Gasoline prices still a concern?

[Minnie's Mate]

I have been away from the boards for a few weeks (boy summer can be busy!) so I don't know if this is timely, but I just returned from a trip to Ocala...no WDW unfortunately. The Florida gas prices as far south as Ocala are around $1.34. The Georgia prices along I-75 are pretty much $1.28 and a little less in the metro-Atlanta area.

Also saw a news report on an Orlando TV station that said hotel rooms are running about 65% occupancy off site as opposed to 75-80% for this time of year. The on-site hotels are also running about 10% less than the normal occupancy rate. The reporter said Disney wouldn't comment on attendance rates, but an aerial shot showed very light crowds. Much less than we saw in early April! The reporter also said that occupancy for August looks especially low, so look for specials at the parks and around the parks.

 

[paulfoel]

Being from the UK, gas prices astound us when we come to Florida.

$1-34 there as opposed to around £3.10 ($4-40) here !!!!!!!

 

[Minnie's Mate]

Prices have fallen a little more since I posted this thread. We are now paying around $1.16 in Metro Atlanta. Gas prices are expected to continue to fall for the rest of the summer.

 

[wdwnutze]

Gas prices are falling slowly in the Boston area. The cheapest I have seen gas is $1.54. Hopefully it will continue to fall.
I am glad to hear that occupancy for August looks low. We are going Aug. 11-17. Would be nice to have smaller cowds than typical for our trip. We usually travel off peak to avoid the crowds but because my son is a sr. in h.s. we are choosing to go in Aug.

 

[TinkerbellRules]

Gas prices north of Indy in my town are $1.16!! Pretty exciting considering they were $2 a few months ago.

Check out website for prices along your travel route.

http://www.freetrip.com/

 

[callahanjulie10]

In North Florida- gas prices are around $1.34- this is the second week in July and they have fallen about 3 cents in the last 1 1/2 months!

 

[MGMarco]

Sam's club just opened a gas station in front of the store, and they have the
lowest price in town!!!! If you go into Wal Mart and purchase a gift card,then
go out to the pump and use it along with scanning your Sam's card there is a
0.5 cents discount, I paid $1.09 , and that is in Illinois where we have to take
the "Gore" Reformulated Gasoline. I'm going to load the gift card up and stop
at the Sam's club stations all the way down to Florida. inkbounc

 

[mczim2]

Any updates on gas prices down south? Here in the Buffalo area prices have dropped noticeably..about a month ago they were near $1.70....now they're around $1.40. I know southern Georgia usually has the best prices - am interested to see how cheaply I can fill up when driving through next week.

6 Days to go...

 

[callahanjulie10]

My suggestion is to fill up or top off in Alabama or Georiga beofre you enter North Florida. The prices in Dothan, AL are about $1.09 for reg unleaded compared to $1,31 in Panama City, FL. for reg unleaded.

 

[macymichelle]

gas in north carolina is down to 1.19. and suppose to keep falling.

 

[Minnie's Mate]

I just returned from the Ocala area a little over a week ago. The prices around Ocala were about $1.24. Avoid the Gainesville area. The same week-end the prices were around $1.34.

The cheapest place I found on this trip was at Georgia Exit #18 (Valdosta - SR61/Industrial Boulevard). There is a "Gas and Go" on the west side of the exit that had gas for $1.12 and if you go east a couple of blocks, there is a new Super K-Mart with a Express K gas station in front. The gas was $1.10 at the time and they do run "BlueLight Specials" from time to time where they knock $.05/gallon off the price!

This exit is a good place to stop for lunch if you are there around noon. There is everything from almost every kind of fast food, to Cracker Barrel, and Long Horn, to The Ole Time Country Buffet (all you can eat). There is also a mall and several discount hotels like Holiday Inn Express and Travel Lodge, etc., at this exit.

My brother-in-law bought gas for my Mom's lawn mower at a Super Wal-Mart with her gift card to get the discount. I don't remember the exact amount of his purchase, but he said it ended in $.63. When he checked her balance on the gift card, it appeared the cost of the gas was rounded up to the even $ amount. If so, that was an extra $.37 for about 3 or 4 gallons of gas...not a good deal. I'm not sure if he was correct, but it would bear investigating before relying on this as your major source of gas on the trip.

 

[RichMay]

Hi Minnie

Was that Exit 18 on I -95 in GA the NEW exit Number or the OLD exit number ? (GA recently switched from sequential exit numbers to milepost exit numbers)

Thank You Gracias Merci

 

[Minnie's Mate]

That is the new exit number (old one was #5) and that is on I-75 in Valdosta. I spoke with my Mom last night and she said gas in the Ocala area had dropped to $1.19 but went back up to about $1.24. They expect the price to come back down by the end of summer...boy time is flying and summer is almost over already.

 

[mczim2]

Thanks for everyone's help! Looks like gas is going to be a little bit smaller expense than I thought when I started planning this trip...more money to spend on fun!!!

2 days to go....

 

[holycow]

sure that before you get into the Orlando area you fill
up. We were there over the weekend and at the DTD
entrance gas was 1.60 something!!!
drove down the road and ended up paying 1.43, when at home
it was 1.23 in Jacksonville. Sam's Club does have the
cheapest gas in this area...that's for sure...haven't tried
the gift cer. thing though.

Holycow

 

[sdubose99]

In California (Bay Area), we've come from a high of about $2.20/gal to today's typical price of around $1.70. I guess the airlines won't let me stock up in Florida and bring it back with me...

Scott

 

[*Flower*]

If you're a member of the Costco warehouse chain, we're currently paying $1.059 a gallon for regular.
We also use the Costco off of Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando when we're at the World, and their prices are great (for Orlando)!!
It usually costs us about $35 to $45 round trip for gas.
We do drive to the World instead of flying, but for the savings on airfare, we can do a lot more in the park.

Great thread!