Economy

[janni518]

I would give up a lot before I give up my Disney vacation.

 

[Darthmerideth]

I am glad to see all the positive comments. I was thinking I was living in fantasyland, no pun intended. I never thought about the positives of owning DVC in a downturn. Gas and groceries and you can still have a great get away. Throw in the disney rewards credit card and you are in good shape.

 

[mikesmom]

No cancel here. After 8 years of ownership, the trip is an economical vacation for us. The room is paid for, we have SW flyer points so no transportation costs, and we eat most meals in the room. We would buy groceries at home, so not much increase there. We are going for Food & Wine, so we realistically have to look at our "grazing" expenses, but we are not real big eaters in that climate, so most things get shared.

 

[SLK1]

If you can, GO!! If you're facing a job loss or whatever, yes you should probably push it back. But, aren't we supposed to be putting money back into the economy in order to get it healthy again? If we all hoard our money, that doesn't do anyone any good. So, spend!!! Moderation is the key (which is kind of why people are in this mess in the first place - no one practiced moderation), so don't go hog-wild, but go, spend, enjoy!

 

[stopher1]

We're off in 27 days, and airfare, tickets, etc were paid for months ago. Every year at the beginning of the year we buy Disney Gift Cards to use for food later on on our trips, so the food's all paid for too... no cancelling here. Our 15th anniversary trip for next March is already taken care of too, so if anything we "might" reconsider our '09 fall trip to Disneyland... but I doubt that too. Something really drastic would have to happen (i.e. job loss) before we alter our Disney lifestyle.

 

[edk35]

We're off in 27 days, and airfare, tickets, etc were paid for months ago. Every year at the beginning of the year we buy Disney Gift Cards to use for food later on on our trips, so the food's all paid for too... no cancelling here. Our 15th anniversary trip for next March is already taken care of too, so if anything we "might" reconsider our '09 fall trip to Disneyland... but I doubt that too. Something really drastic would have to happen (i.e. job loss) before we alter our Disney lifestyle.

You know that is a great idea...buying the gift cards ahead of time. I never thought of that.

 

[rutgers1]

We are going in August. We already have 5 days at SSR and 2 days at Hard Rock booked. The plan is to add 5 more days at a DVC resort at the end of the trip.

Since our points are already paid for, the actual accommodations aren't the issue. However, the economy might impact:
1) How are we going to get there from NJ? We were planning on flying. Is that the most cost effective way? If so, we'll do that. If not, we'll reconsider.
2) Food. We wanted to get the DDP, but that is expensive. If our finances aren't better at the time of the trip, we will reconsider eating in the room more.
3) Park Tickets. Right now, we are planning on getting annual passes. If things take a turn for the worse, we might spend much of trip at the resort pool.

 

[stopher1]

You know that is a great idea...buying the gift cards ahead of time. I never thought of that.

We treat it as a rolling budget kind of thing - that way we're always "ahead of the game" for the current year's trip(s). The money's already spent, so cancelling is not such an issue if something were to happen, like some sort of financial setback (i.e. job loss or something)... our food $ for next year is already racking up in the bank for next year, and come January we'll buy more gift cards.

 

[kerickson]

My husband's job requires him to travel alot right now, so we have our flights paid for. We are planning on getting a few 'back east' vacations in over the next few years to take advantage of this, eventually we'll have fewer free flights and will spend more of our DVC vacations at DL and hopefully Hawaii!

We also received 2 AP's with our DVC purchase, already bought my DD's 7day park hopper and my DD is under 3 - yay!

So, we are counting down the days until Jan!

 

[BroganMc]

I am glad to see all the positive comments. I was thinking I was living in fantasyland, no pun intended. I never thought about the positives of owning DVC in a downturn. Gas and groceries and you can still have a great get away. Throw in the disney rewards credit card and you are in good shape.

With our current timeshare portfolio, we're already saving expenses using our weeks and points.

Gas is currently running $3.67 a gallon inside Disney (1-4 cents higher outside). Even being offsite this week, we've only just topped off our tank (our last refill was outside Daytona on Sunday).

As for food, we do stop at Walmart that first night and pick up a few staples. We aren't keen one eating out multiple times in a day and usually bring leftovers home, so we're conserving our food budget this trip, albeit unintentionally.

