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How Long Can American Families Endure Disney World’s Rising Costs?

Disney World Cost
Credit: Disney

Another Summer is right around the corner, and with it will come the expectation of thousands of American families flocking to The Most Magical Place On Earth for their summer vacation. At least, that is how it was in years past. Today, the price of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation has escalated so much that many are beginning to wonder if it has gotten too expensive.

Cinderella Castle TikTok

Credit: Disney

Fox Business reported that a family of four spent around $10,000 on a five-day trip to Disney World.

Divided out, the family spent:

  • $2,550 on five-day Theme Park Tickets with the Park Hopper option.
  • $3,780 on their Disney Resort Hotel stay.
  • $300 on Genie Plus expenses.
  • $950 on sit-down meals.
  • $700 on snacks and souvenirs.

Then, there is also the cost of airfare and transportation to and from Orlando International Airport.

Orlando International Airport

Credit: MCO

“I feel like Disney is pricing people out, can the average working American family really afford this?” the mother said in remarks to FOX Business. “I’ve been coming to Disney since I was six years old. I’m 39 now. My kids thought Disney was magical and so for me the cost was worth it, but I see that it’s not the same Disney it was.”

It is no secret that Disney has been adding costs to its Resort experience lately. The best example being the replacement of the complimentary FastPass+ system with the extra-cost Disney Genie+ Lightning Lane access. Previous cost-saving measures like purchasing Annual Passes and a Disney Dining Plan are also still unavailable.

Genie+ Lightning Lane

Credit: Disney

But, we must also combine the additional costs with the recent increases in general costs, such as record-high inflation and transportation. Recently, we at Disney Fanatic reported that the cost of airfare jumped 33% in the month of April, the highest single-month price hike in 60 years. On top of that, gas prices continue to reach new all-time highs, nearing $5 a gallon in the Sunshine State. So, now, it is becoming not just a question of “can families afford it,” but also a question of “can families afford to get there to stay long enough.”

We at Disney Fanatic have mentioned that when one factors in inflation, the cost of a Disney World Theme Park Ticket actually offers better value than the original “a la carte” system did in 1971. And the quality of new attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind continues to arguably justify the high costs. But one has to wonder just how long a majority of Guests and Disney fans are going to hold the belief that the quality of experience is worth the cost of the tickets.

guardians of the galaxy cosmic rewind

Credit: Disney

Related: “Revenge Travel”: Walt Disney World Here We Come

Disney World also continues to offer special discounts for tickets and Resort hotel stays, and we suggest all of our readers to continue to check the Disney World website for the most up-to-date discounts and special deals available.

Packed Parks, noted by full Theme Park Reservation Calendars, continue to suggest that more than enough people continue to see the experience as worth the cost, but Disney CFO Christine McCarthy has stated that the Theme Parks are kept at a limited capacity. One has to wonder what would the Parks and ticket prices look like if they removed the limits and got admittance back to where it was before the pandemic.

In the meantime, we at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney Park news as more developments come to light.

About T.K. Bosacki

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, TK Bosacki is a professional writer, amateur adventurer, and lifelong Disney Fanatic. His Disney Park days include Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Kilimanjaro Safaris, and Nomad Lounge. He believes in starting at the Canada pavilion (IYKYK), and the Monorail is superior to all Ferry Boats.

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