Concerned about gas prices and shortages in early October

[kath1210]

We are going down to WDW in early October with a big group. One family will be driving and they are getting concerned about gas prices and especially, gas shortages, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and now Rita.

1. What will happen if they are delayed by gas shortages and cannot check in until a day or two later than planned? They did not buy trip insurance, and the trip is all paid for, of course.

2. In order to save money, they may want to shorten their stay by a day or two - can they call now and do this? Can they do this when they check in? If they shorten their trip, what will the penalty be?

TIA for your help!

 

[firemanx]

i went there a week after Katrina and all over the news they were saying there was gas shortages all over the state of florida, and were showing gas stations w/ no gas around orlando area!!! But disney always had gas and the price was cheaper then it was outside the park. I belive it was like 2.89 a gallon @ the Hess's inside the park, but like 2.99 outside the park

 

[gottaluvPluto]

The only place in Florida with a gas shortage is Pensacola. Before the hurricane Pensacola ran out of gas. Then we had a problem with gas because AL, MS and LA were coming here and filling drums full of gas and then you had the people who topped off their tanks for fear of not getting gas. Anyway, we have a limit on gas and you can fill you car plus two gas cans.

I don't think you will have a problem getting gas.

 

[Bumbles]

after Katrina there were definitely more shortages around than just in Pensacola. I live in North Central Florida and there were gas stations that had no gas for a few days. I made a trip to Jacksonville and there were several stations without as well. However, we were able to find gas, we just had to go out of our way

 

[stm61]

last wk the gas on Disney property was $2.79 all wk. It was cheaper there, at a tourist destination, then it was at the south Jersey shore area.

 

[gottaluvPluto]

after Katrina there were definitely more shortages around than just in Pensacola. I live in North Central Florida and there were gas stations that had no gas for a few days. I made a trip to Jacksonville and there were several stations without as well. However, we were able to find gas, we just had to go out of our way

Sorry for the miss information. The information I passed on was from the news. Maybe we had it worse than other places and thats why they said Pensacola is the only place with a gas shortage. You don't know how much you depend on gas until the school board in your district says, "we might have to cancel school for awhile."

 

[Bete]

Friday morning the news stated there are refineries closed in Texas. I think two hurricane hits like this; so, close together is going to have an impact on gas prices and shortages. This is especially true for the first few weeks after Rita. I think it would be tricky to have trip insurance kick in for this cause, anyway. You could leave earlier to get there and be prepared for the worse. There's enough notice about Rita. We are driving and our first day at WDW is Oct.1.

We don't have trip insurance, either. You may still be able to add trip insurance; it depends on who you have your vacation trip with. There are restrictions on time factors on insurance, too.

I don't believe you get any refund for not getting there on time; unless, you cancel upfront and there are time restrictions for cancellations. It's not Disney's fault. Also, I believe there's a five day window from your start date for cancellations and getting a refund from Disney. If they booked through a vacation company, the policy may be way different.

The best way is to call whoever you booked with and get clarification direct on all options. I would leave early, if there are true concerns.

 

[cnaumann]

I am in a similar situation. I am also driving to Disney in early October.

It is too early to panic, and worrying is not going to change anything. If you don't show up or leave early, you could very well lose the money you paid for the hotels. That is why I do not like travel packages. If you book the room directly you only have to put up one nights deposit.

You can pay to have a non-expiring option added to your tickets at any time. This will let you use unused day on your next trip.

I have a feeling that gas will be available in early October, but you may have to pay a good bit to get it. You can calculate the cost of $5 gas on your vacation plans, it probably won't add more than a few hundred dollars to the overall cost. (800 miles one way at 20miles to the gallon is 40 gallons of gas, a $2 increase in gas prices (to $5 gallon) will add $160 to the round trip cost. Is that really worth cutting your vacation short and losing hotel rooms that you have already paid for? Cutting your vacation short will not save you money on gas.

On the trip, I plan on filling up often and getting a full tank before I stop for the night. If I can get a full tank before I leave Georgia, I know that I can make it!

 

[justus3]

I live in Northeast Florida, on the news tonight it said the Governor of Georgia just closed schools for Monday and Tuesday to "conserve energy" Our governor states that we should conserve fuel, but there is no gas storage. Found it all really odd. I leave on the 28th for WDW, I knew going during hurricane season may effect our trip weather wise. I never worried about the gas until today.

 

[mamaeck]

I just got back from my first Disney trip ever. When we left Florida this AM, gas was $2.48. I live in the state of Georgia. And, yes, the Governor has requested that all schools shut down on Monday and Tuesday to conserve gas. The schools are not required, and some are refusing to close. This has created quite a controvery here.

I, too, was worried about the gas prices driving down there. Fortunately, it's only about a 7 hour trip for us. I was surprised that gas was so cheap at Disney.

 

[Disneyjosh229]

I am in a similar situation. I am also driving to Disney in early October.

It is too early to panic, and worrying is not going to change anything. If you don't show up or leave early, you could very well lose the money you paid for the hotels. That is why I do not like travel packages. If you book the room directly you only have to put up one nights deposit.

You can pay to have a non-expiring option added to your tickets at any time. This will let you use unused day on your next trip.

I have a feeling that gas will be available in early October, but you may have to pay a good bit to get it. You can calculate the cost of $5 gas on your vacation plans, it probably won't add more than a few hundred dollars to the overall cost. (800 miles one way at 20miles to the gallon is 40 gallons of gas, a $2 increase in gas prices (to $5 gallon) will add $160 to the round trip cost. Is that really worth cutting your vacation short and losing hotel rooms that you have already paid for? Cutting your vacation short will not save you money on gas.

On the trip, I plan on filling up often and getting a full tank before I stop for the night. If I can get a full tank before I leave Georgia, I know that I can make it!

Good point made. If you do the math, the amount of money that can be saved by cutting a stay shorter, is absolutly nothing.