Higher costs squeezing out the middle class
The costs of a typical four-day visit to Walt Disney World have surged 32% since 2020, according to Touring Plans, a theme parks data provider.
Much of the spike can be attributed to new costs for add-ons that were once free, such as line-skipping, but Disney has also been raising prices for tickets at a rate faster than inflation, according to the Wall Street Journal.
While two adults and two children staying at the park for four days can expect to spend $4,266, the typical middle class budget for an annual family vacation is roughly $2,000, according to a Touring Plan’s analysis of 2023 Labor Department data.
In other words, families with low and modest income are getting priced out of the Disney World experience.
In fact, they’re also losing out on other theme parks, as Universal Studios, Cedar Fair and SeaWorld have also been raising prices since the pandemic, according to WSJ.
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Learn More5 smarter ways to spend on vacation
Whether you’re planning a trip to Disney World or anywhere else this summer, there are ways to minimize the costs if you plan the trip carefully.
Traveling off-season, for instance, could reduce the overall cost of your family vacations. Visiting Disney World in September, January or February might involve lower ticket prices and cheaper hotel stays, but also comes with uncomfortable weather, according to Travel and Leisure.
Seeking out loyalty points and discount programs is another way to reduce your family’s cost burden.
According to the Disney Tourist Blog, “Summer 2025 marks the most aggressive discounts we’ve seen in a long time,” so it’s worth checking the website to see if you can snap up a good deal.
Your family can also reduce costs by planning meals and carrying snacks. Restaurants and cafes at theme parks tend to be overpriced, so this could be the key to staying within your budget.
Another way to safeguard your budget is to limit the number of souvenirs your family buys. Set a quota or dollar limit on how much each child can buy per trip and try to avoid the gift shop as much as you can.
Finally, travel costs can be reduced significantly if you drive to the park instead of flying there or book flight tickets in advance. Using public transport could also eliminate the costs of parking.
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