4 Things Even the Upper Middle Class Can’t Afford at Disney

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Taking a family trip and saving money haven’t always gone hand in hand, but lately the American economy barely seems to allow for room to pay your bills. While most people think of Disneyland as the “Happiest Place on Earth,” it can also be one of the most expensive. Single-day, single-park tickets are 150 times more expensive since its debut 70 years ago.

For some, the magic of one of the most popular attractions in the world is overshadowed by ever-skyrocketing price increases for tickets and astronomical add-ons. Not only are the parks pricey for those with a modest household income and budget, but they are even becoming steep for the more affluent’s bottom line.

Here are the four things even the upper-middle class can’t afford at Disneyland, Disney World or its counterparts.

Table Service Dining

Disney parks are known for having a wide variety of dining options for guests. From quick-service seat-yourself choices to dining with characters, park attendees can opt to spend a little or a lot on food during their visit. No matter what you decide, food costs aren’t included in ticket prices, which will greatly impact your overall vacation costs.

Unfortunately, some of the deluxe resort dining options come with a price tag that is nearly unaffordable, even for upper-middle-class families. For example, dinner at ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort costs $60 or more per adult. An adult entree from Disneyland’s Blue Bayou Restaurant, located in New Orleans Square, generally costs $35 to $60.

Lightning Lane Passes

Guests hoping to skip the dreaded long lines of popular rides may be interested in Lightning Lane passes. This line-skipping service allows guests to skip the standby line and enter a special entrance with a shorter line. The passes are purchased in addition to normal tickets, so you can start to see how Disney built all of its Magic Kingdoms. 

Today, a single-day pass to a Disney park runs around $103 to $206, depending on the date. Lightning Lane single passes vary by date and attraction, while a Lightning Lane multi pass costs around $30 at Disney World and $36 at Disneyland. For a family of four, adding this perk can become quite costly.

Due to the popularity of the passes and the daunting wait times at most attractions, Disney now offers a Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which allows guests to have one-time entry to every Lightning Lane experience in the park. The Premier Passes are subject to availability and are very limited. They also come with a jaw-dropping price tag of $300 to $400 per day on top of the cost of admission.

Annual Passes

Until recently, an annual pass was one of the best deals in town if you wanted to experience Disney more than a couple of times a year. According to Park Lore, a Premium Annual Pass to Walt Disney World was $539 for ages 10 and up.

Today, a Disney Incredi-Pass costs $1,549 plus tax per person. Similarly, an annual pass with the least amount of blackout dates at Disneyland runs $1,749. While less expensive passes are available, they come with significant limitations or limited availability. 

Resort Stays

A summer stay at a moderately-priced Disney resort in Florida will cost $300 to $400 a night. Upgrade to slightly nicer accommodations, and the price doubles or even triples.

Guests hoping to find lodging near Disneyland have significantly fewer options if they want to stay on property. The least expensive hotel is Pixar Place Hotel, which still costs over $500 per night on average during a summer weekend.

While hotel guests receive perks like early access to the parks, they must still purchase theme park tickets, making it a pretty pricey vacation even for upper-middle-class families.

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

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