Will Wall Street Affect Your Plans?

[lighteningqueen]

Well I had to call yesterday and downgrade my package to room only and 1 day park tickets. Our initial cost was 4700.-- for 4 adults and 1 child with dining and tickets. Business is bad here for most of us in the childrens furniture or stores. I thought I would really get the orders last month as always and if any indication that is telling me this next 2 months are going to be way down for us. I may have to cancel alltogether. They came out with discount codes for everything around us but the week we are going. I thought it was the slowest. Dec 5-14th. we missed the end of the 3rd and will leave one day after it starts up again on the 13th. I cannot get a discount for anything. My heart will be broken if we cannot go. This is only our 2nd time first time we ran and really missed alot plus alot of attractions were shut down for refurbs, Space Mountain,alladan, Mermaid, several others.. So this year we thought we could add 2 more days. I sure am hoping we can make it. Otherwise I won't even get to think about next year unless the economy gets better.

 

[oldshovelhead]

Wow

Just some thoughts to ponder,

• Fewer people able to afford a WDW Vacation = Better deals/incentives to get people in the park?
• A Financial market in the toilet = Cutbacks at WDW (shows, service, development)?
• US downturn and global downturn = less foreign visitors = less $$ ?

But then again this whole line of reasoning can be cut and paste into discussions of rising gas prices affecting vacations and visitors at/to the world.

Wow...some great thoughts coming out of this thread. I wonder if this will make Disney rethink their gate rate increases that they recently announced? I’m sorry to have people thinking about their own financial hardships in conjunction with the “Happiest Place On Earth”, but it’s something that affects us all.
I personally work in my local county government. Years ago people took these jobs not because it paid as much as the private sector, but because of the benefits for our families, and the security it provided. I can tell you that it’s not the case anymore. There is no such thing as job security, and we pay more than most of the local private sector employee’s pay for their benefits. I’ve seen many things happen to good people over the last 17 years. All of the guys I work with start early, quite often work through lunch, and then go home late. All this is just to get the job done. They really are great caring people with high work ethics.
With that all said…my DW and I fight like crazy to get to WDW as often as we can. If we can’t make it there, we go someplace semi-local and use our DVC points for that. At least the accommodations are paid for. Our DD is getting married on our anniversary this coming May. Her and our future son-in-law used our DVC membership to book their honeymoon in WDW for June 09. My DW and I are thankful that we could at least provide this for them. Now we’re hoping for some discounts for admission and dining…we’ll see…:lookaroun

 

[krisrunsdisney]

We have a trip (with 30 people) coming up in January. At least 5 of us will be there! We have DVC so rooms for everyone are taken care of. I've been in charge of planning fun stuff for the group and I've been looking at cheap/free stuff due to $$ for most (no large dinners, just a scavenger hunt post-marathon). One BIL has already been laid off. Luckily many in our group are either financially savvy, job secure or both (though not everyone is). DH is Air Force so we are secure (and savvy) and things only look up for us. We will continue to plan trips as often as we are able. Of course, any tix or dining discounts would sure help out.

 

[sbkline]

Wow...some great thoughts coming out of this thread. I wonder if this will make Disney rethink their gate rate increases that they recently announced? I’m sorry to have people thinking about their own financial hardships in conjunction with the “Happiest Place On Earth”, but it’s something that affects us all.
I personally work in my local county government. Years ago people took these jobs not because it paid as much as the private sector, but because of the benefits for our families, and the security it provided. I can tell you that it’s not the case anymore. There is no such thing as job security, and we pay more than most of the local private sector employee’s pay for their benefits. I’ve seen many things happen to good people over the last 17 years. All of the guys I work with start early, quite often work through lunch, and then go home late. All this is just to get the job done. They really are great caring people with high work ethics.
With that all said…my DW and I fight like crazy to get to WDW as often as we can. If we can’t make it there, we go someplace semi-local and use our DVC points for that. At least the accommodations are paid for. Our DD is getting married on our anniversary this coming May. Her and our future son-in-law used our DVC membership to book their honeymoon in WDW for June 09. My DW and I are thankful that we could at least provide this for them. Now we’re hoping for some discounts for admission and dining…we’ll see…:lookaroun

