WSJ: Even Disney Is Worried About The High Cost Of A Disney Vacation (gift link)

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Wait I’m confused you think it’s a good thing to open up the floodgates now?

No…typo

Not good. Maintain the standard as long as you can. You can never put genie back in the bottle

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Did I read that Disney is trying to spin that you can vacation there for under $3,500? If do, that is incredibly misleading and insulting.

I have to keep an elaborate spreadsheet to estimate the cost of a WDW trip and save accordingly. It's not perfect, but I ended up being within a couple hundred bucks for my 2023 trip so I would say it's fairly accurate. I priced this out a few months ago, so it has almost certainly increased since then.

# of People = 3 (2 adults, 1 child)
Economic Status = Middle Class
Traveling From = Midwest
Transportation = Driving over 2 days (4 total)
Resort = All-Star Movies
Dates = 9/30/25 - 10/6/25
Park Days = 5

TOTAL ESTIMATED VACATION COST = $6,638.36 (not including any gift shop souvenirs)

Breakdown...

• Resort/Ticket Package = $3,403.36
• In Park Expenses = $2,065
  • Meals = $1,080 ($20/meal/person)
  • Snacks = $360
  • Lightning Lane = $375
  • Memory Maker PhotoPass = $185
  • Magic Band = $65
• Travel Expenses = $1,170.00
  • Fuel = $498 ($2.50/gallon but probably more)
  • Parking = $150
  • Tolls = $12
  • Hotels While Traveling = $240 ($120/night, but probably more)
  • Travel Meals/Food = $270

Now of course there are places that money could be saved....

• 625 alone in Disney cash grabs alone but now we don't get any quality pictures or ride photos, have to wait in insanely long lines, and are stuck doing everything by phone. So major decrease in experience quality and value and even with all those cuts, the overall budget is still over $6k.
• Meals and especially snacks could potentially curbed or partially abated by packing our own food and eating "breakfast" in the room, but this honestly is not that outlandish of a food plan and it doesn't include any table service restaurants.
• I hear the resort parking fee might be gone but any savings there will probably get eaten by higher fuel and hotel costs (of course unless I want to risk my family's safety by alternating drivers over a 20 hour straight drive hoping a 5 year old can handle being in the car that long).

But add at least $600 if we want to go to the MK Halloween party. If we don't we get to pay full MK price for fewer park hours or have to go to another park that day.

They took out travel costs and food…

Which is as see through as Saran Wrap…because there is no way to “opt out” of those. They can twist the others

Gotta get there and gotta eat…period

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Did I read that Disney is trying to spin that you can vacation there for under $3,500? If so, that is incredibly misleading and insulting.

I have to keep an elaborate spreadsheet to estimate the cost of a WDW trip and save accordingly. It's not perfect, but I ended up being within a couple hundred bucks for my 2023 trip so I would say it's fairly accurate. I priced this out a few months ago, so it has almost certainly increased since then.

# of People = 3 (2 adults, 1 child)
Economic Status = Middle Class
Traveling From = Midwest
Transportation = Driving over 2 days (4 total)
Resort = All-Star Movies
Dates = 9/30/25 - 10/6/25
Park Days = 5

TOTAL ESTIMATED VACATION COST = $6,638.36 (not including any gift shop souvenirs)

Breakdown...

• Resort/Ticket Package = $3,403.36
• In Park Expenses = $2,065
  • Meals = $1,080 ($20/meal/person)
  • Snacks = $360
  • Lightning Lane = $375
  • Memory Maker PhotoPass = $185
  • Magic Band = $65
• Travel Expenses = $1,170.00
  • Fuel = $498 ($2.50/gallon but probably more)
  • Parking = $150
  • Tolls = $12
  • Hotels While Traveling = $240 ($120/night, but probably more)
  • Travel Meals/Food = $270

Now of course there are places that money could be saved....

• $625 alone in Disney cash grabs but now we don't get any high quality pictures or ride photos, have to wait in insanely long lines, and are stuck doing everything by phone. So major decrease in experience quality and value and even with all those cuts, the overall budget is still over $6k.
• Meals and especially snacks could potentially curbed or partially abated by packing our own food and eating "breakfast" in the room, but this honestly is not that outlandish of a food plan and it doesn't include any table service restaurants.
• I hear the resort parking fee might be gone but any savings there will probably get eaten by higher fuel and hotel costs (of course unless I want to risk my family's safety by alternating drivers over a 20 hour straight drive hoping a 5 year old can handle being in the car that long).

But add at least $600 if we want to go to the MK Halloween party. If we don't we get to pay full MK price for fewer park hours or have to go to another park that day.

