Will gas prices affect Disney's willingness to play the discount game?

[Katnmouse]

I've been wondered if the upwardly spiraling gas prices will negatively affect our chances for a June/July discount. Since the buses will cost LOTS more to run at $3 or more a gallon...will Disney tighten the belt by eliminating discounts? Just a (bad) thought to ponder.

Kat

 

[CarolA]

I don't think so.
The buses run on Diesel or Natural Gas. Both of which are cheaper the auto gas. (I am not sure about the Natural Gas, I thought Disney was moving to this??)

Actually if gas prices cause people to cancel thier travel plans that could motivate Disney to release some discounts.....

 

[WDWRC]

We usually dont have an issue filling the resorts, especially in summer, regardless of gas prices. I think that there will be no discounts offered in June and July b/c the resorts are booking up.

 

[EEyorelover22]

We usually dont have an issue filling the resorts, especially in summer, regardless of gas prices. I think that there will be no discounts offered in June and July b/c the resorts are booking up.

If they fill in the summers, then why have they offered them in other years?

 

[magsmom]

I don't think so.
The buses run on Diesel or Natural Gas. Both of which are cheaper the auto gas. (I am not sure about the Natural Gas, I thought Disney was moving to this??)

Actually if gas prices cause people to cancel thier travel plans that could motivate Disney to release some discounts.....

I would assume diesel. Natural gas is a vapor as opposed to a liquid. Natural gas in vapor form is used to heat our homes and by generators to generate electricity. You need to be at approx -260 degrees for natural gas to be a liquid. It's then known as liquified natural gas or LNG. LNG needs to be re-gasified in order for it be used to heat our homes or generate electricity.

And yes, natural gas in vapor form (spot) is trading at pre-Katrina levels at roughly $7-8.50/MMBtu at the eastern and southern hubs.

 

[CarolA]

Aren't there some buses in the US that run on Natural Gas? I could swear I have seen some big signs on buses announcing this.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Aren't there some buses in the US that run on Natural Gas? I could swear I have seen some big signs on buses announcing this.

Absolutely. The fleet in New York has over 450 CNG buses.

From what I've seen, everything running on WDW property seems to be a diesel bus.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Even if gas doubles it will only add about $200 to our upcoming trip and that is a very small part of the budget.

That being said, gas and energy prices do not just affect transportation but everything that is trnsported, food, materials etc. I saw this in the 70's (yes I am very old ) and it was not a pretty sight.

People who want to go to DW will plan accordingly. It will only deter those who were not certain in the first place.

Slightly Goofy (who is doing one big 20 day trip instead of two 10 days trips and saving on the gas)

 

[PamNC]

We usually dont have an issue filling the resorts, especially in summer, regardless of gas prices. I think that there will be no discounts offered in June and July b/c the resorts are booking up.

Huh-oh. You sound like you know what you're talking about. Are you a CM? CRO Expert may not mean CM. Nonetheless, if you think there won't be any discounts, I tend to think you know what you're talking about. Luckily I have a CM friend who can get me a discount, that is, if those discounts are available.

Tell us, if you don't mind, if you are a CM and know this for a fact. Unless it'll get you in trouble.

PamNC

 

[magsmom]

Absolutely. My husband works for NYCT and the fleet in New York consists of over 450 CNG buses.

Ah. I learned something new today! Compressed natural gas!

From what this says the fuel appears to be limited. A good proportion of the fleet would have to use this as opposed to diesel.

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/transportation/CNG.html

 

[CarolA]

Absolutely. My husband works for NYCT and the fleet in New York consists of over 450 CNG buses.

From his expertise, he thinks everything running on WDW property is a diesel bus.

Thanks, I thought I was going crazy (And it wouldn't be a long trip)

I seem to recall reading a post from Chip and Dale on the Transport board that Disney was testing natural gas buses......Don't know what happened there.

 

[Paging Tom Morrow]

Hey all,

In order for Disney buses to be run on Compressed Natural Gas, they would have to have an additional tank on top of the bus to store the gas.

Here is a pic of a Disney bus:

For reference, a NYCT CNG bus:

Hope this helps...

 

[Sammie]

Huh-oh. You sound like you know what you're talking about. Are you a CM? CRO Expert may not mean CM. Nonetheless, if you think there won't be any discounts, I tend to think you know what you're talking about. Luckily I have a CM friend who can get me a discount, that is, if those discounts are available.

Tell us, if you don't mind, if you are a CM and know this for a fact. Unless it'll get you in trouble.

PamNC

WDWRC is a CM with the Reservations Center, or at least based on previous postings.

