Will Disney's attendance drop?

captainkidd

Well-Known Member
Anyone have any thoughts about 2013? This has nothing to do with the state of WDW. For all we know, 2013 could be a banner year for the shape of the parks. However, I have to assume, if airfare prices stay as they are (or get worse), attendance will decline. Phrases like "I've never seen prices this high" get tossed around a lot, but I can honestly say, in the 15 years I've been paying for my own trips, I have never seen airfare so high. Now, obviously, from an inflation point of view, this only seems natural, but it's more than that. Just 3 years ago, I flew my family of 5 roundtrip from Providence for $600. 2 years ago, from Boston, maybe $1,500 roundtrip. I bought our airfare for July months ago and paid about $1,600. Right now, the exact same flights are $2,700. For January, I paid over $400 per person roundtrip. I just don't see this getting much better, especially given the fact that gas prices have been dropping. If they start to go up again, how will it affect airfare?

I really believe the travel industry as a whole is going to take a massive hit next year. People will drive a reasonable distance, but the average family does not want to drive hundreds or thousands of miles to go anywhere.
 

I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
Well, affordable varies from person to person. As you are a Canadian based travel agent I have a hard time believing that you are finding flights for a few hundred dollars. As I did some quick searching, flights from Halifax to Orlando are currently running, at the cheapest, 2300 roundtrip for a family of 4. Now, I'm not a math expert, nor am I too great with converting currency, but $2300 isn't a few hundred dollars.

I never once said that flights were a few hundred dollars I said in a $7000 vacation a price increase of a few hundred on the total cost of the trip won't make much a difference. Also $2300 is too much, I can get a much better rate than that for a family of four.
 
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I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
Random. but does anyone else do this? Every time I've gone to Disney, I and my family have ended up driving to an airport not in my home state because the flights are usually cheaper. I live in Iowa and have flown at various times out of O'Hare, Minneapolis, and Kansas City. It's actually cheaper just to drive a few hours, park the car and pay for the parking fee, plus the flight from the airports I mentioned than an actually using the airport that is nearest to me. I was just wondering if anyone else in I guess the "smaller states" that don't have the big airport hubs use that strategy? For my next trip it looks like I'm going to be using O'Hare again. Chicago is only about a 5 hours drive from me and it takes about one full tank of gas to get there and one to get back usually.

I've booked people from the Martimes to fly out of Bangor instead because they wanted to save money on flights - depends on the cost of gas but sometimes they would rather do a 7 hour drive each way and save the money on the flights
 
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mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
I never once said that flights were a few hundred dollars I said in a $7000 vacation a price increase of a few hundred on the total cost of the trip won't make much a difference. Also $2300 is too much, I can get a much better rate than that for a family of four.

So you didn't write this on the last page?

Ditto - I have 5 different families going next year that have never been before. The airfare isn't a deterrant, if they have the funds to travel a few hundred in airfare doesn't seem to make or break a $5000-$7000 trip.

The unprofessional manner of your banter here is very bad for business as well, don't you think?
 
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I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
So you didn't write this on the last page?

Ditto - I have 5 different families going next year that have never been before. The airfare isn't a deterrant, if they have the funds to travel a few hundred in airfare doesn't seem to make or break a $5000-$7000 trip.

The unprofessional manner of your banter here is very bad for business as well, don't you think?

I'm not being unprofessional at all why on earth would you even think that? You are not my client you are just someone trying to annoy people online. Would you like to complain to my boss or something because you didn't like my post on a message board? I think you are being confrontational and negtive for absolutely no reason at all and hope you get past trying to misinterpret and attack every post that I've written.

Yes I did say that a few hundred in airfare doesn't break a $7000 trip because people have been talking about AIRFARE INCREASES...a few hundered isn't going to make a difference on top of a $7000 trip...$7000 is the total cost including hotel, park tickets AND AIRFARE so if airfare goes up it will add only a few hundred onto the trip.

Since you are obviously absolutely incapable of understanding the simplest concepts just stop reading and commenting on my posts and go back to the bus etiquette board where I assume you have a bunch a fun misreading and trying to cause arguments. I'm getting tired of having to explain things to you. Just go back to your bus etiquette thread which is one I don't ever plan on reading so you can hang out there and pay no attention to me.
 
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flynnibus

Premium Member
Random. but does anyone else do this?

