“I Still Don’t See How That Cost is Worth It”: Disney Theme Parks Are Still Unbelievably Expensive

The cost of a Disney vacation seems to constantly come up among disgruntled Guests. Time and again, the subject of the price of either Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort has come up. It’s a common complaint that a Disney Park can be quite expensive, especially when it comes to tickets, food, and merchandise. Many fans feel that the prices are too high and not justified by the overall experience. And while a Disneyland vacation or Walt Disney World vacation certainly doesn’t have to break the bank, the numbers are nothing to scoff at.

Sleeping Beauty Castle, Disneyland Park, Disneyland Resort/Courtesy of Disney

Related: Cast Member Asserts Most Guests “Waste” Their Money at Disney World

One Guest compared the Disney Theme Park prices to a similar Theme Park: Canada’s Wonderland, and the results were—as always—stark. “I didn’t realize what a great deal Canada’s Wonderland was until I tried booking Disneyland,” a Reddit user shared online. “170 USD per *day* vs 100 CAD per *year*.”

And as people in the comments pointed out, 170USD was just the beginning for a day at Disney. Another Guest shared, “I took my family of four to Disney over March Break. It ended up costing over [$]1300 CAN. For one day.”

Canada’s Wonderland / Courtesy of Attractions Ontario

In comparison, a day pass for Canada’s Wonderland starts at $44.99. A season’s pass costs $12.71 per month, or $89 total for seven months. Guests can also get a season’s pass for $125.

And it’s not just Canada’s Wonderland that is more affordable. Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay costs $99.99 for a two-park, two-day ticket. And a ticket to the Theme Park, including all-day dining, runs about $154.99. Compare that to the reports of how much Guests have spent in the Disney Parks for one day for food alone.

Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay / Courtesy of Visit Tampa Bay

The topic of Disney’s prices comes up frequently and for good reason. The prices during former Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s time appeared to only increase without an end in sight. Since current CEO Bob Iger’s return, things appear to be better, but there’s still a way to go before Disney’s prices can be considered on par with other Theme Park prices.

The question remains, is Disney’s experience worth the money? And that, Disney Fanatics is probably one of the most contested debates there is in the Disney fandom right now. (Right after whether you’re Team DeSantis or Team Disney, and whether Disney’s casting decisions make sense or not.)