Are the high gas issues keeping you away from WDW?

[Yankeeplex]

I know we are lucky in that we live only 2 hours away from WDW, but for those having to fly in or drive in, are the high gas prices and their residual costs going to keep you away from WDW? I just read an article stating that the airlines are going to remove over 5700 flights into Orlando Intn'l by the end of the year. That means a lot less flights, and much higher prices, along with all the other crap that the airlines are going to throw at you. According to the article, over 35% of all WDW guests fly in to Orlando. Are these issues going to keep you away, or will the lure of WDW make the trip worthwhile no matter what the price?

 

[mickeypal1]

The gas prices are not keeping us away. We drive from Illinois and we are still going. We know that it is going to be more expensive this year to get there but we have not even considered not going. We go every year to Florida for two weeks. One week at Disney and one week at my parents who live about 45 minutes from Disney. We will be there in 27 days.:sohappy:

 

[angelfaerie52]

I live a half hour away. Now, while before, I may have been happy going over for only an hour or two, I can only justify going now if I plan to spend at least a half day.

Of course, if something really fun comes up where I only can be for 1-2 hours (this coming week, family in town, lunch at Teppan Edo )... I will make the drive.

However, with the cutting of flights, the likelihood of me flying back to my home state keeps dropping... or leaving in general. It's hard to justify leaving when I have multiple vacation destinations at my feet.

So in short, no, the gas prices are not stopping me. I am going less now because it's summer... but I will say over the next two weeks, I will be heading out to I-4 A LOT due to people being in town...

 

[JustPlainBill]

We've had our trip to WDW this summer planned since last summer when gas was considered "high." We're still going to go, the way I figure gas is going to cost me about $600 round trip, driving down fromm the Illinois/Wisconsin border. This will probably be our last trip to WDW for 3-5 years so we're not really looking at the cost, besides I don't think I could fly my family down for less than $600.

 

[marni1971]

This has been discussed at length already http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=315328&highlight=fuel for example

You think you have it bad? We`re over $12 a gallon over here now. What we`d GIVE for $4 a gallon....

Rest assured with the pound v dollar rate at the mo you`ll have a Brit invasion again this year

 

[marni1971]

What type of car are you driving over there?

A `normal` one - or even below normal. Many people over here have 2.5 litre and up engines. Even `normal` people are paying $140 to fill up a tank. It`s generated a lot of press, shall we say, without getting political.

 

[Master Yoda]

A `normal` one - or even below normal. Many people over here have 2.5 litre and up engines. Even `normal` people are paying $140 to fill up a tank. It`s generated a lot of press, shall we say, without getting political.

How many miles does the typical Brit put on a car every week?

 

[EPCOT.nut]

This has been discussed at length already http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=315328&highlight=fuel for example

You think you have it bad? We`re over $12 a gallon over here now. What we`d GIVE for $4 a gallon....

Rest assured with the pound v dollar rate at the mo you`ll have a Brit invasion again this year

YEP that was a scary discussion - YIKES on the gas prices threads...:lol:

Martin - why not move here to Florida? Cheap gas, Disney, great BBQ - what's not to love?

 

[Kelsybelle]

I know we are lucky in that we live only 2 hours away from WDW, but for those having to fly in or drive in, are the high gas prices and their residual costs going to keep you away from WDW? I just read an article stating that the airlines are going to remove over 5700 flights into Orlando Intn'l by the end of the year. That means a lot less flights, and much higher prices, along with all the other crap that the airlines are going to throw at you. According to the article, over 35% of all WDW guests fly in to Orlando. Are these issues going to keep you away, or will the lure of WDW make the trip worthwhile no matter what the price?

You are lucky to be only 2 hours from WDW! We are a 3 1/2 hour flight away and the crazy prices for flights won't keep us away. Disney is our favorite vacation destination and we visit about once every 1-2 years. We book our flights the minute they become available and plan our Disney budget. There was another thread about the amount of $ that the average person spends on a WDW vacation and we usually spend about $4500 for an 8 day trip. I think that we should be able to swing that for our trip in May 09 even with the rising costs to fly. You just have to be willing to make adjustments, if the price of our flight is rediculously high and cuts into our set budget then we won't go for 8 days, maybe do 6 days instead and not buy everything in sight! (I have a real problem with that!) It's one of things where you just have to wait and see what happens.

 

[Legacy]

Ticket prices are keeping me away more than gas prices.

 

[Tiggerfanatic]

I bought our airline tickets the 1st of May for our December trip - $1100 for 4 of us. Three weeks later the same flight was up to over $2000 - just about double. If I hadn't already bought the tickets, I seriously doubt that we would be going.

 

[Edeyore]

No, the prices of flying, hotel rooms and park tickets are keeping me away. I wasn't able to afford to go last year. I just can't afford it even more this year.

 

[Texas84]

We're only 5 hours away so even $10 gas won't stop us in December. But they really need to start train service to Orlando. We would have to drive 2.5 hours to Savannah to take the train. How much fun would that be to hop on a train and arrive at a WDW station?

 

[Elonwy]

I bought our airline tickets the 1st of May for our December trip - $1100 for 4 of us. Three weeks later the same flight was up to over $2000 - just about double. If I hadn't already bought the tickets, I seriously doubt that we would be going.

Last March 8 of us flew together for $2200 this Sept we priced a trip for 4 of us and flights would be $3950.....that's $1750 MORE for half the number of passengers. :brick::brick::brick:

 

[Jodileigh]

Nope, not keeping us away! It just means more saving and planning ahead and watching for the best airfares. We put nearly everything on our Amex, then pay it off every month so we can get the airline points, so that makes the cost much less painful!!

Jodi

 

[earldw28]

The cost of gas is such a small part of the overall trip cost I just don't see where it comes into play.

 

[xsupaxmanxsfnex]

^Even though it depends on where you live I do agree. Plus you can do things to change on how much it will cost. I agree with Jodileigh, save up extra because you know it will be more than usual. Start saving up your change, request gas gift certificates for gifts. Plus, drive the speed limit, do as much as you canto cut down. It is high but don't let it keep you away from the world!

 

[Elonwy]

The cost of gas is such a small part of the overall trip cost I just don't see where it comes into play.

That's easy to say coming from Georgia. :lol: I have had people drive to WDW from here in Nova Scotia. When my uncle did a few years ago it cost just around $250-$300 for gas. Right now it would cost about about $800 in gas.

If you compare that to 7 nights in a value resort which is around $575 gas can be a huge portion of the trip.

 

[minnie2000]

It will stop us. We have already booked for this year, so unless they charge us huge flight supplements at the last minute, we will be there.

I have just checked the price of a fly drive for 2 adults and 2 children for Summer 2009, from Gatwick to Orlando. The price was £3340 - what's that about $6500? That's just flights and car. We would also need to pay for car insurance, petrol, accommodation, food, park tickets....

Last year we paid about £1500 for the same thing.

We've come to the conclusion that this will be our last Disney holiday for a while, unless flight prices come down again.

 

[Yankeeplex]

wow, Minnie...when I read your post I almost fell over. How can anyone not be affected by this. And to make things worse, what happens when they start cutting flights? Less planes flying and the same amount of people. This can only cause prices to rise plus gas is going through the roof. I am very saddened to hear about those prices. How discouraging!!! :hammer: