Is the economic outlook effecting your trip?

[Sherrybaby]

We're switching from 2 trips a year to one trip a year.

Not really because of the economic situation, more because of Disneys continuing price hikes and Dsney's quality
of service (or lack of there of)
An all inclusive week long trip for my wife and I used to cost 2 grand if we stayed at a Monorail resort.

That same trip is costing us 5 grand now and if anything, the perks and service are less than years gone by.

While we can still afford 2 trips a year, we are beginning to question if we're getting our moneys worth these days.

I'm with you, Scooter. We just took a trip to Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and spent half the amount of money for double the amount of amenities that we receive at a Disney deluxe resort. I know the vacations were different, but there were constant activities, free food, and not to mention the beach where all was "free" like parasailing, Hobie Cats, etc.

I think we have discovered that there is "another World" out there.

I don't mean to get all melodramatic or sad and I'm not feeling sorry for myself, but I have a terminal disease. Every minute counts. I wish that I had lived my life before my disease like I live it now. I still run a business and work very hard to continue to support my family, until I cannot, but when a chance comes for me to go meet a friend for a drink I no longer say "No, I have to work". I don't know how much longer I have left but I think as a whole that people need to start living in the here and now rather than in the future. There may not BE any tomorrow--for any of us. Today is the day to live. If you can afford it then do it.

We have to determine our priorities. What's more important? Remodeling our house or a family trip with wonderful pictures in a scrapbook that generations to come will look at and learn from? I choose the memories.

This year we are driving from Ohio (my family is from there) to California down Route 66. I have always wanted to do this and if I live until June I'll be traveling the highway. I want to end at the Santa Monica pier (I'm a big Titanic fan--if you are too then you know why I want to end there) and then we will go on to Disneyland to check it out for the first time. I will take a month off work to do this....not easy but we all only get so much time and it seems we all think it's infinite. In addition, we are only young and healthy once...and I want to ride all the rides in the park (my illness does not stop me from doing so--yet).

<off soapbox> Sorry, but sometimes coming from someone knowing that life can be gone in a split second is helpful to others trying to find some way to live a meaningful life or make life-altering decisions. And yes, I do think that vacation plans and other family-time activities can be life-altering.

Sherry

 

[kimmychad]

Hey, if you're driving I-79S, stop and pick me up on your way - I'm 20 miles below you and only a mile off the interstate!!!:wave:

lol, i'll hang a rope from from the plane, you'll just have to hold on

 

[primetime52]

If we are in a recession I would hate to see a booming economy. I don't know anyone who has been effected by this "slowdown". I think it is a scam. It is definitely overstated.

THANK YOU!! Finally someone who's sees this "recession" the same way I do.

The only real problem we have in my opinion is the fact that we are dependent on the middle east for our oil. We have plenty of places to drill on our own soil, so it's time to gain oil independence.

 

[primetime52]

I am so tired of people talking about the middle class is getting hit hard. I am middle class and know plenty of people who are and I just dont see it. Maybe, its just because you have been listening to liberals:hurl: too much lately, George Bush is the devil, the middle class is going extinct, all the rich people are getting all of the tax breaks blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the economy is fine as far as I am concerned. Im sorry that milk went up 20 cents a gallon, get over it.

AMEN Earldw28!!! The economy isn't so bad, this is just a hiccup, not a recession. Liberals are trying to convince us that we are in a recession in order to benefit their own political agenda.

People get tax breaks based on how much they pay. If someone richer than you gets more money back, this happens because its fair and makes sense. Don't forget the fact that the top income bracket also pays more in taxes in the first place.

 

[kimmychad]

I am so tired of people talking about the middle class is getting hit hard. I am middle class and know plenty of people who are and I just dont see it. Maybe, its just because you have been listening to liberals:hurl: too much lately, George Bush is the devil, the middle class is going extinct, all the rich people are getting all of the tax breaks blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the economy is fine as far as I am concerned. Im sorry that milk went up 20 cents a gallon, get over it.

no political bs please. save it for the polls

 

[Jeff456]

Hmmm your slowing down economy is making the pound to dollar exchange rate pretty good!

 

[gabroccoli]

Not the recession, it's all the the house work from last year. If that wasn't the story than I would probably be buying a DVC.

 

[Disney05]

Just paid my stay at BCV in October in full. We'll be getting or taxes back in a couple weeks and that "stimulus" check late spring early summer. Will be interesting to see what happens after this Novembers election.

 

[I-4Warrior]

What has been affecting our trips to WDW is the gas prices. From 2000-2005 we would take trips out to the World probably three times a month. Now we're down to one trip a month, sometimes even less frequent than that (boo hoo, right?). The $3.00 - $3.30 a gallon for gas really has put a damper on things.

 

[Montyboy]

In agreement with jt04, I also think the fears of recession are heavily overdone.

So neither one of you have a 401k or stocks?
Right now, talk of a recession might be overdone, but we are going to have a few, let's say, "uncomfortable" years.

 

[RedGear]

we are cutting corners now, and saving for our trip in April, because for us our vacations are what we would rather spend our money on then on the new and latest, greatest stuff.

 

[Macaylasmom]

We probably won't be visiting the mouse this year either. We are in the middle of renovations to the house and need a new roof. The new roof will be eating the vacation money. Unfortunate, but has to be done. I was keeping my fingers crossed for renting a house with some of my inlaws, but that fell through. I will keep the Disney magic alive by reading the trip reports and looking at all the wonderful pictures posted. Still keeping my fingers crossed for a trip later this year......a girl can dream!!!!

 

[smk]

If we are in a recession I would hate to see a booming economy. I don't know anyone who has been effected by this "slowdown". I think it is a scam. It is definitely overstated.

Count your blessings. I know a lot of people who are in business for themselves (real estate things, builders, developers etc...) who are in real trouble because nothing is selling. There are people suffering, it is real and IMHO it is not overstated.

 

[smk]

I am so tired of people talking about the middle class is getting hit hard. I am middle class and know plenty of people who are and I just dont see it. Maybe, its just because you have been listening to liberals:hurl: too much lately, George Bush is the devil, the middle class is going extinct, all the rich people are getting all of the tax breaks blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the economy is fine as far as I am concerned. Im sorry that milk went up 20 cents a gallon, get over it.

I am suprised you did not say "Let them eat cake". :zipit::zipit::zipit:

 

[eroyee]

I am so tired of people talking about the middle class is getting hit hard. I am middle class and know plenty of people who are and I just dont see it. Maybe, its just because you have been listening to liberals:hurl: too much lately, George Bush is the devil, the middle class is going extinct, all the rich people are getting all of the tax breaks blah, blah, blah. Anyway, the economy is fine as far as I am concerned. Im sorry that milk went up 20 cents a gallon, get over it.

wow, I am moving where you live. Milk is almost $4 a gallon here.

 

[t3techcom18]

The economy IS affecting people, contrasting much as the naysayers say. In a simple nutshell, the prices have gone up dramatically throughout these years, specifically through gas. We DO need to be less dependent of the oil in the Middle East, but in some ways, it's our fault as well: If we see other locations that have oil and use them, then we wouldn't be so dependent on just one location. Then again, we ARE the largest consumers of oil, so we could do something for our selves, yet we won't. Drives me insane the indecisiveness of people these days...

Back to the main topic: Yes, the economy is affecting people. It is forcing layoffs in lots of the major corporations of the U.S., even more so globally. Heck, Hershey just announced they're gunna layoff all their workers in the Pennsylvannia home plant and move it to Mexico. Other major corporations say they hold jobs for those at home, yet they bring most out due to outsourcing. What ever happened to having jobs for the people at home? It's called cheap labor, to maintain the relations close and the money closer. Big corportations in the past used to be able satisfy everyone, as their mottos were to serve everyone, not matter what range of how you could spend right then and there or to pay over time. Now, the corporation's mottos have changed to being "Me, Me, Me, and more Me." Both consumerist culture and the big business conglomerates have both switched their own mottos to being like that. Who gets affected? The workers obviously. Yeah, the managers, the execs, the assitants to major people in the company get top dollar; but what about those who are just regular workers or those who have done the same job for several years?

