What Hard Times?

[GaryKD]

I go here every year about this time. This year there was a distinct difference in the quantity of people and that they seemed to be in a buying mood.

I just finished two weeks in the Kissimmee (Orlando, FL) area. There were a variety of reasons for me to be there so long. My experience with this trip is we are not in hard times. Getting my coach serviced at Cummins South required me to make an appointment several weeks in advance. When there the place was as busy as they could be. They were at capacity. Next was to stop a Tropical Palms (TP) for a rally. TP was packed. At least 95% capacity the entire time I was there. The Camping World store in Kissimmee was packed every time I went there. The restaurants were full every evening for dinner. Next was a continued stay at TP for a week with the Gkids on Spring break. Universal was so packed that they shut down parts of the park. One had to get a ticket with a time one could return to get into that section of the park! The lines at every store, just to get in to buy a trinket or get a meal were horrible. For quite a few of the rides one had to waits 2 hours for 2 minutes of ride. Then there was WDW. Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios were all crowded. I was unable to get reservations at any decent restaurant so we left the park and ate dinner outside WDW. WDW handles crowds much better than any other park brand. There were many, many people but WDW seems to keep everything moving quite well. The WDW stores had crowds, but it was manageable.

TP had the usual sprinkling of Canadian and USA snow birds. Combine this with the Spring breaker families and TP was full. It makes me wonder why they were giving Florida residents a discount.

The bottom line is no matter where the folks were from, everyone seemed to be spending money and having a great time.

[RickO]

I know what you mean Gary and have been making the same comment as we travel around.

Rick

[Seajay]

I bet it would scare the ''peeeee'' out of you to know how many of these ''spenders'' are ''putting it on the CARD'' without a thought as to how they will make the next payment without putting the ''payment'' on another ''CARD''.

Just a thought......

God bless our vets..... They gave us our freedom.... .SOME DIED FOR IT....

[Orchardhill]

Back last week from 6 flags S>A> ahead of us was a spanish family, husband,wife, 5 kids. Charged it on Texas welfare care. Wen you don't have to pay, the sky is the limit

[vegascouple]

It really makes me wonder where you guys come up with this stuff. Credit card usage is way down for the last several years.

Why would you think that just because the family is Spanish that it was somehow charged to Texas Welfare care?

[Helotes2010]

Another logic might be that if you are one of those doing well you might choose to head for a tourist trap to enjoy yourself. Thus it appears that everything is good because you are surrounded by money. Like visiting the White house....wow impressive...but then venture 3 blocks down and see how some fellow Americans (some may even appear spanish) are not doing as well.

[Gary RVRoamer]

It's hardly surprising that Florida's tourist hot spots are crowded in the winter, but it appears from where I am (Ocala, FL area and not a tourist hot spot) that things seem to be somewhat better this winter vs the last. My daughter works in a middle class restaurant and traffic (and her tips) are up a noticeable amount. Local employment is up, although just slightly. And local dealers say car sales are better than the previous two years. I guess a bit of prosperity is returning, though certainly not widespread yet.

[NLOVNIT]

From another point of view: Last week, we dropped our coach off at an RV custom upgrading company for some much needed improvments to our coach. Talking with the owner, he said his phones are ringing off the wall & his business has improved so much that he's able to move to a better facility where he will have more bays for service & space for a showroom to highlight the quality improvements/upgrades he can do. More people are keeping the coaches they've worked the bugs out on & are choosing to make improvements than selling or trading in on a bright-shiney-new-penny coach. So, the upgrades segment of the market is doing well.

Lori-

[dancogan]

Most of these observation only prove to me that those that have it continue to prosper, and those that don't are getting further behind. Come to Michigan. You don't have to visit Detroit to see shuttered stores and many homes for sale "by bank." JMHO

[Glassalley52]

Could it be that some people are spending the money closer to home rather than travel overseas? Just a thought.

[dieselclacker]

Could it be that we, as a nation are getting closer and closer to a have and have not society. Unemployment rate here in Montana is near 15%, and we are fareing better than some states I read about. Prosperity, not by my definition!



Dieselclacker

[4Knights]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieselclacker Could it be that we, as a nation are getting closer and closer to a have and have not society. Unemployment rate here in Montana is near 15%, and we are fareing better than some states I read about. Prosperity, not by my definition! Dieselclacker

We lived in Butte from 99-2002 and 35% was more like the norm! Loved the mountains so 15% sounds like things are looking up

Ron & Wendy 94 Pace Arrow 454

[hondo122]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orchardhill Back last week from 6 flags S>A> ahead of us was a spanish family, husband,wife, 5 kids. Charged it on Texas welfare care. Wen you don't have to pay, the sky is the limit

How do you know what a Texas welfare card looks like? Never used one did ya?

[Perry White]

They are spending all the money they are going to save from free health care maybe?


Take a look at this receipt. Let me know what you think.