Hey Howdy Hey Patty and welcome to planDisney!
I am so sorry to hear that you cannot visit us later this year for
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. As you mentioned, Special Event tickets are non-refundable, but nowhere else on Earth will you find Magic other than Disney. Let's go over an option you may have.
I would highly advise you to
call Disney and speak directly with a Cast Member. In most cases, the policy is what it is and you may be out of luck on recuperating any costs associated with your trip. There have been instances in the past where Cast Members may be able to help you out with a credit of sorts and cancel your party tickets. Just know that this is not common and it would be a big gesture to you and your situation that they do help out. It never hurts to call and explain your situation to the Cast Members to see if they have access to any extra pixie dust lying around!
One thing you might want to consider as you plan your trip for hopefully next year is travel insurance. While Disney does have
travel insurance that is offered to Guests booking a vacation package, you can also shop around for them online and with your insurance company you have your home and/or auto insurance. These plans can come in handy when considering your current situation as many have policies that can cover any lost expenses for your vacation that is cancelled for a variety of reasons. Remember that all policies are not created equally so give them a read to see if situations may apply to you.
Good luck on your call and we hope you can schedule so we can see ya real soon!
To Infinity and Beyond,
Nick