‘Woke’ Disney ‘pricing people out’ says one family, company urged to ‘get back to business’

(Video: Fox Business)

Even without the Walt Disney Company’s foray into supporting the promotion of woke ideologies, many feel “the magic is gone” as recent reports have park-goers saying: “Disney, you should be ashamed.”

Once a vacation destination for American families from all walks of life, Disney World in Orlando, Florida is rapidly becoming priced out of reach for middle-income earners. Fox News Digital spoke with travelers lamenting having spent thousands for an experience that lasted less than a week.

“I feel like Disney is pricing people out, can the average working American family really afford this?” one mother recounted to Fox Business. “I’ve been coming to Disney since I was six years old. I’m 39 now. My kids thought Disney was magical and so for me the cost was worth it, but I see that it’s not the same Disney it was.”

A sticker-shocked family of four from New Jersey explained how a four-night stay at Disney World included $950 for meals, $700 for snacks and souvenirs, and an extra $300 on “Genie plus passes” so they wouldn’t have to spend hours waiting in line for rides. On top of $2,550 for five days at the park and $3,780 in lodgings, then airfare to get to Orlando, the whole trip was over $10,000.

“What has happened to Disney?” a reviewer asked on Tripadvisor. “They seem to be trying to extract as much money out of people as possible. Walt would be turning in his grave if he knew the current situation. We will never be visiting Disney again after this holiday. Shame on you Disney, you should be ashamed.”

Frommer’s editor-in-chief James Cochran, who has written the travel guidebook for Disney World, along with Universal and Orlando, since 2006 expressed, “Disney has not publicly, but very apparently privately made the decision that it wants to court guests that spend more per day than guests used to spend. In order to do that, it’s done a number of things both to maximize the profit that it’s making on a day-to-day basis and also to increase the prices of access for guests.”

Travelers reported spending $5 just for a bottle of water and that even conservative budgeting could do nothing for changes that now require a daily fee for parking when it used to be free. All the while, the entertainment options have become limited following the pandemic where Disney saw fit to lay off employees rather than rehire them.

Jason from Salt Lake City, Utah said, “I think there’s a lot of families that just can’t, simply can’t afford… to have that experience, and that’s kind of sad. Because, I think in the way that Disney started out, I think it was meant to be for everyone and it seems like it’s becoming a bit more exclusive.”

“There’s a lot of families in the middle class and working class, blue-collar families who are still going to be spending that money because they want to give it to their kids,” Cochran stated. “I think Disney takes advantage of that.”

Because of that, the guidebook editor cautioned visitors to save up money before making a trip noting, “My concern is that more and more people are putting this on credit cards.”

As the quality of the experience has gone down and the costs have continued to rise, even before Gov. Ron DeSantis took action against the Reedy Creek Improvement District that allowed Disney to operate as their own governing jurisdiction within the state of Florida, many have vocalized their desire to see the company get back to its roots.

“Here’s a suggestion for Disney CEO Bob Chapek: Get back to business – that is, excellence in storytelling – and stop wasting shareholders’ money on political crusades that have nothing to do with Disney’s business,” shareholder, economist and entrepreneur Ray Keating said. “We all have the right to have our voices heard on issues, but not on the shareholders’ dime.”

DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW

Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!

Success! Thank you for donating. Please share BPR content to help combat the lies.
Kevin Haggerty

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

BPR INSIDER COMMENTS

Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!

22 thoughts on “‘Woke’ Disney ‘pricing people out’ says one family, company urged to ‘get back to business’

  1. I would be just fine seeing Disney go away. They have kicked the magic out of the park for children! Politics doesn’t have a place in the minds of children. It’s an adult theme park no longer suitable for for children! Children can’t even be children at Disney today!

  2. 30 years ago, my wife and I enjoyed Disney.
    Now, I wouldn’t walk in there if someone paid me to.
    They have gotten away from what Walt really wanted for families.
    Shame on Disney and their board members.
    You’ve ruined the experience for many kids because of your political B.S and greed

  3. I have two sons who worked at Disney World, and I have to defend Disney to a point. The cost of the theme part tickets believe it or not is reasonable. Food cost, you can eat and rather well if you stay away from all the “Character Meal Stops”, the last time my wife an I were there (’19) for three days eating ran about $80 a day for two. Another place to save money, the Value Resorts, the Pop Century ran about $180 a night, not close to the $900 a night the family from Jersey blew. I don’t glean anything from http://www.allears.net but if you use the suggestions they recommend a family of four can go to Disney, have a grand time and spend maybe $3000, not $10,000. If you call 1-407 Disney and say we want it all, you’ll get it all plus a bill to boot.

  4. Who cares if it’s too expensive?? Why would you want to support them anyway? They hate you and you still want to give them money?

  5. I remember going to Disneyland in 1975 and spending about $40 per person for tickets that day. Today’s costs for Disneyworld seem outrageous.

    1. Remember this, if you’re a couple, if you plan to visit a Disney parks 2 or more time a year, buy the cheapest Annual Pass, no park hopper up fees, free parking, and guaranteed park entry. As of Feb ’19 the cheapest annual pass was about $1,100 … 5 day passes with the park hopper up fee was about $700.00 … plus you have other perks, 20% off room just about anytime, 35% for about 4 months of the year, 15% to 25% at ALL dining locations. This and other tips can be found on http://www.allears.net … I’m not with allears, but use their plans and have saved. As we get ready to retire we plan to visit WDW FLA at least 4 times a year during the EPCOT Festivals.

  6. When did going to Disney become a human right? If the prices are too high… YOU DON’T GO!! It’s not rocket science. Are parents afraid to say “NO” now?

  7. If you need to spend $300 on passes to jump the long lines of patrons, it would seem a of of people can afford it.

  8. We can afford it and we had a trip planned for May. The second I heard what they did in FL regarding the big lie libs were perpetuating around the “don’t say gay” bill, we canceled.

    Never again will we EVER spend a dime at anything owned by Disney. EVER!

    1. You did the right thing. Disney needs to feel the financial pain.
      They’re already raising prices to compensate for their bad choices.
      Then less and less people will go.
      Disney is stupid.

  9. I remember when Disney Land in Orange County, CA opened! I and members of my family went and went often, as children grew and grandchildren arrived. Many with yearly paid for passes. It was a wonderful place. No longer! Not only is the cost outrageous but the atmosphere has degraded exponentially. It is not the same. My children see that and so do my grandchildren. Disney has jumped the shark!

  10. Unless you`re a Disney stockholder, if the management of this formerly great company wants it to commit suicide, so be it. No corporate welfare for this example of loony leftism,as, Disney should be the poster boy for “go woke, go broke”!

  11. Disneyworld is the most over priced, over rated vacation spot in the world. I hope the unwoke scratch them from their list of desirable places to go. Let the coastal wokestars have disney. They are perfect for each other. Fake and judgemental

  12. Go to Dollywood. Friendlier. Cleaner . Cheaper and their not Woke.
    Much better family environment.

  13. I hope the C.E.O. gets fired and leads Disney into bankruptcy. Take your young boy to the woodshed and teach him carpentry. Teach your daughter how to sew. They will love you for it. Quit wasting money at Disney and supporting LBGTQ who parades their disgusting behavior for the world and morality to see. Get the queer loving CEO out of enterprize system.

Comments are closed.

Latest Articles