Is the current economy affecting your...

[des1954]

....trips to FtW this year?

We usually go once a month for a three-day weekend, but DH has been unemployed since Nov 07 & we've had to cancel our trips for Feb, Mar & Apr. It really stinks to make MH payments and not get to use the MH!

Is the current downfall in the economy changing your vacation plans for 2008???

 

[LONE-STAR]

No. My problem is we cant get enough time off work to go as much as we want because we have been so busy. Today is the first slow day I have had in months. But Disney is still on for 2 weeks at the end of 11/08

 

[RvUsa]

I voted have credit card will travel. see ticker below

 

[PolynesianPixie]

Sure, we all feel the pinch of this stinky economy, but I am of the mindset that vacations are essential. I would rather have these memorable trips with my family than many other things. Sure, my home could use some updating, we could buy a new car or a new wardrobe, but all those things will be meaningless in a few years. Memories last a lifetime.

I chose the last, even though we would never put a trip on a credit card (we're kind of "allergic" to debt). However, we will save, scrimp, eat beans and rice~whatever, to save up the mula for WDW! My mantra~Life Experiences!!!!!

 

[Tent Camping Mom]

It's not affecting us...yet. And looks like we'll be camping in October and possibly December. December at the Fort will be a first for us...can't wait to go looping!

 

[RvUsa]

My mantra... do what you have too, so you can do what you want too. That and eat drink and be merry, and no news is good news, and ..... LOL

 

[2goofycampers]

That's why we stay at the campground,,can't afford to stay at the Wilderness Lodge anymore . Kidding,,been go'n to the Fort past 7 years,,love it !! But the economy is certainly causing the fuel stations to drain my wallet gett'n there . Still have our next trip booked for Sept.20, 2008 at the Fort . .....TRAVEL'N AT GOOFY SPEED !!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

My mantra... do what you have too, so you can do what you want too. That and eat drink and be merry, and no news is good news, and ..... LOL

 

[LarryJ]

Sure, we all feel the pinch of this stinky economy, but I am of the mindset that vacations are essential. I would rather have these memorable trips with my family than many other things. Sure, my home could use some updating, we could buy a new car or a new wardrobe, but all those things will be meaningless in a few years. Memories last a lifetime.

I chose the last, even though we would never put a trip on a credit card (we're kind of "allergic" to debt). However, we will save, scrimp, eat beans and rice~whatever, to save up the mula for WDW! My mantra~Life Experiences!!!!!

That's been exactly our mindset for the last 20 years. I don't pay no stinking interest mortgage or otherwise and if I can't pay cash for it I wait or if really necessary have used my Home Equity LOC for my wife's business since the interest deduction as a business expense made the interest rate less than what my other funds were making. And no I did not claim that interest as a regular itemized deduction.

Larry

 

[terri01p]

I third what Poly..Pixie said and agree with LarryJ. We have felt the crunch this year but next it will be ON !

 

[kimluvswdw]

It is really affecting our trips. We have to cancel both trips this year. I am bummed, but it can't be helped.

 

[akamom]

Actually, I have the Disney Visa! lol But yes, the economy is definitely making us stay closer to home. Like 10 miles from our house. Luckily we have a campground that close.

 

[Brer Bear]

We're going, but doesn't staying at FW save a little $$$? We try to keep our meal expense down as much as possible and eat in the camper.

Granted fuel costs are going to eat that savings up, but what the heck! I'm not about to tell my wife we can't go!

 

[CCIntrigue]

What's so bad about the economy ???

 

[RvUsa]

What's so bad about the economy ???

Darn rich people and their class a coaches!!!

 

[DisCamper]

I lost my job,But just made plans for my 2nd trip.