I think you described the behavior of most people who don't live near a major airport or live in an area where driving is more effective than flying to make their connection. Pretty common behavior - there is no rule that says you must use the closest airport :)
 
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mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
I'm not being unprofessional at all why on earth would you even think that? You are not my client you are just someone trying to annoy people online. Would you like to complain to my boss or something because you didn't like my post on a message board? I think you are being confrontational and negtive for absolutely no reason at all and hope you get past trying to misinterpret and attack every post that I've written.

Yes I did say that a few hundred in airfare doesn't break a $7000 trip because people have been talking about AIRFARE INCREASES...a few hundered isn't going to make a difference on top of a $7000 trip...$7000 is the total cost including hotel, park tickets AND AIRFARE so if airfare goes up it will add only a few hundred onto the trip.

Since you are obviously absolutely incapable of understanding the simplest concepts just stop reading and commenting on my posts and go back to the bus etiquette board where I assume you have a bunch a fun misreading and trying to cause arguments. I'm getting tired of having to explain things to you. Just go back to your bus etiquette thread which is one I don't ever plan on reading so you can hang out there and pay no attention to me.

Well, as a potential customer of you and your company, I'm offended to the treatment. I know that you are promoting bad business for yourself. If I'm so bad with my comments, why do you bother to answer me? I do know in fact that when you do promote bad business, that yes, I could call, complain and have you see some realm of disciplinary action. Here is the US, it's called the Better Business Bureau. I'm sure Canada has something similar.

To all potential customers of this agent and agency, please use another company. This companies reputation has a tarnish that leads through this board and this poster.
 
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I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
Well, as a potential customer of you and your company, I'm offended to the treatment. I know that you are promoting bad business for yourself. If I'm so bad with my comments, why do you bother to answer me? I do know in fact that when you do promote bad business, that yes, I could call, complain and have you see some realm of disciplinary action. Here is the US, it's called the Better Business Bureau. I'm sure Canada has something similar.

To all potential customers of this agent and agency, please use another company. This companies reputation has a tarnish that leads through this board and this poster.

and what company would that be? also don't flatter yourself...you would never be a client of mine.​
 
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I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
An internet search of Canadian based travel agents isn't very hard to perform.

Good luck - let me know what you come up with. I honestly can't believe you would patrol the internet hoping to randomly hit one one of a thousand (or more) travel agencies that might be mine.

You're creepy, stalkerish, extremely negative and should just chill out. II just can't figure out why you began hunting me down on the boards, but seriously, get a life and get over it.
 
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mousehockey37

Well-Known Member
Good luck - let me know what you come up with. I honestly can't believe you would patrol the internet hoping to randomly hit one one of a thousand (or more) travel agencies that might be mine.

You're creepy, stalkerish, extremely negative and should just chill out. II just can't figure out why you began hunting me down on the boards, but seriously, get a life and get over it.

Well, you've kept harassing me now to this point. So, I'll be the grown up and just leave it at that.
 
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I_heart_Tigger

Well-Known Member
Well, you've kept harassing me now to this point. So, I'll be the grown up and just leave it at that.

I prefer to think of it as defending myself especially since your comments were extremely rude and way out of line especially the threats to my job, personal attacks, the half hour you spent searching all of the threads I posted in (were you not aware I could see you doing that?) and of course the threat of stalking me online which is generally the behaviour of someone not mentally sound...but yes, let's just leave it at that. No hard feelings, of course. They are only words after all and it's just a little Disney fan board. Not really important in the grand scheme of things.

Have a great night!
 
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real mad hatter

Well-Known Member
Newsflash from the UK.. For your dream vacation next year,why not visit DisneyWorld Florida. We will give you $300 spending money,a 14 day park hopper for the price of 7,Free dining.Then plan your vacation now for 2013.:) and fly the new Dreamliner with wider seats in economy class at no extra cost.
 
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captainkidd

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I think it all comes down to what people's threshold is. I think for Disney, things such as resorts and tickets, people are a bit more open. With airfare, people are getting less and less patient. Add in the complete pain in the that is air travel, and driving becomes all that much more attractive. The question is to me, will people will be willing to drive to Disney if it's far enough way, or will they drive someplace else for vacation?
 
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Susan Savia

Well-Known Member
My son and I drive to WDW and my husband flies in about 5 or 6 days later and drives back home with us. We like having our car there. Our offsite is booked now and we found a one way flight for him for $84 and booked it. Doubt it will go lower. We were thrilled. We've considered a second trip in a year to WDW, but since we also visit Memphis and the beach, once is enough.
 
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