Gas Prices

[sarahlovesmickey]

Our next trip is April 2013. Not sure what gas prices will be like by then, but we will still be driving. There are 7 of us and we drive a mini van so I'm sure driving will still be cheaper for us. We drive straight thru--no stopping overnight in a hotel. We enjoy driving--it's part of the experience for us.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Yes I agree, overall the price of gas is going to effect a lot of people. But the impact on driving to WDW is not really that big a deal when you do the math.

I think some people think that a dollar extra for gas is going to add hundreds of dollars to their trip budget. Maybe if they drive from the west coast but not for most people that drive.

Agreed. I did do a depressing comparison last Summer of a trip I took to Yellowstone in 1991. Definitely an apples & oranges comparison, but I had a small car that got 36 MPG and split the gas with a friend who went. Today, we'd be in an SUV that gets 20 MPG and I'd have to eat the whole bill. I spent $50 on gas for that 1991 trip. With the increase in gas prices, the bigger car, and the fact I'd eat the entire bill instead of half, it'd be more like $700 now

I'm very lucky that I work just a few miles from home.

I went from 22,000 a year to 5,000 miles I year when I switched jobs. Thats an extra $2,500 a year.

I used to be 56 miles from work - now 12. Whew!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I don't want to sound silly, but the cost of flights go up when gas goes up too... or has no one noticed that yet? I know here living in FL and going to other places in the US it is noticed... so does it really matter where you are laying the extra money out? Either way, it will run more than what you originally had thought if you are going to purchase now.
On Tuesday night I was tooooo tired to fill up, Wednesday morning gas was 10cents more than what it was the previous night It went from 3.78 to 3.88 I am visiting family in Palm Coast FL.. yet when I left where I live... Lee County Fl, the gas was already at that price on Friday when I had left there! It was 3.89 there. I am thinking that is going to make my gas at basically 4.00 when I get home!
I have heard rumor that by Memorial Day, we will be at 5.00 per gallon.... so that is going to make a difference in travel... I normally drive up to Orlando once a month.. but at $5.00 per gallon, I may just cut back to once every 2 months...

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

What company?

Can't you dispute the charge with your credit card to at least get your $1600 back?


Re: OP
I have a price I'm willing to pay for airfare before we'll drive. It USED to be $200, now it's $225. I lucked out BIG TIME and scored a flight for $180 pp for this trip. Yeah baby!

I think it's directair, or at least thats one I saw yesterday that did something simliar to thier clients. I would already be on the phone w/ whatever credit card I used to book those disputing the charges. Which is also why I always put any large purchases on a credit card.

For us it doesn't matter, like PP said gas prices high or not it's not that big of a difference. We usually fly. Flights have went up a bit but not a whole lot in the past 2 months. I still havn't bought b/c in my research I find it's a better deal to wait till closer in and score better airfares. And that has worked regardless of the 'fuel increases' even in years past.

 

[chartle]

I don't want to sound silly, but the cost of flights go up when gas goes up too... or has no one noticed that yet?

I don't think its quite so volatile. I have read the Airlines get 6 month contracts so the cost doesn't rise until the next contract.

Also jets don't burn gasoline but jet fuel which is mostly kerosene. Part of the cost jump has to do with the supply of gasoline not just the cost of crude oil.

As for the cost of a plane ticket no one knows how they price them. I think they use a dart board.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The other thing about airline travel is you're not just paying for fuel, you're paying for a service & fuel is a part of that. So, if the price of fuel increases 30%, it doesn't add 30% to the overall cost of operating an airline. Most folks don't tend to think of the TRUE cost of driving (which includes wear & tear and depreciation, not just fuel), so it becomes an apples & oranges comparison.

 

[Jennasis]

We drive from NC to FL (and will be again this September). The cost to fly is $215.20 out of Charlotte or $267.20 out of Greensboro. No WAY will be spend that much in gas even at $5 a gallon.

NOW, if you're talking about the price of gas affecting my daily budget such that we may have to reconsider a vacation because the cost of everyday stuff has risen and we're spending more every week/month...

Sure, it's a concern. Especially since I'm a small business owner whose purchases for the business are directly impacted by rises in fuel costs. My cost of operations increases, my profits decrease. We weigh that all in when determining if a vacation anywhere is feasible. So far...this year...it is...but just by a hair (and mostly because a supremely generous relative gave us his DVC points to use, gratis!). So this is our first Deluxe-trip on a budget!

According to www.gasbuddy.com, our upcoming trip should cost us $165.56

1198 miles round trip
46 gallons of gas to get there and back

 

[disnut8]

Most folks don't tend to think of the TRUE cost of driving (which includes wear & tear and depreciation, not just fuel), so it becomes an apples & oranges comparison.

I think about wear and tear and depreciation. I'm an accountant, how can I not think about it? As I said, I'm 500 miles away from Disney World so figure in 1,000 miles so that's $52 according to the IRS mileage rates. So factor that into my rates and it's still not enough for me to fly.

If you have a five year car loan, you have to depreciate your car based on the purchase price over 60 months. I just bought a used car for $17K and it probably depreciated $1800 the minute I drove it out of the lot. Even at $17K, that's $28/month. I don't intend on being at Disney World for a month, maybe a week so that's $7 for depreciation.

Wear and tear? I live in the Atlanta metro area - wear and tear here is more than driving to Disney World. And insurance? It's safer to drive outside the city than inside the area.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I think about wear and tear and depreciation. I'm an accountant, how can I not think about it? As I said, I'm 500 miles away from Disney World so figure in 1,000 miles so that's $52 according to the IRS mileage rates. So factor that into my rates and it's still not enough for me to fly.

Oh trust me, I know it's still not enough to tilt it in the direction of flying, just saying there's more cost to driving than just the price of gas & what you spend in food & lodging.

If you have a five year car loan, you have to depreciate your car based on the purchase price over 60 months.

Probably a good # for accounting purposes, but OTOH it's not like your car is worth zero at the end of the loan

 

[Gumbo4x4]

NOW, if you're talking about the price of gas affecting my daily budget such that we may have to reconsider a vacation because the cost of everyday stuff has risen and we're spending more every week/month...

Sure, it's a concern. Especially since I'm a small business owner whose purchases for the business are directly impacted by rises in fuel costs. My cost of operations increases, my profits decrease. We weigh that all in when determining if a vacation anywhere is feasible.

Just today I ran into one. I had a rate of $150 per skid to ship to Sacramento all of last year. Today, it became $185 per skid due to the fuel price increase. So, it impacts my employer's bottom line. And as Operations Manager, it impacts my budget - upon which my raises and/or bonuses are based

 

[letthewookiewin]

For us, even with the gas prices getting higher it's still cheaper for us to drive at this point. We had always planned on driving, so we can take our time and do non-Disney things before and after the WDW part of the trip. We haven't had our newest minivan long enough to make the first payment, but it should get at least 300 miles to the tank, and it's a 20 gallon tank. We have at least a 2,600 mile round trip. If we fill up 9 times, that's only $720 for gas. I just checked prices at both AA and Southwest for our dates in June. Southwest is $2,437 with one stop each way, and they don't charge for baggage. AA is $2,723 and I'm not totally sure if it included the baggage fee or not (we haven't flown since 2006, so haven't had to deal with baggage fees before). That would make the airfare almost the cost of our 5 day package staying at the Pop Century with the DlxDDP. The only thing gas prices might change on our trip is what type of hotel we stay at before and after WDW, like getting a cheaper hotel instead of one on the beach, or how much money I have to spend on souvenirs while at WDW.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I don't think its quite so volatile. I have read the Airlines get 6 month contracts so the cost doesn't rise until the next contract.

Also jets don't burn gasoline but jet fuel which is mostly kerosene. Part of the cost jump has to do with the supply of gasoline not just the cost of crude oil.

As for the cost of a plane ticket no one knows how they price them. I think they use a dart board.

I agree with you there


I did hear something on the radio stating that the airlines will be increasing due to the gas prices.... who knows.. supply and demand maybe. More may want to fly due to thinking it will be cheaper. I did say "thinking" it will be cheaper.... not that it will be, and then therefore making the demand higher for the seats.. I do agree with the dart board thoughts.. that may very well be how they decide on the prices...

 

[jcmaro]

I think it really depends on how many people are traveling. We are driving when we go in November because we have 3 adults and 3 children going. We are probably flying when we go next May/June because it's a shorter trip and it's 2 adults and 2 children. We are absolutely flying when we go to the F&W festival next October since it will just be me and DH.