A little off topic, but where do you work in your county government? I started working at Walmart in 1997, but went part time when I got hired at the County Clerk's Office in 2001. I worked there for 6 years before getting sick enough of it to finally quit last October and go full time at Walmart again (where I have worked continuously for 11 years now). And I can tell you that the benefits at Walmart are better than they were at the county. I have insurance for my whole family and it costs 81 bucks (87.50 after January, when the annual increase kicks in) per pay period, whereas family coverage for a similair plan at the county would eat up almost my whole paycheck. Job security is better as well. I worked for an elected official, and there is very little job security. If the boss has it in for you, you have absolutely no one to appeal it to, since the office head is the one and only boss. However, at Walmart, with various levels of management, there's a pretty good chain of command and alot of opportunities to appeal to someone higher if you think you are being gyped or something. And I'm making about the same, perhaps more now, than I was at the county.

 

[Susan Savia]

Our plans are set in cement. January 9th, we hit the road!

_______________________

Next Trip - January 2009

It's like coming home again......

 

[Tinkerbella16]

our trip is paid for and we're still putting back some $$ for spending cash. I think we'll be ok. I work in the structural engineering business and we're slow, but I think everything will be fine. I'm still going to WDW in 40 days. Not looking forward to paying gas prices in Florida, but they cant be much higher than the prices here in South Carolina. But who knows. At least the other couple that's goign with us will be splitting gas costs with us.

Looks like we'll be in WDW the same dates!! It didn't affect our trip, and I am also still putting cash aside week-to-week for spending money. I also work for a civil/structural engineering firm and we are very slow...I am fortunate to have a job right, and I've survived 3 layoff periods this year. I kind of don't want this economy mess to damper my ability to visit WDW every year...and I don't think I'll let it stop me from going.

 

[GenerationX]

The politicians all keep saying this bailout is not for Wall Street, but for Main Street. I'm thinking Main Street looks pretty good. The Wonders of Life, on the other hand, could really use the bailout.

 

[BigRedDad]

We are still going in 50 days. We are not making plans for the next trip for various reasons, but the primary one is we want our daughter to be 40" for the next trip so she can experience some of the bigger rides: Splash Mountain, thunder Mountain, Primeval Whirl. She is almost 3 and we are getting in the discussion phase why she cannot go on some of them. She is analytical, so it gets to be frustrating to get her to understand some things.

Many, many people are going to be out of work due to the economic woes. I wouldn't be too surprised if the unemployment rate approaches 10+%. I am in the IT industry. Our primary customers are financial firms. Some where way above me I hope is looking at severely decreased sales next year and making the necessary SEC adjustments so we are not impacted in 2009 and ready to roll in 2010. You never know. They could do mass layoffs just to save a buck, then rehire in 2010.

 

[The Mom]

The downturn in the stock market is influencing ALL of my current expenditures, including vacations. If I can do something myself, I will, which means less of my money going to the cleaners (to wash, starch, press, and box my husband's shirts) seamstress (I'll do my own alterations) restaurants, nail salon, etc.

Companies that provide the luxury services (which includes travel) my be the first to learn how "trickle down" economics really work in this downturn, I'm afraid. The housing market has been feeling the crunch for months; the others are just starting.

 

[The Oggmonster]

It's not going to effect me, I think I might go down to Disney World in January (depends on everyone's schedule) and Next year in Aug I known I will be on the cruise.

 

[Master Yoda]

Our own Governor in the state of FL is telling residents not to worry so much about what is going on...he is also telling residents to continue to go out to eat and go to beaches, he is also telling residents to go to Disney World. It's simple economics that if people stop spending, businesses fail. People who are still making a decent living need to continue to spend. I hear so many well off people say "I'm not going to spend money for this or that", or I'm not going to take a vacation".

When he tells people to go out and build new houses again and they start drilling for oil off our own coast and get gas down to $2 again I'll be able to afford to spend money on things other than necessities. I am not going into more debt buying stuff I do not need to help fuel the economy.

 

[Roxas]

and that exact attitude is why the USA will enter a period of negative growth.

 

[Master Yoda]

and that exact attitude is why the USA will enter a period of negative growth.

Attitude has nothing to to with it...simple math is the problem. My expenses have gone up and my income has gone down. Put those two things together and it does not leave much if any play money.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

It's not just an attitude for me, it is economic reality. If I go to Disney, we run the risk of not having heat. And it's linked to the economy going south.

You spend where you can, cut where you have to. I could afford it if not for the exorbitant air from NY to MCO. And I have to travel in peak season as my wife is a teacher.

