Staff Reporter
A Florida father of five recently took his family to Disney World, spending nearly $1,400 for just one day of fun.
This experience highlights how far the theme park has drifted from being affordable for the average family.
The father shared his story in a video that has attracted over 7.7 million views on X, revealing the high costs associated with a single day at Disney World.
After shelling out $974 for tickets, he paid an additional $30 for all-day parking, bringing his total to over $1,000 before their day even started.
Once inside the park, he considered a $35 Lightning Lane pass for each family member but decided against it, believing the benefits wouldn’t justify the expense.
According to the New York Post, snacks also took a significant toll on their budget. After their first ride, they spent $29.50 on two water bottles and three ice creams. A pretzel for the kids and a beer for the dad added another $19.
The family visited a souvenir shop, where the father turned down his son’s request for a $44.99 lightsaber.
They had initially planned to dine at the Brown Derby but opted for a more budget-friendly lunch after seeing the prices. Instead, they each enjoyed a personal-sized pizza, a side, and a small soft drink, totaling $44.35.
At Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the dad spent another $101.29 on Coca-Cola, snacks, water, and blue milk. The day wrapped up with dinner at Frontera Cocina, bringing their total to $1,391.91.
Earlier this year, Disney executives expressed concerns that rising ticket prices might alienate their core customers—middle-class families. Internal surveys reportedly show a decline in guests planning to return to Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
A recent study by The Wall Street Journal found that the cost of a four-day stay at Disney parks has increased by $1,000 from 2019 to 2024, with nearly 80 percent of that hike attributed to new charges for services that were previously free.
