since Ethan’s diagnosis and subsequent relapse, we’ve only ever wanted to create special memories. Finally, we were able to make reality come true when Ethan was declared clear of the disease after 3 years of treatment.”

Q: Why did this holiday mean so much to your family?

“With Ethan’s diagnosis, we’ve learned how important it is to make the most of our time together. This trip was about joy, creating memories, and giving him something truly magical to look forward to.”

Q: Did you have any worries about getting Travel Insurance before the trip?

“Yes, definitely. We were concerned about whether Ethan’s condition would be covered, and also my mum’s medical history. We’d heard it could be difficult or very expensive. We were advised by the hospital charity ‘Abby’s Heroes’ to get a quote via a broker, this meant we only had to discuss Ethan’s medical history with one person on one occasion. The team at ‘Just Travel’ were so compassionate and empathetic, and were able to take our information to source the best quote for us from a range of companies. It was so much less stressful than I thought it would be and filled me with relief.”

Q: What was your experience like arranging your Travel Insurance with us?

“The team was incredibly understanding and patient. They took the time to go through everything with us and made what felt like a daunting process much easier. I liked the fact that the team is fairly small, so you’re not contacting a huge call centre where all the language is robotic and scripted. We spoke to the same people, mainly Paul who was amazing. They spoke to us like humans and it really felt as though they cared.”

Q: Many people worry about discussing medical conditions. How did you find that part of the process?

“We were a bit nervous at first, but we were immediately put at ease. Everything was handled with care and sensitivity, which made a huge difference. I was worried I would have to speak to a number of agents and discuss Ethan’s medical status multiple times, it can be very traumatic to relive what he’s been through so this was amazing for us.”

Q: How did having the right Travel Insurance impact your holiday experience?

“It gave us real peace of mind. We could relax and enjoy the holiday knowing we were covered if anything happened.”

Q: Did you have to make a claim during your trip?

“Thankfully, no. But just knowing it was there if we needed it was incredibly reassuring.”

Q: What were some of your favourite moments from the holiday?

“Seeing the children have fun with their cousins and making memories with their Nanny’s and Grandad was amazing! You can’t put a price on seeing big smiles on your children’s faces, they enjoyed every second and when Ethan met Mickey and all the other Disney Characters his face lit up and it was unforgettable. The smiles, the excitement – it made everything worthwhile.”

Q: What advice would you give to others travelling with pre-existing medical conditions?

“Don’t be put off. Speak to the right people and be open about your situation. It’s absolutely possible – you just need the right support.”

Q: Would you recommend JTC to others?

“Absolutely. The support, understanding, and peace of mind we were given made all the difference.”

Helping You Find Cover

At Just Travel Cover, we believe everyone deserves the chance to travel with confidence – no matter their medical history.

If you or your family have pre-existing medical conditions, we’re here to help you find the right cover for your trip.

Get a quote today and get set for your next adventure, or feel free to get in touch with us on 0800 294 2969 if you’d like to speak with one of our travel experts.