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I'll sleep in a cardboard box if it means still going to Disney World!
I just won't buy a lot of stuff XD
Since we're not going until next year, this probably doesn't effect us much

 

[Phonedave]

A little off topic, but where do you work in your county government? I started working at Walmart in 1997, but went part time when I got hired at the County Clerk's Office in 2001. I worked there for 6 years before getting sick enough of it to finally quit last October and go full time at Walmart again (where I have worked continuously for 11 years now). And I can tell you that the benefits at Walmart are better than they were at the county. I have insurance for my whole family and it costs 81 bucks (87.50 after January, when the annual increase kicks in) per pay period, whereas family coverage for a similair plan at the county would eat up almost my whole paycheck. Job security is better as well. I worked for an elected official, and there is very little job security. If the boss has it in for you, you have absolutely no one to appeal it to, since the office head is the one and only boss. However, at Walmart, with various levels of management, there's a pretty good chain of command and alot of opportunities to appeal to someone higher if you think you are being gyped or something. And I'm making about the same, perhaps more now, than I was at the county.

I used to work for the State Government of NY. I was a Regualtory Engineer, used to set utility rates in the CARD-SENY (Cost Allocation and Rate Design - SouthEast New York) for the electric, gas, and water utilites.

I went back into the private sector (for a utility) over 10 years ago and have never looked back.

-dave

 

[Texas84]

No problem here. We're going in December and next May.

 

[Rabflmom]

It's not going to effect me, I think I might go down to Disney World in January (depends on everyone's schedule) and Next year in Aug I known I will be on the cruise.

I wish I felt so confident. I had to work last night because we have less employees than we used to because sales are down. When I got home I heard that the restaurant chain Shells was belly up and that the employees who showed up for work yesterday found a note on the door that it was closed.

The trickle down effect will effect us all eventually. Personally I think it is rather scary with so many places-even big chains closing stores and restaurant sites. Bennigans, Shells, Steak and Ale are just a few that surprised me. Rumors where I work are that 4 locations in Orlando area and 2 in my district closing. No official announcement but when it comes the employees either get no notice-doors just locked when they show up for work or 60 days notice.

For each business that closes there are X number of people out of work who stop going out to eat themselves, stop shopping in other stores, etc. Eventually you get to the tax that that business no longer pays to the city, county, and state and there goes a few more people to the unemployment line. I know when the K-mart in one of the beach towns by me closed back in 2002 that town ended up laying off a couple police officers and firemen because without the K-Mart paying the big tax the money was gone. So it will effect me even if my job is still here and my money is still secure in the bank etc. I will save more and spend less just in case. It means in the parks I might eat more sandwiches than sit down meals. I won't buy as expensive things. Instead of a $40-$100 Mickey I might just get a $10-15 gift etc. And what really scares me. On the lighter side: If my job ends and I have to find another one there goes my vacation weeks! Going back to earning the 1st week would be so disheartening at this stage of my life.

So even if I still go to the parks, the way I go, the amount of times I go, and how much I spend will definitely be different.

 

[The Mom]

Our own Governor in the state of FL is telling residents not to worry so much about what is going on...he is also telling residents to continue to go out to eat and go to beaches, he is also telling residents to go to Disney World. It's simple economics that if people stop spending, businesses fail. People who are still making a decent living need to continue to spend. I hear so many well off people say "I'm not going to spend money for this or that", or I'm not going to take a vacation".

I understand what you're saying, but when I see several years worth of contributions into different retirement funds disappear, and know that retirement is only a few years away, I'm uncomfortable dropping thousands on luxuries, rather than trying to rebuild my nest egg.

And not to get political, but I can see other forces (rather than the economy) whittling away on it (my retirement income) in the near future.

I don't have 30 years to recoup my loses. I will most likely have to live on those funds for at least 20 years.

 

[Monty]

I'm less affected than most. I have no debt to speak of [nothing that can't be quickly paid off]. My income comes from Government and unless the entire Canadian Government goes bankrupt, I'm secure in that income [if that becomes an issue, WDW will be the least of anyone's issues].

My trips may be slightly impacted by the value of the Canadian dollar vs. the American, but not enough to change the frequency or duration of my trips. I have money invested that is being impacted by the downturn, but that is for the most part 'absorbable' loss, it doesn't impact my plans.

I'm fortunate, I feel for those who don't have the security I have.