Might have to cancel some ADRs, which ones?

[d23cndrela]

I would cancel the Rainforest cafe. I just might because we have one in our local mall and can go anytime we want, but I do recall liking the RFC in DTD better than AK. Just my crazy point of view though.

 

[mom2my3kids]

The way people are crying you'd think gas quadrupled in price?

Most people are not loaded with money, Heck even I have decided to cut out the Dining plan and just eat at 3 table service meals for our trip in October. We are not putting away the money each week we used to because of the gas prices, heck we just put in 100.00 for both vehicles just this week. That is 400.00 a month in just gas compared to maybe 125.00 when gas was normal!!

 

[k5thbeatle]

Most people are not loaded with money, Heck even I have decided to cut out the Dining plan and just eat at 3 table service meals for our trip in October. We are not putting away the money each week we used to because of the gas prices, heck we just put in 100.00 for both vehicles just this week. That is 400.00 a month in just gas compared to maybe 125.00 when gas was normal!!

Loaded with money??? Who are we talking about? When gas was normal??? When was that, 1979? $125 to $400 is a 320% increase! I don't believe gas has risen quite that much unless we are going back to the late sixties/early seventies! A 320% increase would have gas around $9.60 per gallon??? It's basically up about a buc a gallon from this time last year? This post makes no sense and exemplifies exactly what I mean...living at the edge and spending everything that comes in and over exaggerating the rise in costs!

Here's kind of an example of what I mean...I was watching the news and a woman was talking about her plans for this memorial week-end. Because of gasoline prices for the first time in years they were going to a closer camp site which was 2 hours away instead of their preferred vacation spot which was 5 hours away? Ok a 3 hour drive difference assuming driving approximately 60 mph to get there is 180 miles difference. Let's assume she drives a car that gets 18 miles per gallon overall. That extra drive that they always made in years past would cost an extra 10 gallons of gas. What was gas last year at this time? I don't know...$3/gallon? So ~ $30 to go that extra distance? Now this year gas is not quite $4/gallon but let's use 4 for an even number. Instead of $30 that extra distance would now cost $40...$10 more or $20 more round trip??? So because it is ~$20 more for gas she is altering her plans...this is what I don't get? Are people living so close to the edge of their means that paying $20 more will change the way they live?

 

[KatMark]

Loaded with money??? Who are we talking about? When gas was normal??? When was that, 1979? $125 to $400 is a 320% increase! I don't believe gas has risen quite that much unless we are going back to the late sixties/early seventies! It's basically up about a buc a gallon from this time last year? This post makes no sense and exemplifies exactly what I mean...living at the edge and spending everything that comes in and over exaggerating the rise in costs!

Here's kind of an example of what I mean...I was watching the news and a woman was talking about her plans for this memorial week-end. Because of gasoline prices for the first time in years they were going to a closer camp site which was 2 hours away instead of their preferred vacation spot which was 5 hours away? Ok a 3 hour drive difference assuming driving approximately 60 mph to get there is 180 miles difference. Let's assume she drives a car that gets 18 miles per gallon overall. That extra drive that they always made in years past would cost an extra 10 gallons of gas. What was gas last year at this time? I don't know...$3/gallon? So ~ $30 to go that extra distance? Now this year gas is not quite $4/gallon but let's use 4 for an even number. Instead of $30 that extra distance would now cost $40...$10 more or $20 more round trip??? So because it is ~$20 more for gas she is altering her plans...this is what I don't get? Are people living so close to the edge of their means that paying $20 more will change the way they live?

Don't know where you live that gas is "not quite $4/gallon" because it is an average of $4.20 here.

 

[NatalieMT]

Cancel Rainforest Cafe for sure, I found it to be very impersonal and the food was of average quality at above average prices that's for sure.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Don't know where you live that gas is "not quite $4/gallon" because it is an average of $4.20 here.

The national average is at $3.83 (as reported on the NBC nightly news). That was as of yesterday.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html

Even at 4.20 that is still not the 320% jump?

PS...I think I would lean towards cancelling the breakfast at Boma's with RFC a very close second?

