The economy and Walt Disney World

[DebºoºS]

We have DVC which does take care of a lot of the expense but with rising ticket & airfare prices have put me in wait and see mode.
I'd really like to take the podcast cruise but it doesn't look to be in the budget at the moment.
We had a week at WDW in March, May & June so we're full of the magic for a bit.

It's a "staycation" this summer. Reading in the shady hammock, bocce, fishing, movies, badmitton, croquet, camping in the backyard. Trips to watch DS race and dips in the hot tub.

 

[drakethib]

We are going in Sept but we are surely watching what we spend a little closer these days.

Pete, what are you guys seeing in terms of visitor traffic to Orlando?


How is Disney justifying price increases if it seems like everyone is cutting back?

 

[fakereadhed]

I voted I'm going - nothing stands between me and my vacations, but that is for the trips I already have planned. I already have non-expiring tickets, got a pin code for $49 at the values, and Spirit was handing me RT fares for less than $100RT. Those days seem to be over, and my next trip after the podcast cruise may be 2 years or more off if costs continue to rise. And I'm keeping my fingers crossed that nothing will keep me from having to cancel the cruise. I am good thru December, but you never know about May.

 

[MomofKatie]

We really aren't cutting anything out of our trip in January, but we are always super budget-trippers. Someday, we might go Deluxe and do the DxDP, but I can't bring myself to spend that kind of $$ now. If we did, we'd only be able to afford a trip once every 5 years or so! I prefer to go every year, but spend way less on each trip.

We have stayed onsite 3 times, and enjoyed it, but we have found that we can pay much less $$ for offsite accomodations, especially using Hotwire or Priceline. Since we drive to FL, we don't have to worry about transportation from an offsite hotel. And since we are commando tourers, we don't need anything fancy in a hotel- it is just a place to sleep and shower in. If there's a pool and a fridge in the room, that's even better.

We don't eat many offsite meals, since we are park commandos, but we aren't big eaters anyway. DD, DH, and I eat just 2 meals a day, and we share 2 CS combos or an appetizer and 2 entrees at TS places. We also try to eat just one TS every 2-3 days. We don't snack much, so we can get by on less than $5/day for snacks. We also bring our own bottled H2O, and get free ice water instead of soda with meals.

Our biggest moneysaver is the fact that we drive instead of flying. Even with gas being so expensive, it is still MUCH cheaper than airfare. We live about 550 miles away, so it is an easy 8 1/2 hr drive.

 

[ChrisandDon'sMommy]

Going, but cutting back!

 

[NOVATraveler]

Went in July, stayed at SSR, but ate no sit-down meals. That saved a bundle right there! Ate breakfast, supper in villa, lunch and snacks in park. Went a little crazy in the gift shops, but I hadn't been in a loooong time. Only put $200 on room card.

Saved enough that I am extending my October trip by four days. Will not be doing sit-down dining and will do my best to stay out of the shops!

I take the auto train which means I can pack dry goods, etc., in the car to take with me. Every little bit counts.

 

[misstheworld]

We had planned to go in December, but just cancelled recently because things keep getting more expensive and we just can't do it. We would love to go back eventually, but it's not in the plans.

 

[MenashaCorp]

We are going in Sept but we are surely watching what we spend a little closer these days.

Pete, what are you guys seeing in terms of visitor traffic to Orlando?


How is Disney justifying price increases if it seems like everyone is cutting back?

"In response to guest demand...." How else?

 

[willis37862]

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?

The downward slide ( or plummet ) of the economy has caused us to cancel our two week trip to WDW we had planned in Sept. Even with free dining it was a no go this year. Gas prices alone won't scare me off but both of our jobs depend on a good economy so maybe next year if things get better and our jobs are more secure we will try to make it down there.

 

[jacstangler]

We are going but we are DVC and that makes it easier. Since I am retired we
also drive. It takes about 17 hours. The gas just cost us $375 for July. We
have Hilton Honors points so the Hampton Inn is free. We inherited the
points. We share a lot of meals so that makes it easier. We also have DDE and that helps. We also have an annual pass. We need to cut back on the shopping. That is what really adds up for us. We use the Disney Visa quite a bit at home and build that up and get a gift card before we leave. We use
the Disney Visa at DTD World of Disney store and get 10% off over $25. When we drove we use our Discover card for gas and get 5% back. We are
lucky we can drive and understand how hard it is for everyone who has to
fly. Hope to see many of you on the cruise.