Pretty sure their number doesn't include travel or food ... Plus not sure how many days/park days

But yeah, family of 4 just 5 park days is a lot

 

[SteamboatJoe]

Pretty sure their number doesn't include travel or food ... Plus not sure how many days/park days

But yeah, family of 4 just 5 park days is a lot

I figured as much but even so it's still disingenuous.

Of course one could go fewer days but 2 days for MK and a day each at the other 3 parks is not unreasonable. Plus, most people's standard vacation is a full week and will want to spend several days to warrant the travel time/cost.

 

[TalkingHead]

The people consuming the content are people that live vicariously through the vloggers experiences. Often even jealous that these folks can actually goto a theme park many times a month, or even a week... 'how cool that must be...' -- People get to see their fantasies through others.

Worth repeating.

It’s been discussed on these forums for years but Disney playing footsie with “unofficial” bloggers/vloggers in the late 2000s-mid 2010s played a big part in how we got to this point. They basically endorsed a social media propaganda network in lieu of substantive improvements. Sounds like a game plan that’s been used elsewhere.

 

[LSLS]

Did I read that Disney is trying to spin that you can vacation there for under $3,500? If so, that is incredibly misleading and insulting.

I have to keep an elaborate spreadsheet to estimate the cost of a WDW trip and save accordingly. It's not perfect, but I ended up being within a couple hundred bucks for my 2023 trip so I would say it's fairly accurate. I priced this out a few months ago, so it has almost certainly increased since then.

# of People = 3 (2 adults, 1 child)
Economic Status = Middle Class
Traveling From = Midwest
Transportation = Driving over 2 days (4 total)
Resort = All-Star Movies
Dates = 9/30/25 - 10/6/25
Park Days = 5

TOTAL ESTIMATED VACATION COST = $6,638.36 (not including any gift shop souvenirs)

Breakdown...

• Resort/Ticket Package = $3,403.36
• In Park Expenses = $2,065
  • Meals = $1,080 ($20/meal/person)
  • Snacks = $360
  • Lightning Lane = $375
  • Memory Maker PhotoPass = $185
  • Magic Band = $65
• Travel Expenses = $1,170.00
  • Fuel = $498 ($2.50/gallon but probably more)
  • Parking = $150
  • Tolls = $12
  • Hotels While Traveling = $240 ($120/night, but probably more)
  • Travel Meals/Food = $270

Now of course there are places that money could be saved....

• $625 alone in Disney cash grabs but now we don't get any high quality pictures or ride photos, have to wait in insanely long lines, and are stuck doing everything by phone. So major decrease in experience quality and value and even with all those cuts, the overall budget is still over $6k.
• Meals and especially snacks could potentially be curbed or partially abated by packing our own food and eating "breakfast" in the room, but this honestly is not that outlandish of a food plan and it doesn't include any table service restaurants.
• I hear the resort parking fee might be gone but any savings there will probably get eaten by higher fuel and hotel costs (of course unless I want to risk my family's safety by alternating drivers over a 20 hour straight drive hoping a 5 year old can handle being in the car that long).

But add at least $600 if we want to go to the MK Halloween party. If we don't we get to pay full MK price for fewer park hours or have to go to another park that day.

Funny thing is, I just priced out Universal because we are debating making that a trip this year. Same idea with JUST a resort/ticket package for 4 days, $3,700. It's why I'm not sure we ever become Universal people, and why I think Universal is making large mistakes in copying the Disney pricing model.

 

[CJR]

Disney's problem longer term is that IF attendance continues to decline for the groups at the bottom end of the income spectrum (I'm not going to make a prediction that it will - this is hypothetical), it decreases the value for the groups at the top, especially since they want to continue their price increases for the premium products at a much higher rate than the base prices at the bottom.

For example, if an average line drops from a 60 minute wait to a 20 minute wait, the perks of LL are less worth the cost for some people, especially if the price continues to rise as much as Disney wants it to. Disney needs lower income families to fill their standby queues to make the offerings more attractive to those who are willing to pay extra.

They've gone into a tricky territory where they need the people on the lower end to have a "just good enough experience" to return, but the problem is, more and more, they are not having a good enough experience. At the time, it's still great for the people on the top, but the thrill will go away (for the most part) once they're the only ones visiting; much like a certain hotel project.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Disney's problem longer term is that IF attendance continues to decline for the groups at the bottom end of the income spectrum (I'm not going to make a prediction that it will - this is hypothetical), it decreases the value for the groups at the top, especially since they want to continue their price increases for the premium products at a much higher rate than the base prices at the bottom.

For example, if an average line drops from a 60 minute wait to a 20 minute wait, the perks of LL are less worth the cost for some people, especially if the price continues to rise as much as Disney wants it to. Disney needs lower income families to fill their standby queues to make the offerings more attractive to those who are willing to pay extra.

