The economy and Walt Disney World

[WebmasterPete]

Okay, so we know that ticket prices have increased, gas prices are out of control, and the economy appears to be affecting more and more people every day. How has the economy affected your plans for a trip to Disney?

 

[FireDancer]

The next time I will be down is a 2-day add on after the podcast cruise. We will be a little more picky about the dinning and souvenirs. Actually being in the park and not in the real world for a couple of days will be a good distraction from the economy and not having to drive anywhere will mean I can ignore gas prices.

 

[SamIAm21]

I was actually just there this past June, but I controlled my spending immensely. Breakfast in the room, cheap rent a car, ate offsite at Giordanos and Steak & Shake. My hotel account only had $200 on it on the last day and I paid it off. No credit card hangover.

I probalby won't be going back again until late 2009. I always wanted to do a MNSSHP, so we might go mid-October, if the economy improves and gas prices stay below $4.00 a gallon. If I do, I'll have it booked and paid for before next August when ticket prices are sure to rise again!!

I had to call off my podcast cruise because I just don't think we will be able to swing it next year. Whatcha gonna do?

 

[tn4mickey]

Since we are DVC members and the accomodations are paid for WDW is less expensive than most places we would go. That leaves passes and transportation. This year I was able to book frequent flyer tickets for one trip and got reasonable airfare for the other. We buy annual passes and got those before the price increase. DH and I don't really eat big meals anymore so we don't spend a ton of money on food.

 

[Disneyanajc]

For us...we are staying closer to home...DL...What I find amusing...I have received four (pin code) offers for WDW in the last two days...JC

 

[scarlett873]

Under normal circumstances, I would say that nothing stands between me and my vacation!

We currently have only one trip planned and that's the pre-night stay for the podcast cruise, so we aren't really going to be at WDW.

We have no trips planned beyond the podcast cruise due to the fact that we have scaled back our vacations for a few years because of our adoption plans. We are saving for our once in a lifetime kind of trip to China when that call comes! So WDW has to take a backseat right now...

 

[Geef]

Our last WDW visit was this past May. It was well planned, and we stayed under $500 in additional spending.

We were thinking of coming down in early Dec (first week), but we have changed our minds. We have decided to keep feeding the kids.

 

[Dorisk3]

I don't know that you'll get much of a representative sample here on the disboards- where most of us will beg, borrow, cheat or steal to get where we want to go!

 

[patsal]

We just got back from a 14 night DVC stay. This was the "expensive" trip since we all (4) needed new PAP's . We were very frugal. DH and I bought nothing other than food, DS spent about $20 total and DD spent around $100.
We used DDE rather than a dining plan, ate breakfast daily in the room except once and ate all except two TS at lunch time. We only ate at three or four CS locations and had about four snacks each. We told the kids to get what they wanted whenever they wanted it, but that was how it ended up. We flew this time rather than drive since I was able to get airfare for $160 each RT--that allowed for a few extra days vacation rather than driving.
If I did not have "pre-paid" accomadations I'm pretty sure we would have skipped vacation all together this year since we had DH's truck break down 2 days before we were to leave costing us $1500 and when we returned from the airport and picked up my car the breaks were kind of stuck, and then today I put new brakes on the front and rear for about $400. Really am glad we didn't get any meal plan since the money we saved there could be put towards the car repairs--it definately paid for at least my brakes.

 

[BRobson]

Just home from this years trip and already pricing for 2009 - the flights from th UK are getting very expensive!! I am sure there are bargains to be had but only when the kids are in school

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Our upcoming trip in two weeks has been paid in full for months now, the only thing we have planned after that is the podcast cruise 05/09. We've already decided any future trips will be contingent on airfare...if it's too high -- we don't go. In the past I always booked a room several months out just knowing we'd be able to get some kind of air special, now I'll wait to book a room after I've found airfare that's do-able. There is one exception to this and that's an Alaska cruise because we are close enough to drive to the port for that one.

I already miss "the good 'ol days" and they haven't been gone that long!

 

[WaltD4Me]

I have a big trip planned for October...I haven't really cut back on anything for the trip, but we'll see what happens by the time we go. I'm thinking of cutting out a couple of our ADR's, but it'll be wait and see. Room, tickets and airfare are paid for, not sure about spending money yet, but I'm sure we won't spend as much as usual and there won't be as many extras. I'm cutting back on other things here at home though.

I'm also planning a solo trip for May 2009...alot depends on airfare, but I will probably still go, but maybe for only 4 nights instead of six. I'd rather cut way back on other stuff than cut out Disney, but again, it's wait and see.

Another thing is that's changed is that I'm not booking anything early like I usually would. I saw some half way decent airfare, normally I'd jump on it, but it's non-refundable, so I didn't book, too much could happen by May, you just don't know right now. To me, things are too uncertain to feel comfortable booking something for 6-7 months from now.

 

[tinkbutt]

I think I would have to say I will definitely be going back but it will be longer in between the vacations in order to save up the money!!!

 

[halliesmommy01]

We did not plan to go this year and just made our plans for next year. The podcast cruise and day before and 2 days after at WDW. We are really scaling back cost wise. We are driving rather than flying. Taking advantage of a great hotel rate. Also will be eating more CS instead of TS. I will probably not even add on park hopping because after thinking about it we are only doing the parks for 3 days and we can stick to one park. And if I change my mind I will add it at the park. We are trying to pay as much as possible up front and not have credit card debt to come home too.

Becky

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I just wanted to add that I am just so envious of people that live within driving distance to WDW! Even going to DLR is a 17 hr drive for us...insert sad face here.

 

[hannah's dad]

We have a trip planned for Spring Break 2009 that we are using airline miles and DVC points for. However, we'll likely spend a bit less on food, souveniers, etc.

What we are less likely to do are short (4-5 day stays) stays, where the increased airline prices make these kinds of trips cost-prohibited (at least until I build up more miles)

 

[BRobson]

I just wanted to add that I am just so envious of people that live within driving distance to WDW! Even going to DLR is a 17 hr drive for us...insert sad face here.

At least you are on the right side of the Atlantic

 

[Madi100]

I'd say that we are at the point where we go more now. However, if airfare increases, we just won't be able to do it. In defense of Disney, transportation is included with a resort stay, and I can't imagine how much that bill has gone up for them. So, they've also got to raise prices. DH works in a grocery store and the price of food has gone up, therefore so has what he has to charge people. He's not making more money, he just has to recover his costs.

 

[aaronmckie]

When I go on vacation, I go on vacation... so I tend to ignore cost and practicality and just do what we want (though my wife will often talk me back into reason).
We haven't cut back for this trip in September (almost the opposite, actually), and wont in the future.
Future being the key word, as I don't think we'll be back to the World until 2011 at the earliest (unless we go before the cruise)... so I guess that's considered a form of 'cutting back'


*edit* like most other people have already said: it's all about the airfare. I don't blame them for raising the prices (they have to, to make any money at all), but it does limit how many times we will go, for sure.

 

[kab407]

I have two more trips planned for this year. Certainly DVC is a big help along with the AP and DDE card. We typically have breakfast in the villa and snacks. We'll do 1-2 TS meals. If I do rent a car, I can usually get a good deal with my corporate discount. Other then food, I don't spend a lot.

My biggest expense is airfare. As soon as I find something good, I'll jump on it. My savings grace is that by not having children I can go during the off-peak times. Airfare is usually cheaper. I have used FF miles although I hate using them for a trip to FL.