When did it get so expensive?

[Stittsville]

I've heard through the grapevine that Disney is not feeling the pinch of the poor economy because the US dollar is in such poor shape that international visitors can travel cheaper now thn they could 2 or 3 years ago.

Currently the US$ and Canadian $ are roughly even. A year ago, a CAD bought about 0.9 USD. Three years ago, about 0.8 USD, and five years ago, about 0.7 USD. A huge difference!!

 

[aribelle]

hey I get condo - timeshares - skyauction & Rci - pay $199 to $279 for a 2-bedroom condo for a week.

with II - $300 to $700 for the week.

looking for someone - something in a couple of weeks - surprised at the prices $249 for a 2-bedroom suite per night!

this is surpose to be a slowing economy - so I guess Orlando is not expecting any problems.

Can you help me understand skyauction? It looks like you can only stay 7 nights? Or do you just bid on it 3 times and get 3 weeks? What if you want 10 days, for instance, do you still end up having to do 2 weeks, you just aren't there some of those nights?

I've read of many people using skyauction, but I have to say the worry-er in me wonders how good a place can be for $300 a week! That's less than Motel 6. Are these places far away from WDW or small or run down or something else negative?

 

[spiceycat]

they are surpose to be excess timeshares from RCI. so some months like Sept you have your choice of really great timeshares.

in the summer and spring break you take what is there if anything.

never expect to be able to use them on a holiday.

check on the orlando hotels/attractions board -when they go on sale again someone will post it.

now no guaranteeds on the price - before this year - the home & away you won the bid paid it plus $20 - this year they have added $195 to the price.

also they upped the regular bid fees to $295 (it was $195) + $20.

so skyauction is still a work in process.

plus it is more than just Orlando - brought 2 last year - used one immediately for Byran's Spanish Cove in Orlando - not a great place - but for going to the parks really nice.

my nephew is using the other one to go to Nc in Dec to ski. (something I would never do). though about using it myself for Dec - Grand beach, cypress pointe, silver lake, westgate - were some of the choices.

now to get good places you must be patience!!!! rci really wants members to use these thing first. so it is only in the last 6 to 3 months that the good ones will appear on skyauction. some people just can't wait that long and will take any in Orlando - not a good move. but hey you do what you must.

since I can drive easily, wait until what I want (or want to try) comes up.

come visit on Orlando hotel/attraction board - there is a bunch of information on skyauction there.

yes, most of the timeshare are week - fri to fri, sat to sat, sun to sun - leaving on the last day - also most of these have check out time at 10 am not 11am like WDW.

to get 2 weeks together could easily be a problem - but just depends upon when you want to go - both Sept and Dec had weeks back to back.

never any guarantees.

with the certificates there are generally very few 2-bedrooms - they do appear - but if you need a 2-bedroom either it requires a great deal of patience or don't do with skyauction. of course you might be a luck one and get what you want the first time.

sorry this is so long - hope it answers your questions.

 

[eliza61]

I am starting to wonder if we are going to see the effects of our bad economy next year. I personally think they are going to have to give some great discounts for next year. With gases prices the way they are it is only going to get worse. Right now people have already booked their trip a long time ago or some of them might be using their rebate checks to pay for their vacation. They are running bounceback thru December which helps. But what happens when the rebate money is gone and gas prices still are on the rise. I think some people are really going to feel the effects of our economy next year if they aren't already. I do realize that there are people who save for a vacation and might not be in a financial crunch. But between the gas prices, the grocery store prices, even restaurant prices, everything is on the rise. It is only going to put more people in more stress, making Walt Disney World unaffordable.