They've gone into a tricky territory where they need the people on the lower end to have a "just good enough experience" to return, but the problem is, more and more, they are not having a good enough experience. At the time, it's still great for the people on the top, but the thrill will go away (for the most part) once they're the only ones visiting; much like a certain hotel project.

…well this one is interesting…no denying that

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Worth repeating.

It’s been discussed on these forums for years but Disney playing footsie with “unofficial” bloggers/vloggers in the late 2000s-mid 2010s played a big part in how we got to this point. They basically endorsed a social media propaganda network in lieu of substantive improvements. Sounds like a game plan that’s been used elsewhere.

…strap in

 

[SteamboatJoe]

Funny thing is, I just priced out Universal because we are debating making that a trip this year. Same idea with JUST a resort/ticket package for 4 days, $3,700. It's why I'm not sure we ever become Universal people, and why I think Universal is making large mistakes in copying the Disney pricing model.

Agreed. My Universal Studios spreadsheet isn't as complete but a 4 night trip at Cabana Bay with a park hopper came out to around $5,600. Less than the Disney trip I specced, but 2 fewer park days and the resorts don't seem as nice.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Funny thing is, I just priced out Universal because we are debating making that a trip this year. Same idea with JUST a resort/ticket package for 4 days, $3,700. It's why I'm not sure we ever become Universal people, and why I think Universal is making large mistakes in copying the Disney pricing model.

It was always my opinion that Disney sets the bar and everyone else follows.

 

[Jrb1979]

Agreed. My Universal Studios spreadsheet isn't as complete but a 4 night trip at Cabana Bay with a park hopper came out to around $5,600. Less than the Disney trip I specced, but 2 fewer park days and the resorts don't seem as nice.

It's exactly why we haven't gone to the swamp in awhile. Other places and parks can be visited for much less. My kid gets the same enjoyment.

 

[CJR]

…well this one is interesting…no denying that

Keep in mind, we're local to Orlando (Seminole County). However, I have people reach out to me all the time about Walt Disney World vacations since many people from my small hometown know that I used to work for the company, I was "the Disney kid" at my school growing up. When they eventually get around to it (first trip ever or in a long time), unless they paid the cash required, almost none of them are satisfied with the amount they spent.

Too many wanted to ride Guardians, specifically, only to get caught off guard by the virtual queue system - which if I had to guess is very AP heavy today (disclaimer, I myself have an AP at the moment, but I don't ride "the big rides" since I have a two year old) and then feel forced to pay extra for it or not ride it all. Most don't pay extra and Cosmic Rewind is prominently in a lot of Disney's marketing, it's why some people book vacations.

When they get home and start talking, it doesn't encourage others to book, unlike like it did 10-20 years ago. These aren't AP holders having a bad time, it's people showing up for the first time or first time in over ten years. While I feel like a lot of people are familiar with the virtual queue process, that is a big hurdle for a lot of new visitors and plays a big role in their satisfaction. It's not LL itself or the 3-10% price increases, but the lack of experience from what was advertised coupled with the cost.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I see posts like the bolded a lot here. If you're not into coasters it makes sense. While grew up in Disney parks and do enjoy the older attractions, I also got big into the coaster enthusiast community and travel the country getting coaster credits. Nothing beats going 120mph in 4 seconds.

I loved coasters through maybe my very early 30s but they hit different past a certain age, lol. At least for me, they're a (literal) headache at best and potentially a migraine.

As far as the rest of your post goes, I do agree that's Disney is now targetting childless adults. I'm not so sure that's sustainable. While those people will visit Disney, I don't think many are the repeat visitors they rely on, like families and DVC were.

Yeah, Disney is just kind of an unusual model in today's economy. Typically a big demand is great and means shipping more product all over the company. But Disney is kind of a weird hybrid between retail and real estate (in terms of how their supply and demand model works) that makes them harder to predict, I think. My prediction is still that they will come up with some kind of localized offering to spread the demand out a bit and offer a lower cost "Disney fix" that's maybe a more frequent trip, between "big trips" to Orlando.

 

[Stripes]

Just some context on parks and resorts performance in the most recent quarter. If middle class families can’t afford to come, then how are the resorts doing so well?

For how many years have we been hearing that Disney is pricing out middle class families and yet the resorts are still full with no decline in available room nights. Median wages for 2 full time workers in this country is $126,672. The cost of the Disney trip Lentesta cited was $4,266 which is just 3.4%.

 

[HauntedPirate]

No one is insulting anyone personally. I am criticizing Disney executives and senior management who have spent the past 20 years or so purposely degrading the customer experience. A great deal of that degradation can be put squarely on a noticeable decline in front-line CM standards; grooming, deportment and overall performance. This is due to a weakening of their training programs and purposely lowering standards for their front-line supervisors and middle management.

