Any-1 feel threatened w/ traveling & DVC?

[Budahman]

So with the recent trend of airlines issues and costs rising....is anyone starting to feel the pressure of possibly not using or affording to use all the points they have.
Although we have only 160 points....if trends continue on the same track with airlines, I can see our 3-4 trips a year going down to only 1-2 longer trips.

Also, if things get as bad as they are saying then I imagine Disney will eventually start to see a decline as well. This could possibly lead to possibly GREAT deals in hotel rooms again (as it was after 911). If that gets the case & it stays like that for a year or two....could we see a rise in members selling their DVC??

 

[DVC Mike]

I am glad I live close enough to drive. The era of cheap flights may be over. It's led me to re-think my desire to purchase at the Villas at the Grand Californian in DLR.

I think the high airfare costs are definitely going to impact the number of U.S. visitors to WDW -- especially those wanting to book a value accomodation.

 

[alldiz]

I don't ever think I won't be able to use my points.....but I might take longer trips.
Kerri

 

[Figment2]

I know that my friends (also DVC members) and I will probably go for longer stays rather than the long weekends we did before. So instead of going from Fri-Mon., we will probably stay till Wed. or Thurs. and instead of going 3-4 times a year,maybe cut it to 2-3. I know our October trip (which is our annual long trip) has gone from a week to ten days.

The up side is maybe I'll get out of borrowing mode.

Cyn

 

[secretprincess]

I work at a school and am limited on when I can go on vacation to those busy weeks. We are looking at Feb break, airtran- the cheapest is 399/pp/ each way. We are going to try to get reservations at HH- a much tolerable drive- only 16hrs ! That will be fun with a 3 yr old and 5yr old- can anyone say Benadryl ?

 

[Chuck S]

We usually drive, but I had enough Skymiles for a freebie in December and Mom's ticket was $200 r/t. I got an email from Delta that award tickets booked after August will have a $25 fuel surcharge, but it will not apply to existing itineraries.

So far the only change in the flight has been a flight number, same times and seat assignments. I'm holding my breath that there won't be major changes to my schedule in the coming months.

So far we will be using most of our DVC points, though I do have quite a few to bank this year from a cancelled trip earlier.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Unless it gets entirely out of hand so that virtually no one is able to travel anywhere, we'll still do our two 7-day trips a year.

 

[HayGan]

We just bought with the knowledge that most of our future trips will be via land not air. We actually are thinking of adding on so that we can make those trips longer.

 

[MinnieGi]

We already do one long 10 day trip over Thanksgiving week and into the next. DH travels alot for work so we usually have enough FF awards to pay for our tickets. We also go to HHI during the summer but we always drive. Actually we just got back yesterday and managed the 12 hour drive just fine. Also gas is about 20 to 30 cents cheaper down south! It was an emotional boost to see prices below $4.00!!! We filled up leaving HHI for $3.79!!

 

[jdg345]

I know that my friends (also DVC members) and I will probably go for longer stays rather than the long weekends we did before. So instead of going from Fri-Mon., we will probably stay till Wed. or Thurs. and instead of going 3-4 times a year,maybe cut it to 2-3. I know our October trip (which is our annual long trip) has gone from a week to ten days.

The up side is maybe I'll get out of borrowing mode.

Cyn

Ahh ... that's not what DVC wants though ... they like it when you're always in borrowing mode as it gives you an incentive to add on.

 

[Alexander]

We'll be taking two longer trips rather than four shorter trips. We'll likely be staying around 7-9 nights rather than 5-7 nights. No, we won't let our points go unused, we just need to make the traveling more efficient. Less, but longer trips will do this.

Yes, we will probably look at driving too. It's about 22 hours from Syracuse, and yes I have a 2 and a 9 year old. Can you say Tylenol PM? Just kidding--I think!

 

[Brian Noble]

All of my ownerships have resorts within driving distance that I would be willing to stay at.

I'll still take my one week per year trip to Florida in February to thaw out, and we'll still fly. If things get too expensive, we'll be cutting back on other things on that trip.

Like Disney.

 

[AlexTina]

We usually only take 1 long trip a year, occasionally 2 but that is pretty rare. My DH does travel a lot for work though and I have a SW Visa that I use for EVERYTHING! So we generally fly free anyhow, this is very important with a family of 5

Tina

 

[Iggipolka]

The cost of airfare has become a major concern for us as we have to fly from California to Orlando. We're considering booking Disney Cruises and using the Adventure Collection as they use up more points and we still get a Disney vacation. We're also thinking more about renting out our points, although this makes me nervous.

We were going to add on to VGC, but I'm not so sure now. While it would be really convenient for us to have DVC membership at VCG, I don't think we really need more points.

 

[bpmorley]

So with the recent trend of airlines issues and costs rising....is anyone starting to feel the pressure of possibly not using or affording to use all the points they have.
Although we have only 160 points....if trends continue on the same track with airlines, I can see our 3-4 trips a year going down to only 1-2 longer trips.

Also, if things get as bad as they are saying then I imagine Disney will eventually start to see a decline as well. This could possibly lead to possibly GREAT deals in hotel rooms again (as it was after 911). If that gets the case & it stays like that for a year or two....could we see a rise in members selling their DVC??

I can definitely see that happening. Not sure disney will see a decline. Maybe just less americans going.

 

[ADP]

I can definitely see that happening. Not sure disney will see a decline. Maybe just less americans going.

Airfare will affect overseas tourists as well. They are seeing higher than usual fuel prices. Granted, they may not feel it as much, but it will still hurt.

 

[bpmorley]

Airfare will affect overseas tourists as well. They are seeing higher than usual fuel prices. Granted, they may not feel it as much, but it will still hurt.

They still get more bang for their buck, or should I say Euro

 

[eliza61]

I'n taking a more of "wait & see" attitude. Most of my friends who own any type of time share have pretty much the same mind set as me. I will cut back on darn near every thing else before I give up my vacation. I will eat ramien noodles every day for a good long while before cancellling a disney vacation.
I have enough points to go once a year for 1 week. lately though we've been sneaking off for 2 or 3 mini vacations, either by borrowing points or maybe paying cash for the weekends.

 

[littlestar]

Next year we are only doing 2 Orlando trips. The other two trips will be either Williamsburg, VA, Branson, MO (Marriott), or Destin, FL, which we can drive to. Depends on what kind of trade or Getaway week via II I can get.

I'm really glad we own at a couple of resorts where we can drive to easily (Branson and Smoky Mts). We've downsized our DVC points for now. Probably won't do any significant add-ons with DVC until the economy improves. It's starting to get scary depending on foreign oil.

 

[Starr W.]

Next year we are only doing 2 Orlando trips. The other two trips will be either Williamsburg, VA, Branson, MO (Marriott), or Destin, FL, which we can drive to. Depends on what kind of trade or Getaway week via II I can get.

I'm really glad we own at a couple of resorts where we can drive to easily (Branson and Smoky Mts). We've downsized our DVC points for now. Probably won't do any significant add-ons with DVC until the economy improves. It's starting to get scary depending on foreign oil.

Like you we are probably going to do only 2 FL trips next year.

Just bought a week at one of our favorite resorts only 5hrs away!

Have my 09 requests in with our Starwood week, 3 out of 4 choices we can drive to.