John

 

[World Bouncer]

We will go down in flames living in a cardboard box before we give up our Disney trips!!

It is just like any other addiction... we don't know when to stop and just say no.

I try to say no, but then the voices in my head start singing... M... I....C...K...E....Y !

And of course that great podcast show we listen to every week doesn't really help cure us of our addiction!

 

[jimmiej]

At this point, I don't see us making any changes in our Disney vacations. Still planning to take our granddaughter for her first ever trip next July/August.

 

[kimbac3]

We are still going but cut out lots of table service meals and will be eating/staying at a vacation home.

The gas prices will be what kills us. We're driving from Jersey
Still cheaper than airfare for five and a rental car.

Kimba

 

[adsrtw]

I'm planning my son and daughter's first trip next year in July. I want this to be something they will never forget. While I can't be extravagant, the three of us ~ plus my mom & aunt ~ will have a great time. Instead of frugal mouse planning, I am cutting corners everywhere else. Normally, we take weekend trips to St. Louis, Louisville, & Cincinnati. I have cut those out and replaced them with stay at home outings. A whopping $100 savings at least! Oh how I miss Cincy! Dining out?? What's that? My new motto is ~ a penny saved now is a penny extra to spend at Disney.

 

[~Fisharefriends~]

i voted im going, so far we havent been affected too much by the economy. This years trip is already paid off, and spending money saved, and we have already put away most of the money for next years trip. After that things will change mainly because ds1 will start private school so a lot of our extra income will be taken up paying for that, plus we will become limited in when we can travel to wdw. so i dont see us taken a trip after next year probably for about 5 years.

 

[aprincesswannabe]

DisneyWorld is the only vacation our family takes. DD is just now getting to the age where she can truly appreciate all that Disney has to offer!

We haven't been since Nov. 2007 so have some $$ saved up. We will cut back on souvenirs and use gift cards earned from credit rewards. I'm hoping that the price increases slow down so we can continue to enjoy the "happiest place on earth" on a (nearly) yearly basis.

 

[Tony NY]

I'm going, but I'm cutting back on what I would normally spend this year. hears why I paying more for gas and the tolls and I don't have the exatr cash in hand to speen compard to last yr

 

[exwdwcm]

our next trip is a special treat courtesy of my parents who came into some money. So our next trip is actually going to be more 'deluxe' than usual. WE usually stay in a mod, but we are doing WL for 10 days.

but even if we were not being 'treated', i would still be going, whether I had to stay in a value or mod. And i would still find a way to stay on site.

We do feel the effects of the economy, but are a dual income family. We are still able to save quite a bit, but that's because my DH is a complete penny pincher. But i drive a diesel truck so yes, gas kills me. our electricity bill here in TX hasn't been easy to swallow either and we keep it on 78. so we feel the effects, but we cut back in other areas to make sure we can do the things we really want to do- like vacation/WDW. we are just lucky we both have jobs and can manage. i have lots of friends that have lost their jobs, so i feel very blessed.

the only good thing is maybe the crowds will be lower when we go next year.

 

[wishspirit]

actually, the bigger problem for me at this point is my ever intensifying fear of flying....it's gotten worse and worse for me over the years...

my last trip in june was a major white-knuckle affair for me...
so it's not the money, it's having to be held hostage for hours on end, in a cylindrical metal tube 6 miles up in the sky....

Oh i feel the pain! I am not flying-phobic, but a recovering agoraphobic, so holidays are SO stressful for me! As soon as i get to Disney i feel 1000x better though! There are some great books and tapes about getting over fears, maybe give them a try!

I put in still going, but of course my trip to DLRP in september is on a student budget anyway! I am very lucky and have a mother who is willing to let me go to Disney with her if i pay airfare. Due to some money i have come into recently and working 2 jobs over the summer, this should be easily acheiveable (i am a bit of a miser when it comes to spending at Uni, who wants to go out clubing when i can go on DIS chat?? )

So yes i am still going as planned (then again it will of been 4 years since my last trip to the world when i go next year), and am planning to come back in the international college programme *cough* wheres my segment Corey?!?! *cough!*

 

[stitchlover]

We still have our trip planned for March '09. But in '09 we won't take two big vacations like we did this year. Disney will be the big trip and maybe a weekend here or there somewhere around home.