It's obvious to anyone who remembers WDW in the 20th century, and has been documented well for years now.

The college kid playing "concierge" in the Poly club lounge has not been given the training, supervision, or investment, much less empowerment, to do much of anything except restock the coffee bar and tell you to check the App. This has been done on purpose for some reason by senior Parks management for over a decade now. The result is predictably bad.

You've probably spent more years criticizing Disney management than the poster you're engaging with has been alive.

 

[DisneyHead123]

It's not just nostalgia - People adored the Disney product and what it represented in their life. People for instance just love the Haunted Mansion... and not just because they remember it as a child.. but they love the content itself 'now' too. Adults are not just reliving their childhood - they are immersing themselves in an atmosphere they appreciate and for many of those, seeded when they were much younger.

Point being, Disney hooked those adults long before. The type that would visit 3-5 times in a short period of time (1-2 years) are not just people looking for vacation - They were brand loyalists. That's why you would get the type of customers that 'would only ever goto Disney' and the type that 'could never think about going to Florida and NOT goto WDW...'

This is not normal 'hey, lets decide where to go this year for vacation' - These are people that were completely bought in, and usually endoctrinated their kids in the brand as well.

Obviously as those people age and become empty nesters, those addictions don't wane.. even if the amount of focus they put on the brand does as priorities shift. But then that's how you get the types that keep going to Disney long after their kids are grown. They are the type that would buy DVC.. and think about taking their grandkids yearly, etc.

The people consuming the content are people that live vicariously through the vloggers experiences. Often even jealous that these folks can actually goto a theme park many times a month, or even a week... 'how cool that must be...' -- People get to see their fantasies through others.

Go out into the public and solicit if people think Disney is a place for adults without kids.. Or even better, tell people you are taking a Disney Cruise w/o kids. Most people will be confused why would you do that.

Disney is associated with kids and families. The 'lifers' are just an extension of that. Disney isn't wooing Vegas hopefuls with an argument of 'we have cleaner fun'.

Regarding whether or not Disney Parks fans are easily made in adulthood - at this point I think we have to say time will tell. You have your intuitions, I have mine. I don't think Disney is some kind of special case where fans / consumers have to be indoctrinated - er, excuse me, I mean, "charmed by" - the whole thing as a child in order to buy in later. I think it's like any product - if it didn't appeal to a given age group on its own, sans any kind of formalized childhood exposure, it wouldn't sell. But maybe not, maybe one has to develop their Disney palate early, who knows. No data at this point, we'll see.

Regarding vloggers - yeah, I do think there is a vicarious element to why people like them, but regardless - people like them. The influencer thing works (at least for Millennials, Gen Z I don't know about). [Side note, I think vloggers also feed into a modern desire for "media where nothing happens". I saw a post on the front page of Reddit the other day basically asking for movie suggestions for a movie without any traditional plot arc, tension / resolution. Essentially a Hallmark movie, right? Visual fluff and happiness. I feel like the market for visual eye candy, sans dynamic tension, empathic stress for the characters, anything like that - just fluffy happiness - is growing. People's cortisol levels are too high in modern society.]

As far as talking to people about Disney without kids - it wouldn't be weird in my area, but I realize that will vary a lot depending on location. Maybe I'm in a bubble, but I feel like I could comfortably bring up Disney in most social settings around here and people would know all about it, know adults or college students who had done trips with friends or a sister, etc. You might get a bit of travel snobbery from people who didn't see it as "authentic" enough, but it wouldn't be a surprising thing to bring up.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I figured as much but even so it's still disingenuous.

Of course one could go fewer days but 2 days for MK and a day each at the other 3 parks is not unreasonable. Plus, most people's standard vacation is a full week and will want to spend several days to warrant the travel time/cost.

As consumer spending bottoms out…

They will run an ingenious commercial based off the link below…

“You can experience the magic of Disney for as low as $2,100 per day”

 

[JoeCamel]

Just some context on parks and resorts performance in the most recent quarter. If middle class families can’t afford to come, then how are the resorts doing so well?

For how many years have we been hearing that Disney is pricing out middle class families and yet the resorts are still full with no decline in available room nights. Median wages for 2 full time workers in this country is $126,672. The cost of the Disney trip Lentesta cited was $4,266 which is just 3.4%.View attachment 844007

Occupancy and available nights are about the same but I can believe prices are up 4%yoy so what are you seeing for us spreadsheet challenged?

 

[SteamboatJoe]

As consumer spending bottoms out…

They will run an ingenious commercial based off the link below…

“You can experience the magic of Disney for as low as $2,100 per day”

Lol they kept the URL alive as a redirect.