 

[rewok]

I'd cancel out 50's Prime Time, mainly because the menu doesn't look appealing or "special" to me. To pay Disney prices to eat meat loaf....

Rainforest Cafe as well, or the extra breakfast at Boma, just eat at the food court, much cheaper.

I'd definitely keep Chefs, both because your DH requested it, and because we loved it. Went twice during our stay last year!

 

[ssledoux]

throw my 2 cents in, but I just have to make a comment.

I find it odd that we are on a Disney board talking about taking a fairly expensive trip (in my estimation anyway) that is certainly not a necessity, and complaining about gas prices. If they were affecting us that badly we wouldn't be able to take vacations at all. And let's face it, Disney is a wonderful world to be in, but it is and has always been WAY overpriced!! $400 a night for rooms at the Poly these days - they just aren't that spectacular.

I am pretty frustrated with the rising gas costs too, but honestly, we live on a cash basis (no credit cards or debt other than our house, which we hope to pay off soon), and when we have no money left in the budget for gas, we stay home!

If I'm taking a trip I factor in what the gas will cost me and if we can afford the trip, we take it. If I was going to have to give up things I really enjoyed on my trip just because of gas, I would wait until I had the money to make the trip of choice.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

These would be on my dump list......

Breakfast
'Ohana
Boma

Dinner
50's Prime Time
Rainforest Cafe (AK)

Don't get me wrong, I love Lilo & Stitch, but when the same food, actually better food and much better coffee is available next door at Kona Cafe or downstairs at Captain Cook's with a quick coffee grab at the Kona Coffee Bar.

Boma, twice for breakfast sounds like overkill. It's only breakfast and The Mara serves breakfast for much cheaper.

50's Prime Time....ugh....for us, the food was a 3 strikes and your out. We liked the atmosphere, but the "comfort food" was a dud for the price.

RFC, we love RFC, especially for breakfast, but you know, the food over at Pizzafari is really pretty darn good! Flame Tree isn't a bad choice either.

 

[christa112]

I would cancel Sci-Fi & Rainforest

Those would be my least 2 favorites.

Any particular reason why you aren't doing the Deluxe Dining Plan?? It seems like it would work to your advantage.

 

[Freyja]

Loaded with money??? Who are we talking about? When gas was normal??? When was that, 1979? $125 to $400 is a 320% increase! I don't believe gas has risen quite that much unless we are going back to the late sixties/early seventies! A 320% increase would have gas around $9.60 per gallon??? It's basically up about a buc a gallon from this time last year? This post makes no sense and exemplifies exactly what I mean...living at the edge and spending everything that comes in and over exaggerating the rise in costs!

Here's kind of an example of what I mean...I was watching the news and a woman was talking about her plans for this memorial week-end. Because of gasoline prices for the first time in years they were going to a closer camp site which was 2 hours away instead of their preferred vacation spot which was 5 hours away? Ok a 3 hour drive difference assuming driving approximately 60 mph to get there is 180 miles difference. Let's assume she drives a car that gets 18 miles per gallon overall. That extra drive that they always made in years past would cost an extra 10 gallons of gas. What was gas last year at this time? I don't know...$3/gallon? So ~ $30 to go that extra distance? Now this year gas is not quite $4/gallon but let's use 4 for an even number. Instead of $30 that extra distance would now cost $40...$10 more or $20 more round trip??? So because it is ~$20 more for gas she is altering her plans...this is what I don't get? Are people living so close to the edge of their means that paying $20 more will change the way they live?

To be honest I don´t get why you care or why it would matter what the OP´s reasons are for cutting back ADR´s. Bottom line is she wants/needs to cut them back and is asking which ones and why.

 

[OKW Lover]

Got to agree with most of the posts about RFC. Long waits, poor service, food just OK, and a headache by the time you get done from all the noise. The decor' is a case of jungle theming being done by somebody with the philosophy "If some is good, and more is better then too much is just enough".

 

[k5thbeatle]

To be honest I don´t get why you care or why it would matter what the OP´s reasons are for cutting back ADR´s. Bottom line is she wants/needs to cut them back and is asking which ones and why.

