Why Critics Are Wrong About Disney Vacations
A viral video recently provided a misleading title. It suggested that Disney vacations aren’t the bargains they once were.
I’ve watched the video multiple times, and I’ll just level with you that it annoyed me.


Cinderella Castle
If this were a school project, I would have handed out a D grade for lots of sloppy work and illogical arguments.
Still, more than one million people have watched this clip, leading to widespread misconceptions about Disney vacations.


Photo: Disney
So, I’ll take this opportunity to make a counterpoint. Here’s why critics are wrong about Disney vacations.
The Pricing Misconception
Some analysts utilize historical admission prices as proof that Disney inflation is out of control.
I take issue with such discussions as a rule because they must overlook one vital element.


Photo: Washington Post
For many years, Disney pricing was absurdly low relative to demand, an issue that executives have discussed for years.
Here’s the argument. A company named Wolfe Research has tracked Walt Disney World admission prices in the 21st century.
You can find other locations on the internet that provide the same data, and it typically varies slightly.
That’s because Disney has historically offered a wide swath of pricing options and packages.


Hollywood Studios
Fans and even casual tourists understand that single-day admission is a terrible barometer for pricing.
That’s because guests typically plan a Disney vacation, not a single-day visit.
Ignoring that aspect, here’s the data as presented by Wolfe Research.
The chart listed the average Disney World ticket price at $89 in 2012, a time when Disney didn’t use a tiered pricing structure.
The chart shows average prices of $119 in 2018 and $154 in 2024.
So, the cost increased by $30 over six years and then by $35 during the following six years.
As an FYI, the average price calculation for 2024 doesn’t include an explanation.
Currently, Disney prices range from $109 to $189, an average of $149.
I presume they’ve done some weighted average for days, but the baseline here is steady if not for that decision.
From my perspective, Disney prices increased by an average of $5 from 2012 to 2024, almost like clockwork.
The Flaw with This Thought Process
Summarizing, inflation would dictate a price increase of at least $2.88 annually for that same timeframe.
That’s how the economy works. Prices go up, and the global pandemic accelerated this problem.


Photo: Getty
So, Disney pricing obviously exceeds inflation, but it’s not by as much as you might expect during a time of economic chaos.
We’re only looking at the math side of the conversation with that evaluation, though. The supply and demand issue matters more.


Photo: Center Watch
As some of the analysts in the video and many of the first comments in the replies noted, Disney’s goal here isn’t just to make money.
The company wants to maintain a magical experience for all guests.


Photo: Disney
When the parks are overcrowded, customer satisfaction scores plummet precipitously.
So, Disney wants to price tickets so that tourists aren’t overloading the parks.


Hollywood Studios crowds
Otherwise, the parks would be the equivalent of a sold-out concert all day and all night, and somebody would always get stuck with obstructed views.
By necessity, Disney cannot price the parks to encourage maximum tourism numbers. That’d be an exercise in chaos.


Magic Kingdom
Disney has flatly stated that an exponent of eight more guests wants to visit the parks than actually can.
If prices didn’t at least match the rate of inflation, a Disney theme park experience would lose its magic.
The Mixed Messages
There’s a second half to this conversation that bears mention.
I hate to do these things as a rule, but I must make an exception here.


Comcast
The producers of the video are a subsidiary of Comcast, the corporate owner of NBCUniversal.
What else does Comcast own? Universal Studios.


Universal Orlando
That’s an integral part of this conversation in that it explains the “Who benefits?” aspect.
A viral video critical of Disney helps the competition, right? And this one sloppily glosses over the Universal side of the conversation.


Universal Orlando
For example, “Disney experiences operating profit dropped 3% year-over-year in Q3 2024” is described as “a concerning trend.”
How in the [censored by Net Nanny] is one quarter a trend? It’s literally a single data point!


Filmmaker magazine
Even worse, the clip acknowledges lower attendance as an “industry-wide trend.”
The end of the so-called revenge travel era has caused tourism numbers to drop in 2023 and 2024.


Universal
This behavior has impacted Universal much more, as the Parks division fell 11% in revenue this past quarter, driven by lower attendance.
Later in the video, I must note (with a high degree of incredulity) this tidbit.


Magic Kingdom
Another Wolfe Research chart claims that the “average cost of a 5-night luxury (Disney) vacation for a family of four” averages $5,000.
The assertion is that this is nearly as much as a luxury vacation in Mexico, although the graph clearly shows Mexico costs 20 percent more.


Universal Orlando
That’s the side issue, though. The hilarity stems from the glossing over of the Universal numbers.
The average price of single-day admission at Universal Orlando Resort is…$149. Yes, that’s the same price as Disney.


Photo: Universal
As a reminder, Disney is night and day better. But that’s still not the funny part.
Pay No Attention to the Man behind the Curtain
The video explicitly states that a “three-day, four-night trip for a family of four to Universal Orlando comes in at around $4,700.”
So, by NBCUniversal’s own calculations, a four-night trip there costs $1,175 per night.
Disney, which the video claims has grown too expensive, has a lower price of $1,000 per night.
Importantly, that Disney price includes all the “bells and whistles,” meaning they’ve thrown in every add-on possible to increase the price.


Photo: Disney
Disney’s own competitor just posted a viral video proving that Disney offers a better value than Universal.
Yes, the arrival of Universal Epic Universe will level the playing field a bit, but it’ll come with inevitable price increases.


Walt Disney Company
At that point, Disney will provide an even better value relative to its main competition, something NBCUniversal just demonstrated with its own hit piece.
That’s how good Disney is.
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