 

[stacktester]

I couldn't answer any of the questions listed. I love going to FW, and I would go more if I could but the value/regular season prices are just getting out of hand. We're doing spring break, 4th of July and Thanksgiving this year. I feel blessed that we're doing that much. The way I look at recession is it sometimes causes big co.'s to look at their pricing structure and when they see a slowdown they will cut prices and/or run specials to get business back up. Don't think Disney isn't immuned to recession. After 9/11 WDW and the travel industry period were hit drastically. With high fuel prices and other necessities going thru the roof Disney WILL feel the hit and run specials. They've already done so by adding the 4th day to the usual 3 day pass. It wouldn't surprise me to see that turn into a park hopper for no extra charge in the near future. Their advertising has been more than usual too which tells me they're wanting more of the market than they're getting. I'm far from a financial guru, but I've been around the manufacturing business long enough to know what co.'s do to coax business back their way.

I test smokestacks for emissions (pollution basically) and a lot of my clients are cutting back production and laying off employees. For example U.S. Gypsum here in Jax just cut 62 jobs from the mill. I usually go up 5% a year on my price but the last couple years I've not done so and I've informed the client I wasn't going to raise prices at least until the economy get's better. I've had most of my customers for the last 15 years and we've been thru this before. They've been loyal to me and not gone out on bid because we've developed a good relationship and they know I'm in it for the long haul with them as well. One thing I'm fixing to do is some major marketing because some of my competitors have not given their clients any breaks and I think it's a good time to offer a fair price to people who are being hit by the slowdown. I think we're going to see a lot of prices reduced and profits cut so people can move products. In a way it's not all bad because recession somewhat cuts inflation back some whether the media and Wall Street want to admit it.

 

[lawnspecialties]

What's so bad about the economy ???

My thoughts, exactly. Don't get me wrong. God himself has blessed me and my family as He always does. I work hard, try to make good financial decisions, and I don't run a balance on a credit card (if I have to make payments for a trip, some clothes, or a video game, I don't get it).

Here's how the economy is affecting our plans this year.
1. We bought APs this year since it's cheaper than two one-week vacations. We just got back from an 11 night trip and are planning a December trip and another January trip.
2. The December trip will easily be covered by that "stimulus package" we'll get this spring. Thanks, GW.
3. We sold our house back in November. We're renting right now before we build this summer. I bought a 7-month CD with the capital gain from the house. Not a whole lot but the interest will easily pay for the January, 09 trip.
4. The home we're building this summer. Nothing extravagant and absolutely no interest-only, balloon, or any other hocus-pocus mortgage designed to get us into a house we can't afford.
5. Since the interest rates are dropping like a hot rock and are predicted to continue to drop (again, to stimulate the economy), I'm hoping we'll get a mortgage rate in the 4% range. Thanks GW.

DO NOT think I'm tooting my own horn here because I absolutely ain't. The good Lord can taketh just as quick as He has giveth. What I'm trying to convey here is there are boatloads of opportunities out there to make DW trips and other things possible if we just make good decisions. The main theme of this downturn economy is the housing situation and all the foreclosures. The vast majority of those foreclosures are because people bought houses they absolutely had no business buying and could not afford. Unfortunately, the government is gonna' come running in to save the day and once again, so few will learn their lesson and in a decade or so, something similar will probably happen like this again.

 

[OK GRUMPY]

It's affected my trip. Instead of hauling the 5er down I've decided to Tent Camp! I'm alright with this It'll be an adventure! I look forward to it! I just decided this the other day too! Usally I get a reasonable price for the camp site this time I'm paying more then I payed last October for a preffered site. Oh well I'm going to FW sooon and I can't wait!

 

[Shannone1]

We are absolutely feeling it here in Michigan. We are in the title search field and not many people are buying houses these days !! My poor DH is driving 800-900 miles a week doing searches all over the state so we can keep paying the bills. We are still going to FL next month, but we aren't swimming with the dolphins like we had planned. We can do it another time. We are still planning to go to FW next December too, but I may have to opt of out of DDP.

So the answer for us is....we are still going on our vacations, but we aren't spending as much $$ on extras.