- Mar 13, 2024
- 1,187
- 35
Is Disney Too Expensive? A New Report Says Yes
A recent report from The Wall Street Journal suggests that even Disney executives are starting to worry that they’ve priced out many families.
Honestly, that ship sailed a long time ago.
As much as I love Walt Disney World, there’s no denying that it has become incredibly expensive. And the reality is, Disney’s leadership is a major reason why.
Attendance at the parks was flat in 2024, despite a 6% increase in 2023. While some of that might be due to lingering travel trends, the bigger issue is Disney’s relentless price hikes and the shift from free perks to paid services.
Disney’s Strategy: More Cost, Less Value
Over the past few years, Disney has:
• Increased prices on nearly everything.
• Replaced free services with paid versions.
• Collected billions from guests through Genie+ (now MultiPass) and Lightning Lane—both of which are significantly worse than the free FastPass+ system that worked so well.
Now, they’ve introduced the Premier Pass, which feels like yet another cash grab aimed at guests willing to pay even more.
Remember Magical Express? That free airport transportation was a major perk. Now, guests must pay for Mears Connect or other alternatives. While those services try their best, they’re not free, and they’re not quite the same.
The True Cost of a Disney Vacation
It’s not just park tickets. Food, drinks, and merchandise have all skyrocketed in price. While inflation is a factor (the report attributes about 20% of price increases to inflation), the bigger problem is Disney’s decision to charge for services that used to be included in the cost of admission. The report states that 80% of the increased cost comes from turning free perks into paid features.
Public sentiment is shifting, and attendance trends are starting to reflect that.
Yes, Disney reinstated free parking at resorts, but at the same time, they raised resort prices. So in reality, what did guests actually gain?
Is Disney in Trouble?
With Epic Universe opening soon and Disney making some controversial decisions, the next few years could be challenging. Construction walls are everywhere, and some of the ongoing changes are frustrating longtime fans.
Meanwhile, Disney continues to treat its parks as a cash cow. The IncrediPass is now $1,549 per person, and it does not include MultiPass for free. At that price, it should.
I’ll Always Be a Disney Fan, But…
I’ve been a Passholder for as long as I can remember, and I’ll continue to visit as often as I can. But I completely understand why, for many families, a Disney vacation is now out of reach.
When I was a kid, I never got to visit Walt Disney World because it was simply too expensive. It’s frustrating to think that, today, even more kids will miss out on that experience.
What do you think? Is Disney still worth the cost? Or are they pushing away too many families? Let’s discuss.
A recent report from The Wall Street Journal suggests that even Disney executives are starting to worry that they’ve priced out many families.
Honestly, that ship sailed a long time ago.
As much as I love Walt Disney World, there’s no denying that it has become incredibly expensive. And the reality is, Disney’s leadership is a major reason why.
Attendance at the parks was flat in 2024, despite a 6% increase in 2023. While some of that might be due to lingering travel trends, the bigger issue is Disney’s relentless price hikes and the shift from free perks to paid services.
Disney’s Strategy: More Cost, Less Value
Over the past few years, Disney has:
• Increased prices on nearly everything.
• Replaced free services with paid versions.
• Collected billions from guests through Genie+ (now MultiPass) and Lightning Lane—both of which are significantly worse than the free FastPass+ system that worked so well.
Now, they’ve introduced the Premier Pass, which feels like yet another cash grab aimed at guests willing to pay even more.
Remember Magical Express? That free airport transportation was a major perk. Now, guests must pay for Mears Connect or other alternatives. While those services try their best, they’re not free, and they’re not quite the same.
The True Cost of a Disney Vacation
It’s not just park tickets. Food, drinks, and merchandise have all skyrocketed in price. While inflation is a factor (the report attributes about 20% of price increases to inflation), the bigger problem is Disney’s decision to charge for services that used to be included in the cost of admission. The report states that 80% of the increased cost comes from turning free perks into paid features.
Public sentiment is shifting, and attendance trends are starting to reflect that.
Yes, Disney reinstated free parking at resorts, but at the same time, they raised resort prices. So in reality, what did guests actually gain?
Is Disney in Trouble?
With Epic Universe opening soon and Disney making some controversial decisions, the next few years could be challenging. Construction walls are everywhere, and some of the ongoing changes are frustrating longtime fans.
Meanwhile, Disney continues to treat its parks as a cash cow. The IncrediPass is now $1,549 per person, and it does not include MultiPass for free. At that price, it should.
I’ll Always Be a Disney Fan, But…
I’ve been a Passholder for as long as I can remember, and I’ll continue to visit as often as I can. But I completely understand why, for many families, a Disney vacation is now out of reach.
When I was a kid, I never got to visit Walt Disney World because it was simply too expensive. It’s frustrating to think that, today, even more kids will miss out on that experience.
What do you think? Is Disney still worth the cost? Or are they pushing away too many families? Let’s discuss.