As examples:

I once knew a guy who was working for a restaurant chain here. He was one of the maintenance folks for the aquariums they had there in the restaurant/store. With this huge expertise with the job, and having prior experience dealing with marine life because of being a native of Key West. He loved the job, working with the aquariums and the fish. Great people, great benefits. Up to 7 months ago, he was above everyone else in seniority. He had about 8-9 years in his belt at the same location he's been at all along, and, like most companies do with seniority, they raised his paycheck little by little. Then, 7 months ago, he was contacted by some of the higher ups in the company. They congratulated him on the years with the company, but the greeting came with a double edged sword. The company told him that they could not pay him anymore the amount of money that he would deserve due to his seniority. He was given the choice to either resign or to be fired from the job. The guy stood his ground, understood what was going, but couldn't wrap his mind about how and why the company asked him to leave, knowing they bring in big business most of the time. Before he could get an answer, they fired him. Who was this company? He was an aquarium worker at Rainforest Cafe.

Another: A man who has been employed for a large multimillion dollar conglomerate for 20 years. He has been doing the same job/position for the past 18 out of those 20 years. The minimum wage for the company/job is $7.25. In all this time, all he's been raised to is $12.00; yet some of the newcomers get more benefits or pay raises than he does, while he has 20 years with the company. With a wife that has a part time job that only earn her $8.50, even with 10 years with a school (and the administration refuses to put her to full time with her seniority), they still struggle with their bills and also maintaining an education for their son, PLUS rising gas prices and higher prices for everything you can find in a grocery store (5 things at a grocery store cost one time a total of $60 dollars). They have to go from paycheck to paycheck, yet the company the guy is working for, has PLENTY of money to go around, as they earn billions of money each day. Now, these workers are choosing between to either get food or pay the bills with everything going up as it is. He hasn't taken a vacation in over 9 years. Who does the guy work for? A CM for WDW.

If you look carefully, these actions have been happening not only recently, but for the past several years. For the past several months is when it's changing dramatically, and it's only going downhill from there. The middle class is being destroyed by this, leaving it only to the rich and the poor, and now, in most senses of the word, the working poor. The biggest corporations are even robbing their employees of their money, and at times, their own jobs. The corporations have a responsibility to help their own workers, yet they treat them as servants, as nothing. Yes, there are quite a few people I know who say that they're in dire straits, and it's cause they do blow off their money and then yell to high heaven cause of that. That's their own issue. Never generalize everyone for one group; never assume. Assumption leads to ignorance, ignorance leads to bliss, bliss leads to demise.

 

[Disney05]

wow, I am moving where you live. Milk is almost $4 a gallon here.

Up here on Long Island, milk goes for close to $5/gallon. Or you can get it in BJ's or Costco for $3.20/gal. I also hear down Miami way, there are a lot of new construction going unfinished. Don't know if it's true or not.

 

[tigsmom]

Up here on Long Island, milk goes for close to $5/gallon. Or you can get it in BJ's or Costco for $3.20/gal. I also hear down Miami way, there are a lot of new construction going unfinished. Don't know if it's true or not.

Well over $4/gallon here in Orange County too. Gas is running around $3.60/gal or so. Its a sad day when milk for the kids costs more than gas for the car.

For those who say there is no recession then you can't be paying bills and trying to run a house and feed yourselves...the cost of all of that continues to rise while wages remain basically the same, jobs are being cut and people are losing their homes left and right. Many new homes and partially built ones will remain empty because of the mortgage crisis.

 

[Disney05]

Well over $4/gallon here in Orange County too. Gas is running around $3.60/gal or so. Its a sad day when milk for the kids costs more than gas for the car.

Gas here around $3.07-$3.15.

 

[I-4Warrior]

If the current state of the economy isn't negatively affecting anyone, count your blessings, because it's harming nearly everyone I know. To hit on the housing point, in my neighborhood alone, out of @ 50 houses, 9 are for sale and 3 are unoccupied. Most of the sales are due to trying to get out from underneath the ARM that's crushing them before their home is foreclosed upon and the unoccupied homes were built by developers at the end of the boom who can't unload them now. Check out the amount of foreclosures in Pinellas, Pasco, and throughout central FL over 2006-2007 and you'll be mortified. I'm not going to name-call or anything, but to a great many people, things are bad, so please don't close your eyes to the plight of others just because you're doing okay.