I think I'm the only person who doesn't believe Disney is going to suffer. Mainly because in a tough economy people tend to be more choosey in their vacation dollars and Disney is still a great value. This year, I've spent a lot of time trying to research other vacation venues and what I've found is that dollar for dollar, wdw and Orlando are still very, very competitive. A beach vacation on the East coast is ridiculous and let me tell you, the food is just as expensive. I have a 1 week vacation booked in OC Maryland for the 19th of July. Room is running me $231/night. That's for a standard motel on the beach. No where near as nice as a moderate. I haven't eaten yet. Europe is off the hook because of the falling dollar even the all inclusives in Mexico are running 3-4K for a family of 4. We're heading to DC for the 30th of may until June 1st. staying at the Hilton Garden inn. Price $219/night plus tax, plus a $28.00 per night parking charge whether or not I move my car. The only saving grace is that the museums will be free.
People are looking for the most bang for the buck. Throw in free dining and wdw still looks really good. Remember restuarant prices are going to rise every where

I definitely agree with you about the NJ shore area prices. That is another reason why we are going to Disney a gain this year.

I can't see spending at least $2500 for a week at the beach...and this isn't beachview. Then having to have spending money and then money for games, tickets, etc. It definitely becomes very expensive.

We just take day trips down there.

Where in NJ do you live??

Hey CMAC
I'm in Southern NJ. I'm in between AC & Philly. Gloucester township.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Currently the US$ and Canadian $ are roughly even. A year ago, a CAD bought about 0.9 USD. Three years ago, about 0.8 USD, and five years ago, about 0.7 USD. A huge difference!!

We are the "Walmart of Travel" to the British and our guests from Europe.

With the current exchange rate with the British Pound.....basically our English guests are able to enjoy WDW at Castmember rates...for the rooms, 50% for tickets, food, car rentals and WHAT A DEAL FOR GAS.......50% off $4 gas when they pay over $8 p/gallon at home.

Euro is not a bad bargain for them either!

British Pound $1.94699
Euro $1.55089

The challenge will be how do we keep them coming here when trans-atlantic airfare begins to spike. For example, American Airlines just announced their trans-atlantic flights will have fuel surcharges beginning at $305.

 

[MinnieSummer]

I just returned from a trip to Hershey/Lancaster PA. I stayed at an Econolodge, a Marriot Courtyard, and a Roadway Inn. Prices ranged from $99.00 to $124.00 per night. I've got to tell you, those rooms were horrible compared to the Value resorts at WDW. OK the Marriot was actually pretty good but we had special rates as we were there with a wedding party, if we weren't with that party the rate would have $179.00 per night and those rooms were comparable to a newly refinished room at CR without the closet. My point is that while the rates at WDW are going up so are the rates at other hotels in popular areas. However, I think that in the next year or so we will see changes at WDW. The economy is just to bad for them to expect families to shell out that kind of money for a week long trip. Between the number of businesses closing or downsizing, the cost of gas (and therefore food), and the uncertainty of the future, I believe people will start cutting back and thefirst thing that usually goes is the large, expensive vacation.

 

[lwc]

The truth is, my family is traveling to Disney this summer because it was the least expensive vacation I could find for our family of 7.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

I just returned from a trip to Hershey/Lancaster PA. I stayed at an Econolodge, a Marriot Courtyard, and a Roadway Inn. Prices ranged from $99.00 to $124.00 per night. I've got to tell you, those rooms were horrible compared to the Value resorts at WDW. OK the Marriot was actually pretty good but we had special rates as we were there with a wedding party, if we weren't with that party the rate would have $179.00 per night and those rooms were comparable to a newly refinished room at CR without the closet. My point is that while the rates at WDW are going up so are the rates at other hotels in popular areas. However, I think that in the next year or so we will see changes at WDW. The economy is just to bad for them to expect families to shell out that kind of money for a week long trip. Between the number of businesses closing or downsizing, the cost of gas (and therefore food), and the uncertainty of the future, I believe people will start cutting back and thefirst thing that usually goes is the large, expensive vacation.

I agree.

I think it will begin when the airfare begins to go up. It has to. The airlines cannot support fuel based on $125 p/barrel.....heck even $100 a barrel when they budget for $70 p/barrel.

I have said this before.......I think the castmember in Anaheim who suggested Disney build DVC in Hawaii has ......... already lost is priority parking space! DH told me about the story they were doing on airfare to Hawaii so I checked......

September - cheep time of year to fly to Hawaii.......Wednesday....mid week - cheep day of the week to fly......East coast to Hawaii round trip......$800 - $1200 p/psn. Ok, who is going to take their family of 4 to Hawaii in September?

