We don’t know about you, but we’ve certainly been feeling the squeeze during our trips to Disney World lately — and we don’t mean because of the food!
It’s certainly no secret that Disney World prices have been steadily — and sometimes even dramatically — increasing over the years. We’ve done the research ourselves so have seen it firsthand, and it doesn’t look like it will stop anytime soon.
Disney World is expensive and that likely isn’t changing anytime soon, especially when compared to inflation. We know that things like park tickets, parking, food, hotels, special event tickets, and just about anything you can think of have seen price hikes — even recently.
Over the last 10 years, the prices for popular snacks have increased by more than 60%, whereas inflation has increased by 32% over the same period. In fact, data shows that food costs have risen by a higher percentage than the cost of a single park ticket — which has increased by around 56%.
In 2014, the cost of the Bread Service at Sanaa was $9.99. That same menu item today is $22 — more than double the cost it was ten years ago. Similarly, Corn Dog Nuggets from Casey’s Corner increased from $4.99 to $10.79 in the same time frame. Luckily, our beloved Mickey waffles have actually stayed on pace with inflation, though they have still increased in price by around 30%.
A Mickey Pretzel was priced at $4.29 in 2013, and now it costs $6.79 (or $7.79 with cheese!) just for one pretzel. That means it costs you 81.59% more to buy a Mickey Pretzel in 2024 than it did in 2013.
And, in 2014, a Mickey Premium Ice Cream Bar would run you $3.49, but now it will cost $6.29 — an 80.23% increase.
Of course, it isn’t only Disney World prices that have gone up (that’s inflation, for you) but if you’re feeling it just a bit more when you’re at the Most Magical Place on Earth, you’re definitely not alone.
So, what can you do to try and lessen the blow to your wallet? We’re glad you asked! We like budgeting with Disney gift cards! You can stock up on gift cards in the amount you want to spend each day, and once it’s empty, you’re done.
And, if you make sure your park bag is stocked with the essentials before your trip, then you won’t need to purchase a bunch of $12 ponchos in a rainstorm.
We often recommend Genie+ for those who want to get as much done as possible during their vacation, but if the budget is tight, you can go without it. Packing grab-and-go breakfast items to have at your hotel instead of paying Disney prices can also save some cash, along with using any potential discounts you might qualify for!
If you’re looking for a travel agent to help with your vacation, we recommend our friends at Mouse Fan Travel. They’re experts in the field with over 20 years of vacation planning experience, and they can help take a bunch of the stress out of the entire booking process for you!
Stay tuned to AllEars for the latest news from Disney World and more!
New Study Reveals Disney World Prices Have Increased 91% Over the Last 10 Years
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Have you noticed Disney park prices increasing? Tell us in the comments.
Yes, it really is ridiculous! Unfortunately, as long as people keep paying the higher prices and touting that something at Disney World is “cheap” or a “good deal,” we will continue to see hyper price increases.