Disney World (DIS) has been dubbed the most magical place on earth by its fanbase for decades. Millions of people from all over the world travel to the Orlando theme park to fulfill their childhood dreams, but some consumers are starting to feel that the magic is losing its sparkle amid a recent change.
After Disneyland, which is based in California, implemented a series of price increases for multiple tickets and passes last week, Disney World decided to follow in its footsteps. Consumers are not happy.
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Disney World guests can now expect to pay an extra $30 to $100 for annual passes, depending on the type. Also, consumers planning Disney World vacations for November and December next year will have to cough up an extra $10 to $15 for tickets on days when tickets are in high demand.
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These new price hikes also come after Disney World has reportedly increased prices for several menu items at multiple dining spots such as Magic Kingdom’s Plaza Restaurant and Epcot’s Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.
The theme park also recently came under fire for its “obscene” prices at its upcoming Cake Bake Shop Bakery, which is set to open sometime this fall. Some of the prices that fans were startled by include $22 for a slice of cake, and $8 for a single scoop of ice-cream.
In response to the latest round of price increases at Disney World, many consumers took to social media to express their frustration over being hit with higher prices at “the Vacation Kingdom of the World.”
Glad we renewed our Disney World annual passes before Disney hiked up the prices. I thought they were over priced before and this doesn’t help matters at all. Universal Studios is looking more and more like a better value overall
— El Fuego Grandé 🇺🇸 (@john_laflame) October 23, 2024
It’s inevitable prices will increase and normally, wouldn’t be too upset. But the overall value continues to drop as more and more perks are removed. #disney #disneyworld https://t.co/Jmfc2sqhDS
— David (@declingenpeel) October 23, 2024
The frustration over Disney prices from consumers has been brewing over the past few years as many people are facing the brunt of inflation and higher costs of living.
Over the past decade, between 2014 and 2025, Disney World’s lowest-priced 1-Day ticket has increased by almost 27%, or $25, according to a recent analysis from MickeyVisit.com
The theme park’s highest-priced 1-Day ticket has also skyrocketed by $100 over the decade, translating to a roughly 101% increase.
Disney World’s lowest-priced Annual Pass also climbed by about 81% during that time frame, while its highest-priced one rose by almost 87%.
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Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com, claims that the recent price increases at Disney World come during a critical time for the company, which has recently made some significant future investments.
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“All of these increases come at a time when in-person entertainment is more popular than ever and demand (and Disney World crowds) remains relatively strong,” said Doyle. “It is also at a time when Cast Member wages are going up, Disney is investing in expanding their attractions with new rides for Disney World, and the theme parks business is being relied on by The Walt Disney Company as a whole to drive higher profits for the entire company.”
As consumers will have to shell out more cash for their future Disney World trips, Doyle encourages visitors to seek out discounts to lessen the blow of higher prices.
“At Walt Disney World, these new prices become the base prices and the discounts available become the standard,” said Doyle. “There are now always discounts to be on the lookout for to save on hotel and tickets. If you are willing to be reactive to discounts and travel during the less in-demand periods of time, you'll be rewarded with lower crowds and prices.”
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