We all have our reasons for adjusting our travel plans. Last year DH and I were married during a 2-week trip to Alaska....sapped a wee bit of 2008 travel funds. We leave next week for a driving trip near home - satisfying our interest in history. We are staying at Holiday Inns or Holiday Inn Express' --- $87 - $137. I consider those rooms a BARGAIN compared to what WDW charges. I travel for work and always stay at Holiday Inns (GREAT way to get FREE car rentals for our WDW trips)....anyway. I am not disappointed AND....with HI Express....you have a free hot and cold breakfast. WDW can't touch it.

WDW IS expensive - travel, room, tickets, meals. Beyond that, however, we all have our reasons...children now in college, gas for the SUV, too much personal debt, medical bills and .....down to the cost of groceries it's just too much for some of our WDW friends.

It makes me very sad when I hear people can no longer afford a WDW vacation.

 

[VMK_Mouse]

Right around the time Robert Iger came on board.

 

[VMK_Mouse]

I've heard through the grapevine that Disney is not feeling the pinch of the poor economy because the US dollar is in such poor shape that international visitors can travel cheaper now thn they could 2 or 3 years ago.

Disney's profits went up 22% last year. They are not suffering at all.

 

[Mouseaholic!!!]

Disney's profits went up 22% last year. They are not suffering at all.

BIG difference between last year and this year. Crude oil prices have doubled since last year (that is just beginning to impact us now), mortgage and debt issues for many - simple visits to the grocery are more now. Fewer people can afford WDW now.

Talk to us about Disney's profits the first quarter of NEXT year.

 

[jcc0621]

If you think Disney is expensive. Take a look at spending a week at the beach in NJ. Whenever we say we're staying close to home, the prices there send us running back to Disney.

I can't see spending at least $2500 for a week at the beach...and this isn't beachview. Then having to have spending money and then money for games, tickets, etc. It definitely becomes very expensive.

We just take day trips down there.

Where in NJ do you live??

ITA. (Philly here) and I was looking into a WEEKEND in Wildwood for my grade school by the sea reunion which is on June 21st. The cheapest, decent place I could find was $250/NIGHT I lucked out in that a freind of mine owns a place down there and she is letting us stay in her guest apt. above her house. Otherwise I would be doing a day trip for the reunion and DS and DH would go to the boardwalk for the day or something.

 

[Crisgw]

All vacations are getting expensive! We priced a Beaches vacation for 7 nights and it was 8k for the 4 of us. Our trip to CR was also really expensive so it's not just Disney!

 

[spiceycat]

I think I'm the only person who doesn't believe Disney is going to suffer. Mainly because in a tough economy people tend to be more choosey in their vacation dollars and Disney is still a great value.

oh I agree.

disney will just start advertising more in Asia, GB, other places.

last time the economy went down - WDW did fine.

they just went to a group that still had money.

now another terrorist hit anywhere in this country will hurt Disney.

that is when Disney start to appreciate DVC - we still came. Nothing will kept DVC members from WDW. terrorist, hurricanes, tornadoes - will still kept going to WDW.

hurricanes also will discourage people from going to WDW - that is why free dinning came along in the first place.

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

I don't think it's any more or less expensive than any other vacation, per night. I mean, obviously if you are staying in the luxury suite at the Grand Floridian or something, sure, it will be more. But if you are staying in a standard room, at say WL, compared to a night at a local Sheraton in Portsmouth NH, you're not looking at a huge, huge difference.

I stay at a Sheraton in Portsmouth once in a while, so that's why I used that example. Honestly, it's kind of amazing to me that Disney is not that much more. I could stay at Pop Century for less.

 

[ObsessedwiththeMouse]

I agree...

Last year, over Christmas, we paid $222/night at the Poly. This year, over Christmas, our quote was $333/night. EEK!!

 

[hbehrman]

The truth is, my family is traveling to Disney this summer because it was the least expensive vacation I could find for our family of 7.

Same here for a family of 5 for the last 3 years. Free dining also helps, I love all inclusive vacations. Also driving to a vacation spot and not stepping back into the car until you leave also is great!