I don't and it doesn't...it's called an opinion board. And I did reply to the primary concern although having thought about it I would change my answer and say to skip RFC as others have.

 

[Disney8704]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I know I havent posted much, but I am here, and have been reading the replies daily. Now heres my input for some things that were brought up.

1st off a PP mentioned why not do the DxDDP. Heres why. If we kept all our original ADRs and did our CS lunches and have 2 snacks a day with no DDP, paying OOP only it will cost us $1587 - including tax and tip. No water because we are buying filtered water bottles 1 for the each of us to fill up in the parks - but this price does include the water bottles at $60 and $240 for snacks ($10 per person, per day). That price also does not include hoop-dee-doo and CRT. Even if we did the DDP, since its already paid for, we would just keep it as is and not put them on the DDP.

Now DxDDP for the 12 nights / 13 days for DH and I, it would cost $1873 (includes tips and the meal at RFC and water bottles. Once again does not include CRT and hoop-dee-doo).

So we would be saving money paying OOP then be on the DxDDP. Should also mentioned we hardly ever order appitizers and hardly desert, but do have desert added into the cost for OOP just incase. Not because of money, but because about 99% of the appitziers at TS places dont appeal to us. We like very simple stuff like mozerella sticks and potato skins.

Next, the concern about the whole gas prices issue. Yes gas prices are effecting how people will travel. While it may only cost them $20 more in gas to go further (as PP mentioned) you have to remember that money is tight for EVERYONE. If it was me and DH, we would do the same thing. Save that $20 and go somewhere closer. Whilest that $20 could go towards something else. Like food. Gas prices isnt the only thing thats going up in cost. Food to. DH and I live litereally right across the street from the base. It takes DH like 5 mins to get to work from here. While you may think he doesnt burn that much gas, he does. He burns about a quarter of a tank to half a tank of gas going to work and coming home in 1 week. And that does NOT include going anywhere else because we never go anywhere really except maybe to walmart on the 1st and 15th each month for food. People are finding ways to cut back on spending money then to spend it. Like DH and I for an example. We went to 2 movies this month to see Narnia and Indiana Jones. While we may have seen 2 movies this month, before that, the last time we went to the movies was on valentines day. Next movie we go see wont be until Wal-e comes out. And after that who knows. Why? Because we would much rather see most movies these days on DVD / Blu-ray then in the theater because its just simply not worth it. The price of tickets at matinee at $6.75 per person plus waste gas to go all the way to the mall which is about 20 minutes from us is simply not worth it anymore. Writers and directors are running out of ideas on what to make a movie that they are now making movies about something really stupid or something you've seen done a million times already. We now only go to the moives when its something we REALLY want to see. Before hand, we were all about going to a movie every weekend. Now we just see it not worth it. Same thing that goes to the lady who wants to drive less to her vacation spot. She probably feels that driving an extra xx miles isnt worth it and rather save the money for gas and milage on her car and go somewhere closer.

I was listening to a news report a few days ago online. And on that news report they were talking about how gas prices were gonna effect travelers going to amusment parks. They said that parks like busch gardens in VA, kings dominion, 6 flags parks, cedar point, etc. will probably do less in sales this summer because of the gas prices. Therefor they are actually right now are trying to find an incentive to give to people when they go to like a six flags. What kind of an incentive..I have no idea, they didnt talk about that. However they mentioned that Disney World and Universal Studios will either see the same amount of sale or increase because right now a lot of International folks who travel to US that go to Disney will more likely travel this year because the US dollar is weak right now. And we all know that WDW is a very hot spot for international travellers.

I also saw an article on aol.com yesterday on things to do at home to save gas and not to travel to the beach or parks. Couple things they mentioned was create your own home theater system like the projection screen, projector, etc., play video games, etc.

Just yesterday we went to the mall to see Indy 4 and the mall was PACKED! Last year the saturday before memorial day, the mall was DEAD. Because everyone was heading to the beach in NJ or OC, MD.

I run the where are you staying thread and someone actually got on there to put a change in the resort they were staying at because of gas prices! They went from POR to POP.

So yes gas prices ARE affecting on how people travel this summer.