Disney Parks are getting deserted

[ztbz]

I have been driving an empty Disney Bus this week after the Hurricane came through the Gulf coast. I believe that there are many guest who cannot afford to drive to Disney with the gas prices being very high, Also notice the parking lots are barley full and the resorts do not have too many cars park at the hotel parking lots either, which is right before a usually busy Labor Day holiday weekend.

 

[black562]

I think its all the rumors of running out of gas, which from what I can tell isn't happening. Disney gets gas from the Virgin Islands and most of Georgia uses gas from the Savanah ports and along the coast. People need to get a handle on things and separate the rumors from truth so we can figure out what's going on.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Disney gets gas from the Virgin Islands

Not quite. The three Hess stations on property, which supply Disney with gas, get products from terminals in Fort Lauderdale or Tampa. Fort Lauderdale may get gas from some refineries in the Caribbean, but Disney does NOT get gas from the Virgin Islands.

 

[DancingBear]

The week before Labor Day is generally slower. A lot of schools have already started.

 

[disneymom727]

I think its all the rumors of running out of gas, which from what I can tell isn't happening. Disney gets gas from the Virgin Islands and most of Georgia uses gas from the Savanah ports and along the coast. People need to get a handle on things and separate the rumors from truth so we can figure out what's going on.

We have quite a few towns without gas here in NC. We've been asked to conserve as much as possible. I can imagine that may change some travel plans for some people coming from our area. It may hinder us from our Myrtle Beach trip next weekend. From what our news reported earlier things should be better for us by then. For the record, I am not complaining about our gas situation since it is small in comparison to the devastation the hurricane caused.

 

[kellyf2626]

The week before Labor Day is generally slower. A lot of schools have already started.

Yes! This week usually starts the slow season for Disney. Parents are usually less willing to take their kids out of school during the first few weeks. That is why they did the free dining - to encourage more people to make ressie's and come to Disney. Now until Thanksgiving is usually extremely quiet in the parks - my parents used to always bring us the week after Labor Day weekend, and we would almost walk around by ourselves! It was great!

 

[betterlatethannever]

Quote:
Originally Posted by black562
Disney gets gas from the Virgin Islands

Not quite. The three Hess stations on property, which supply Disney with gas, get products from terminals in Fort Lauderdale or Tampa. Fort Lauderdale may get gas from some refineries in the Caribbean, but Disney does NOT get gas from the Virgin Islands.

Actually, Hess's big refinery is in the Virgin Islands. So, Disney (through Hess) gets its gas from the Virgin Islands.

Ed

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Not if the gas comes from Tampa... St. Croix does not serve Tampa. If the gas comes from Fort Lauderdale then it comes from St. Croix. But - the gas DOES NOT come directly from St. Croix to Disney. It still has to go through a wholesale terminal. The refinery in St. Croix is called Hovensa.

 

[BuffettFan]

I don't know about the rest of the country ....but we live in Georgia in a pretty rural county, and almost all of our gas stations are out of gas....and the ones that do have it only have premium grade. We were planning a trip to Florida for the holiday weekend to visit my parents, but have reconsidered. Getting gas here at home has been difficult enough, we don't want to worry about getting it somewhere else. I'm sure a lot of people around here are doing the same.

 

[AlanH]

My understanding is unlike further up the East coast, gasoline in central and south Florida is brought in by barge. Further up the coast most gasoline comes by pipeline. The pipelines are running at reduced capacity due to Katrina.

We have had shortages, however, due to panic buying.

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Plantation Pipeline just announced that with the restoration of power to a major pumping station in Collins, MS (yeesh - I have actually been there), their pipeline is back to running at 95% capacity.

 

[raidermatt]

If things really are that slow at WDW, I'm sure its in part because of the seasonal slowdown, and in part due to Katrina and its impacts.

 

[mitros]

Well, as usual, it has become a consumer driven shortage, with people topping off their tanks, even though they do not really need gas, so they can beat the next, almost daily, price increases. This will, in turn cause sporadic shortages. On the same note, the price of oil is at $67.70 a barrel. Anyone see a decrease at the pumps, from when it was over $70 a barrel???? The oil company's are simply attempting to raise our cost for a gallon of gas to $3, which they have wanted for a while now, but could not think of an excuse to raise it. Then along comes Katrina, and gives them their excuse. Now, after rising to over $4 in some spots, they will begin to reduce it to $3, and BINGO! they got what they wanted. But since there is no longer a debate board here, I'll drop the subject.

 

[ChrisFL]

Well, as usual, it has become a consumer driven shortage, with people topping off their tanks, even though they do not really need gas, so they can beat the next, almost daily, price increases. This will, in turn cause sporadic shortages. On the same note, the price of oil is at $67.70 a barrel. Anyone see a decrease at the pumps, from when it was over $70 a barrel???? The oil company's are simply attempting to raise our cost for a gallon of gas to $3, which they have wanted for a while now, but could not think of an excuse to raise it. Then along comes Katrina, and gives them their excuse. Now, after rising to over $4 in some spots, they will begin to reduce it to $3, and BINGO! they got what they wanted. But since there is no longer a debate board here, I'll drop the subject.

if there still was a debate board, I still think most everyone would agree with your assessment

 

[GrimGhost]

mitros.....yup if there was a debate board. You nailed it.

 

[Luv2Roam]

If the parks were slower, I would guess part of it is seasonal for various reasons.
But I am sure the gas situation has created quite an impact on most. Driving anywhere really makes one stop and think how badly they really want/need to get there along with the cost.
I know people who were planning out of town trips and cancelled their plans, due to the cost of gas and being concerned about finding reasonable gas sources once they were to come home.

 

[Chuck S]

Many may also be concerned about raod conditions, not just gas. For instance, from San Antonio,we take I-10 and I-12 through Baton Rouge, Slidell, and Mississippi. the hardest hit areas. We have a trip planned in December. We don't know the conditions of these roads, or if any gas stations will be re-built and operating at that time.

 

[Lumpalump]

What is this free dining?

 

[betterlatethannever]

Plantation Pipeline just announced that with the restoration of power to a major pumping station in Collins, MS (yeesh - I have actually been there), their pipeline is back to running at 95% capacity.

I How many pipelines were put out of comission? Did any receive severe damage that would keep them out for a while?

Did any of the refineries have a lot of damage?

Ed

 

[SandrA9810]

All the refineries in the gulf are out of commision right now. As far as what I've heard on the news.

I think it would be a smart part on disney to reduce the amount of busses. During the opening and closing hours, allow for them to come over 20 mins, but during the day, reduce it to 30 mins. Same goes for the fort wilderness busses, which has always surprised me. I don't think they need to be running as often as they do. And they should allow for cart parking at the outpost, and reduce the rental fees so more people will be inclined to rent one of those than hop on the bus to the settlement and the outpost.

I'm here in south florida, and just filled up at 2.97 last night. Now this gas has to last us till next sunday. Which includes taking the bus more often. Being college students, they started a discounted rate program of 16.00$ for a month pass. Although talks of the free shuttle might shut it down. So the only bus would be the county busses. And that would hurt my mom getting to work every day (since she doesn't even own a car). It's hitting us hard right now. I wish disney would open up the magical express to the train stations. At 20$ a person, each way, it would be a whole lot more affordable for us to take the amtrack train up there. And I would love to, if it didn't cost 100$ in taxi fees.