Florida dad who paid $1,400 for family of 5s day trip at Disney World says he felt punished by park
The happiest place on Earth is facing growing criticism for becoming one of the most expensive.A Florida father is speaking out after a one-day visit to Orlando’s Walt Disney World with his wife and three children cost nearly $1,400 — a price he says may not be worth it.“It started with the ticket purchase, and then it ran right into the parking, and then it just was like a cash cow for the rest of the day,” small business owner Craig Stowell told “FOX & Friends” on Wednesday alongside his daughter, Kendall.In a video that quickly went viral, Stowell broke down the cost of the trip: $30 for parking, $974 for five tickets using a Florida resident discount, and more than $245 for dinner.By the end of the day, the total had reached nearly $1,400.“Trying to put a price tag versus value, what’s it worth?” Stowell said.
“The lines were so long, so we’re already a thousand [dollars] deep into the park.Now we’re going to drop another $400 to get Lightning Passes.”Stowell added, “I don’t want to say it this way, but if you do the average of cost per ride, it probably isn’t really worth it.”Disney has increased prices in recent years.
In 2024, the company raised the cost of single-day, single-park tickets for the 2025 season.Just recently, prices went up again for many 2026 dates.A one-day ticket to the Magic Kingdom now ranges from $139 to $199, depending on the day and season.To skip long lines, guests can purchase a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for an additional $40 per person during top times, but it only applies to a select number of rides.The feature, once free, has become a common add-on cost for visitors trying to make the most of their day.Stowell believes the company is favoring long-term guests who stay at Disney resorts over local families or day-trippers.“Unfortunately, I don’t think those day-trippers are what Disney wants,” he said.
“They want you to never leave the park.They want you there for five days, and ...