If anything, the economy has made me put any add-on on hold for at least the new year. And I admit the news has been very distracting this week. I've talked to a few cast members who let me know it is weighing on their minds too. Everyone's a bit discombobulated at present. I hope things quiet down soon, but I fear this is one nail-biter of an election season for many.

 

[rigsby25]

Shucks... If my bank fails my vacation money is going with it. May as well use it before I lose it!!

MG

AMEN!! This trip out we used all of our miles for first class instead of half of them for economy (i.e. two trips) just in case the airline folds!

 

[jpolak]

What better way to escape from the real world and all of it's problems than a WDW vacation.

 

[disneymom8589]

So far the economy hasn't affected us too much personally, other than paying more for groceries all the time! Gas has gone down significantly in the past few months, so that's a plus and I just got a fairly substantial raise this year. We have 2 Disney trips planned - Disneyland in December (although we're staying at the Anaheim Marriott and not using DVC points at one of the Disney hotels) and a Disney cruise next July for our 25th anniversary using DVC points.

 

[SLM]

My DH and I were surprised how little we actually spent during our week at HHI two weeks ago-we had breakfast in the villa, took our own lunch to the beach five days-not to save money, but because we wanted to for convenience and we figured if we ate our healthy breakfasts and lunches, we (meaning me!) wouldn't gain weight eating our dinners out-and great dinners can be had (including a drink and/or dessert) for about $40.00 for the two of us. I think vacations and family time, or time together as a couple are almost a necessity in these stressful times and not a luxury (if you don't put yourself in debt to take them!). In fact, we called our guide while we there to add points at AKV!

 

[edk35]

My DH and I were surprised how little we actually spent during our week at HHI two weeks ago-we had breakfast in the villa, took our own lunch to the beach five days-not to save money, but because we wanted to for convenience and we figured if we ate our healthy breakfasts and lunches, we (meaning me!) wouldn't gain weight eating our dinners out-and great dinners can be had (including a drink and/or dessert) for about $40.00 for the two of us. I think vacations and family time, or time together as a couple are almost a necessity in these stressful times and not a luxury (if you don't put yourself in debt to take them!). In fact, we called our guide while we there to add points at AKV!

ahhhh sounds like a great vacation. One day ...I will take a dh and me only trip.

 

[kimberh]

I am so relieved to read these positive comments. Things do seem to be slowing down here. I do hope it is just until the election. Our gas is the highest it has been. We (my family) are still trying to live the same. We are self employed, so if all try to slow down, then it slows us all. We are still planning the same trips for 2009... so far. I'll post back if it changes.

 

[Juliet25]

I'm a DVC member.

I have to pay for my trip whether I take it or not.

So I might as well go!

That's my attitude as well. We'll go regardless of the economy. I'm hoping the non-DVC'ers are canceling so the crowds are thinner.

 

[MagikMom]

We are going in August. We already have 5 days at SSR and 2 days at Hard Rock booked. The plan is to add 5 more days at a DVC resort at the end of the trip.

Since our points are already paid for, the actual accommodations aren't the issue. However, the economy might impact:
1) How are we going to get there from NJ? We were planning on flying. Is that the most cost effective way? If so, we'll do that. If not, we'll reconsider.
2) Food. We wanted to get the DDP, but that is expensive. If our finances aren't better at the time of the trip, we will reconsider eating in the room more.
3) Park Tickets. Right now, we are planning on getting annual passes. If things take a turn for the worse, we might spend much of trip at the resort pool.

If you are getting annual passes, get the DDE instead of DDP. With the DDE, only one person in your party has to purchase it. It costs around $60 or $70. You save 20% at most restaurants INCLUDING alcohol. It pays for itself very quickly.

 

[ransom]

If you are getting annual passes, get the DDE instead of DDP. With the DDE, only one person in your party has to purchase it. It costs around $60 or $70. You save 20% at most restaurants INCLUDING alcohol. It pays for itself very quickly.

And the drinker you get, the payer it is!

(Hic!)

 

[jodifla]

Nope....going in January for 8 days. We plan for the future, but we try and live in the here and now.