Cost of Fuel Poll

[Mike]

I don't think it will effect DVC much, but will probably effect non-DVC owners decisions to travel to WDW.

I think the biggest effect it will have on DVC owners is that you might see people start to make fewer but longer trips. Transportation costs are becoming prohibitive but for DVC owners lodging costs are controlled. A lot of owners have APs so park admission costs are soemwhat controlled. It may make a lot more $ense to make one 2 week trip instead of two 1 week trips.

Also, somewhat off topic but the consumer is getting squeezed from every direction. Just a week or two ago, a local news station did a story on a local family owned donut shop. The price of a 50 lb bag of flour has gone from $7 to $35 over the past year or so forcing them to go from $7.75 to $8.75 to $9.75 for a dozen donuts. Now they are saying they have to go to $12.75 and they will still be losing money. THis is all over the past few months!!!

 

[CarolA]

I voted option one but I think it's really MORE applicable to DVC members. In our case we have to pay the lodging costs no matter what (dues, loans etc...) So it's not like we have an extra $100 on airfare to add to the high disney resort prices.

I think it may impact DW overall, but I also bet Disney will just "promote" the heck out of things to keep crowds up.

 

[Starr W.]

I voted option one but I think it's really MORE applicable to DVC members. In our case we have to pay the lodging costs no matter what (dues, loans etc...) So it's not like we have an extra $100 on airfare to add to the high disney resort prices.

I think it may impact DW overall, but I also bet Disney will just "promote" the heck out of things to keep crowds up.

I have been seeing adds for banner ads for Disney, Disney Weddings & Honeymoons on Morningstar(stock and mutual fund research site) for the past few months. Also the commercials about affordability(one week for $1000). Plus the celebrity print ads they did last year have been popping up in fashion mags again.

 

[Tinkerdreams]

I think the biggest effect it will have on DVC owners is that you might see people start to make fewer but longer trips. Transportation costs are becoming prohibitive but for DVC owners lodging costs are controlled. A lot of owners have APs so park admission costs are soemwhat controlled. It may make a lot more $ense to make one 2 week trip instead of two 1 week trips.

I agree with Mike, I believe you'll see more people making reservations for longer trips instead of several shorter ones.

All I can say is thank God I bought a Prius a couple of years ago. If the airfare gets too out of control, I can still drive and not spend a fortune on gas!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think the cost of living will affect the numbers that go to WDW and the decline will be noticeable.
Bobbi

 

[wildernessDad]

I voted that I thought that there'd be a small decline in occupancy over time.

 

[La2kw]

I think it will affect WDW, though not right away. Fuel costs are supposed to continue rising and I think eventually there will be a breaking point where many people will not be willing and/or able to pay the prices to get there.

 

[crisi]

Try coming from Minnesota. Our air fares are high, and with the expected merger of NWA and Delta this week, they will only get higher.

I think it will effect things a little, but I think folks will still vacation, and since WDW is their destination of choice, I think they'll suck it up and pull out the wallet once again....Maybe just not for quite as long.

We usually go every other year. If fuel prices keep going up, we will switch to every three years - we won't stay for much longer, but go at a more expensive (point wise) time of year.

 

[mla973]

I think that even with increasing costs, people will scrimp to take a "much-wanted" vacation. For non-DVC members, incentives and discounts like free dining will keep people coming down.

 

[Mike©]

As far as DVC I don't think fuel costs will factor in. DVC seems to be more availability driven at this point. Drive or Fly ! If you can get a ressie, Your Gone !

 

[dvczerfs]

we use a total of 100 gallons of gas to drive to , there and back home. gas is about one dollar more a gallon than it was in december when we went down. we wont stay home for $100.00 more in october.

 

[theoarn]

I had to pay $2.91 for regular unleaded this weekend and I thought I was going to have to auction off my shoes to pay for it.
Theo

 

[theoarn]

we use a total of 100 gallons of gas to drive to , there and back home. gas is about one dollar more a gallon than it was in december when we went down. we wont stay home for $100.00 more in october.

DVCZRFS
I under stand that perfectly.
But for some people I don't think that it is Just the extra $100 for Gas or $150 for plane tickets that will keep them away.
It is the extra $500 for commuting and $200 for heating oil and $350 for Electricity and $400 for food combined with an extra $100 for the kids develpmental activities during the rest of the year that can work to keep people away.

But I am still planning on going as often as I can. I am just not sure right now how often that will be. I will have to see were things are in 3 months.
theo

 

[paulh]

wont afect us as we fly from the uk,we do hire a car for part of our stay.Cost of gas over there a faction what it over here($2.28 a litre 3.785 litres to a usa gallon)
But i think it will keep people on site more,not wanting to rent to go off site because of fuel costs.better for disney
Paulh

 

[Starr W.]

I had to pay $2.91 for regular unleaded this weekend and I thought I was going to have to auction off my shoes to pay for it.
Theo

I just paid $3.25 this morning! It's been awhile since I have seen regular unleaded under $3 here in OH.

 

[jeanigor]

On the way to work this morning it was $3.49 for regular. Under $3 would be a stroke of extreme good luck!

 

[theoarn]

Well
We make our own here in Texas so some times you can just go by the factory and buy it wholesale.

 

[spiceycat]

weather had a bigger impact than fuel prices.

the hurricanes in Sept - really hurt Disney for a while - until they came up with the free dinning for just that time.

 

[Princess Amy Lyn]

I think with 3 airlines going out of business just in the last few weeks, the mergers....means less flights, more expensive flights. Which equals less trips for families who fly. We live on the west coast... right now the flights are $430 per person. We are a family of 6....Yikes! So we will fly every other year so we can save up and stay 10-14 days to make it worth while.

I have a feeling there will be less West coast travelers to Disney, but East coast might dip a little if not stay the same.

 

[dvczerfs]

I had to pay $2.91 for regular unleaded this weekend and I thought I was going to have to auction off my shoes to pay for it.
Theo

we pay $3.36 for reg. unleaded. i havent seen under $3.00 since january.