Will gas prices change your DVC use?

[eporter66]

If gas prices continue to rise, I am sure we all can see what else is coming. We booked our latest trip for this October, and the airfare has almost doubled since our last purchase (Oct 07 for Feb 08).

We always fly to WDW (NY to FL), as the drive just takes too much time out of our vacation (and us). Also, for the last few trips we have also rented a car, as having a young child, you never know when you might need to run to a late night pharmacy, ER, or just get back to the resort before a meltdown occurs

Anyway - if prices continue, my wife and I have talked about doing WDW every other year. That would be a bummer, but with flights as expensive as they are, it seems like a logical alternative. Also, I am thinking that as much as we enjoy the convience of a rental car, that may end too. I have not looked into car rentals yet for October, but I assume they have increased too.

On the bright side, with the points rolling over, I guess if we do go the every other year route, I would be getting a 2 Bedroom.

 

[bradisgoofy]

We are in a different position. We were starting to do Fort Wilderness and now with the price of diesel fuel we are looking to go back to the resorts and flying down. We spent $1400, round trip, on diesel fuel this past visit, that will buy a lot of airfare. Besides, a year without Disney...ain't gunna happen.

 

[FLYNZ4]

We always fly but we generally use FF miles. One time we flew our own plane... but that is prohibitively expensive for such a long flight (Portland, OR to Kissimmee Fl). We did that more for the adventure of it.

I book my reservations and my flights 11 months in advance. That is one good thing about owning DVC... we plan our vacations much further out... which means that FF seats are available

/Jim

 

[DVC Mike]

No, it won't change our DVC usage. It will just cost us more!

We drive, and with gas here in Charlote now at $3.50 a gallon and still rising, it's gonna get pricey to fill 'er up!

Luckily, we're only about 546 miles away...

 

[DisneyFreaks]

No, it won't change our DVC usage. It will just cost us more!

Exactly! We always drive (I pack way too much to fly LoL) We're actually thinking about doubling up with DD and her family and sharing the cost of the gas as well as the driving. Our drive is from Northwest Ohio so it's quite a ways including a stop over usually near Atlanta. We're already thinking of ways to help with this problem but staying home is not one of the options.

 

[wildernessDad]

If I do change my DVC usage, it will be to go only one time per year and stay twice as long, rather than the two or three times per year we have been going. That is a pretty big if because I need my vacations.

 

[WolfpackFan]

It will (and has) caused us to fly more. Plus I really hate that drive down I-95.

 

[Hollowellfam6]

Here lately we have been driving more, with the arrival of the newest DS 2 years ago and the older ones at driving age, it seems to work out better to drive. Plus, we can spend longer at WDW. We aare driving to VB the first week of June for a week at the beach, then back down to WDW in the middle of Nov for 10 days of fun, we have to wait oldest DS plays high school soccer and they have gone to state b4. But I do enjoy the drive, kindof makes your mind clear b4 you get there......just my $0.02.

 

[Goofy2937]

No it won't change our usage infact we just added on! We drive and yes it will cost more, however with the amount my DW packs I will still save money over air fair. lol

 

[Coach81]

Not one bit, we will continue to go.. we'll just tighten the belt up a bit more in other areas to save up the money... let's see.. do we have to eat out 3 times a week.. I think not

I am however looking into trading in one of my vehicles to a hybrid to save money long-term....

 

[JodyTG]

We also drive and usally rent an SUV (gas guzzler) for the trip, but this year we'll just rent a car. We don't want to put a couple thousand miles on our own so this works out fine for us. Airfare from DFW has become beyond outrageous the last few years, and besides, we really do enjoy the drive. Wierd, I know.

 

[spiceycat]

don't know may change it to one trip per year - who am I kidding - cut back on everything else - not my disney trips.

 

[BiddleDD]

For better or worse, my business requires quite a bit of air travel. The down side is all the time that I have to be away from home. The upside is the frequent flyer miles So gas prices shouldn't really affect our Disney trips.

Of course, if airlines continue to dilute the benefits of thir frequent flyer programs, all this could disappear quite rapidly.

 

[Chellymouse]

We are at 3.59 a gallon in Ohio and it's climbing . We bought our plane tix for Aug. before all this happened, but I am cringing looking at airfare for December. DH said it may be once a year after this year because air is so high. So much for trading out to go to Italy for graduation next year!

 

[gcbsdad]

We are lucky in that we live 63 miles to the east of WDW in the Tampa Bay area.
Really I am not bragging.....................

Gas is an issue to everyone but it will not affect our WDW visits.

I feel for you guys.

 

[Maribel]

We also drive, and we are chaging our use of DVC but that is to add more days. My kids are entering an age when they can finally truly enjoy the WDW experience. Also, my stepson studying in FSU makes a good excuse for us to meet in Orlando (half way for both ends).

 

[DVC Jen]

As of right now - no and we drive. We are figuring it will cost us about an additional 200.00 for gas for our trip. In the grand scheme of things - that is an additional 200.00 well spent on our much needed, much anticipated family vacation.

 

[darlinboy]

Well, we haven't made our first trip "home" yet, but have been to WDW a few times. I can't see gas prices changing our plans. We are fortunate to have a discount air carrier where we live (crossing our fingers they survive) that can fly all four of us to Orlando for < $500, about the same as gas would cost for the ten-hour (one way) drive.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I live in Florida, so we drive in and it costs me $30 more to fill my tank than it did when I bought my car in 2002. The great thing though is that my DVC Accomodations remain the same, therefore, we will still travel to Disney, no matter the economic tides. The resorts even without the theme parks are a great vacation!

 

[DVC Jen]

. Airfare from DFW has become beyond outrageous the last few years, and besides, we really do enjoy the drive. Wierd, I know.

No kidding! And I don't think you are wierd - we enjoy it too. We take our time getting there - actually making it part of our vacation - but push it to get back home - we are ready to see our dogs by then.