As to knowing for a fact, I don't think even the agents know for sure 100%, but I would think WDWRC is making a very educated guess based on his/her knowledge of the system and how it works and I would have to agree.

If bookings are already secured in large number for the summer months, there truly is no reason to offer any discounts.

As to previous summers, bookings were not that high months prior to the summer dates. They filled up more last minute and many filled due to discounts.

Of course some of the bookings could be a false read. Meaning that people have book rooms they won't keep unless they get a discount, and that messes it up for everyone including themselves.

Only time will truly tell, but I don't think it looks good at all for June. If hurricanes start popping up and gas prices for travellers start rising, then cancellations might occur which might have Disney offering some last minute discounts for July and August.

 

[tinkerrn]

Hummmm....thats what my DH and I were talking about this morning. With gas prices going higher, maye over $4.00 a gallon by June, that might put off some travelers. However, with cancellation fees and time taken off from work, there might not ba alot of cancellations. Some might just alter their budget on food and souvenirs. We decided not to take an extra trip in June to WDW after looking at rental car prices (way too expensive). I am bummed out a it, but the prices are cheaper in Sept. for our anniversary trip. The $400.00 extra we figured in gas is just not worth it to us, not including the car rental. The cheapest we could get was $375.00 for a week.
The thing was we could have gotten a great rate at the Ritz...less than $250.00 a night for a lake front view. Oh, well....looks like we will be taking small trips around home this summer instead.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

WDWRC is a CM with the Reservations Center, or at least based on previous postings.

As to knowing for a fact, I don't think even the agents know for sure 100%, but I would think WDWRC is making a very educated guess based on his/her knowledge of the system and how it works and I would have to agree.

Only time will truly tell, but I don't think it looks good at all for June. If hurricanes start popping up and gas prices for travellers start rising, then cancellations might occur which might have Disney offering some last minute discounts for July and August.

I agree with what you are saying.
I am not saying that WDWRC is not telling us what she has heard, just that it may not turn out that way. WDWRC was the one that said the glitch rate was going to be honored just as long things weren't changed on the ressie. As it turned out, they didn't honor all of it. Someone from guest services called all of those that made the glitch ressies & told them Disney was only going to honor one night and that was it. So she was wrong on that, not that it was her fault, but Disney has a habbit of changing things all the time. One never really knows what they will do. I think that if gas continues to rise, yes, we may see the discounts. Even though everything goes up when gas goes up, but it also cuts into tourism & they will have to lure you someway. The room may be cheaper (discounted) but food may be higher....

 

[Uncle Albert]

WDWRC is a CM with the Reservations Center, or at least based on previous postings.

As to knowing for a fact, I don't think even the agents know for sure 100%, but I would think WDWRC is making a very educated guess based on his/her knowledge of the system and how it works and I would have to agree.

If bookings are already secured in large number for the summer months, there truly is no reason to offer any discounts.

As to previous summers, bookings were not that high months prior to the summer dates. They filled up more last minute and many filled due to discounts.

Of course some of the bookings could be a false read. Meaning that people have book rooms they won't keep unless they get a discount, and that messes it up for everyone including themselves.

Only time will truly tell, but I don't think it looks good at all for June. If hurricanes start popping up and gas prices for travellers start rising, then cancellations might occur which might have Disney offering some last minute discounts for July and August.

Thanks Sammie. I'm thinking it doesn't look good for June either..I think if nothing is offered by the beginning of May, it "ain't gonna." And you're right when you say that people book rooms hoping for a discount and if that discount doesn't happen, they cancel. That definitely messes up it for everyone. I think if we would all hold out booking ANYTHING until a room came up, we'd have more of a chance. Don't you think we DISers, the biggest fans of WDW, could make a difference? I've never researched how many people visit these boards. But, I bet we make up a huge population of Disney goers. At least repeat Disney goers. I dunno, just a thought. What do you think? I always read every post you put out here because you seem to know your stuff. Are you a CM?

I'm an ex-CM. I use to work in advertising, now called Yellow Shoes Creative. I loved it so much, but there were circumstances that caused me and my DH to have to move back to NC. Just wasn't the right time.
We actually designed those good ol' postcards that use to go out. Those are a thing of the past. We did the in-room stuff, the Vacation Planning Videos, outdoor advertising, local TV, park brochures, special event brochures, etc etc. That was back in 2000. A lot of the people I worked with are gone. I still have a couple of CM friends who at times get me their discount. Very nice folks.

Anyway, thanks for the info. By the way - I just realized that I have signed onto the DIS under my husband's name...I'm not Uncle Albert. Sorry about that. He's a DISer too. We're both Disney Crazy!

PamNC