Walt Disney World, considered the vacation kingdom of the world, is reportedly less crowded than in recent years, and some are pointing to the exorbitant cost as one reason why.
Wait times at the House of Mouse's signature resort in central Florida are down significantly this year compared with recent years, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
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The shorter wait times have been blamed on various factors, including Disney's battle with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and weather, but the cost has been a constant source of debate for recent lower attendance. While Disney CEO Bob Iger told CNBC's Squawk Box that "pricing is not an issue," he did previously concede that the company may have been "a little bit too aggressive about some of our pricing" for the theme park, while speaking in March.
A single-day one-park ticket for the Walt Disney World theme parks starts at $104, but pricing depends on the park and the day. For Animal Kingdom, ticket prices range from $109-$159; for EPCOT, ticket prices range from $114-$179; for Disney's Hollywood Studios, ticket prices range from $124-$179; and for the Magic Kingdom, ticket prices range from $129-$189.
When examining prices for full vacations with a Disney hotel, tickets, and a dining plan, costs are high.
When looking at a hypothetical family vacation for a family of four, meaning a mother, father, and two children, ages 6 and 8 years old, from July 14 through July 21, 2024, the grand total is $6,711.62.
The package for this scenario is a seven-night stay at a standard room at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, which is advertised as a "moderate resort," along with six days of single park tickets for each person and the Disney Dining Plan for the duration of the stay for each person.
When taking away the hotel stay and the dining plan, single park tickets for six days for that family of four come out to $2,745.08.
Not included in the vacation package is Disney's skip-the-line service, Genie+, which costs a different price per day based on the park. The highest price Disney has charged for the service was $35 per person in April during spring break season.
Not included in the Genie+ service are a select few of the top attractions at the resort, which cost an additional upcharge per ride to skip the line. These "individual lightning lanes" are for rides like TRON Lightcycle/Run at the Magic Kingdom and go for almost as much as the Genie+ service itself.
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Other upcharges, such as the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, where girls can be made into princesses and boys can be made into knights, can go for as much as $229.95 plus tax.
While prices can be steep for a vacation at Walt Disney World, Disney will offer discounts on tickets, hotels, and other services when bookings are slow. Currently, Disney is offering discounts to Disney+ subscribers, Florida residents, and military families, among other groups.