Disneyland and Disney World Are Raising Prices? It Was Already Too Expensive

In 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, and 1984. My family and I went to Disney World as part of our biennial Florida vacations in the 1970s and early 1980s. There were four of us through 1979. My sister hopped off in the 80s.

Disneyland and Walt Disney World

Okay, so none of that is earth-shattering news. But it boggles my mind how we did it, in light of what I'm seeing today regarding the Magic Kingdom and its sister attraction, Disneyland in Anaheim, California. First of all, I know how Dad afforded it, but I still have questions.

A combination of his tax returns and more quarters than you can shake a stick at were the reasons we could afford what are, today, outrageously expensive vacations. (By the way, he saved quarters in an old, retired embalming machine, and he would start at the end of a vacation and save for the whole year.)

Now, let's get back to "what I'm seeing today."

Disney World, Disneyland Raise Ticket Prices

I have seen multiple documentaries about Walt Disney, and you can't see something like that and not come away with the realization that this man expected his park (he didn't live long enough to see Disney World open in Orlando in 1971) to be affordable for everyone. And by "everyone," I mean children. He's probably spinning in his grave at the news that the two major Disney parks have increased their entry fees. In California, one-day passes are now $224; in Florida, it's up to $209. There are a few days during the year, the pre-determined least busy days, on which you can get tickets for $104 per person.

But it's 2025, and Disney World isn't just the Magic Kingdom anymore. If families wanted to get the full experience, each extra park would cost additional fees.

Maybe I get it, but it's still pretty galling. It does seem like there's a hierarchy of families that will have no issues with this or any other price increase. And, clearly, there are those families with children who will never be able to afford this dream.