A floored Florida father is warning families to think twice before planning a last-minute trip to Disney World — especially if they’re watching their wallets.
Craig Stowell, a small business owner and father of three, went viral on social media after sharing a breakdown of his family’s one-day visit to Disney World, which cost an eye-watering $1,400.
He said the experience, while nostalgic, left him feeling more frustrated than fulfilled.
“It started to feel like we were being punished for doing a day trip,” Stowell told The New York Post “Disney really wants you to be a vacationer who stays in their resorts and doesn’t leave the park. That model doesn’t work for families like mine who want to just pop in for a day.”
Stowell, who visited with his wife, three kids, and some family friends, said he hadn’t anticipated just how deep the visit would dent his account.
Tickets alone — even with a Florida resident discount — came to nearly $1,000. Parking, food, and other expenses pushed the total to just under $1,400.
“We didn’t even stay overnight,” he said. “That’s half a mortgage payment — for one day.”
Disney addressed cost concerns in February after a Wall Street Journal piece on rising prices.
Josh D’Amaro, Chairman of Disney Experiences, said the company tries to offer a range of admission options.
“The number-one thing we hear from the millions of guests who visit our parks each year is how much a Disney vacation means to them, and we intentionally offer a wide variety of ticket, hotel, and dining options to welcome as many families as possible, whatever their budget,” D’Amaro said.
“We also know that, in inflationary times, it’s especially important to give families ways to save on their visits. We haven’t increased the lowest-priced ticket to Disneyland since 2019, and we recently introduced a kids’ ticket for as little as $50, just to name a couple of examples.”
To explain the cost to his kids, Stowell compared it to something more relatable. “My oldest son is 15 and saving for his first car. I told him, ‘This day at Disney cost as much as your future car savings.’ That really hit home.”
Stowell’s video sparked a larger conversation online about rising theme park prices, particularly at Disney.
One-day tickets now start at $119, but prices can climb to $169 or more on peak days due to Disney’s surge, or “dynamic,” pricing system. In Stowell’s case, tickets were $184 each because of the high demand that weekend.
“Disney absolutely capitalized on me as a parent,” he said. “You’re paying more just to walk through the gate, and then even more if you want to skip the long lines.”
Disney also now charges extra for its Lightning Lane service, which allows faster access to select rides. What used to be included in the ticket now costs upwards of $40 per person, depending on the day.
Stowell suggested families consider less costly options in Central Florida.
He pointed to Universal Orlando, where he said he paid around $300 per person for season passes — a fraction of the cost of Disney’s $1,500 annual pass.
“For a family of five, Disney passes would have been $7,500,” he said. “We spent under $1,200 total at Universal. It was a no-brainer.”
He also recommended SeaWorld Orlando’s Four Parks pass, which gives access to multiple parks — including Busch Gardens — for just $62, with free parking included.
“There are other parks that are far more family-friendly and affordable,” he said. “And you won’t feel like you need to take out a loan afterward.”
