Florida dad Craig Stowell says he’s rethinking future Disney trips after a recent one-day visit to Walt Disney World with his wife and three kids left him with a jaw-dropping bill. The Orlando outing cost nearly $1,400 — an amount he told Newsweek has him questioning whether the experience is still worth the price.
Small business owner Craig Stowell was interviewed on “FOX & Friends” about his Disney experience. “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,” he said.
In a now-viral TikTok video, Stowell detailed the staggering expenses from the trip: $30 for parking, $974 for five tickets even with a Florida resident discount, and over $245 spent on dinner. Altogether, the day at Disney added up to nearly $1,400.
“Trying to put a price tag versus value, what’s it worth?” the Dad 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.”
“I don’t want to say it this way, but if you do the average cost per ride, it probably isn’t really worth it.”
“I grew up as a Disney child. My mother took myself and my 2 siblings every year when we would come down to Florida to visit our grandma. Back then, a day at Disney was much more affordable for a young family with 3 children,” Stowell, a content creator and owner of business Flying Wheels, told Newsweek in an email.
In the TikTok video, Stowell’s son is in a souvenir shop and asks his Dad for a $44.99 plastic lightsaber. His Dad quickly says no. In another frame his daughter is enjoying a blue milk for $10.29.
The Florida father doesn’t consider himself a die-hard Disney fan, but he enjoys the magic of the parks and the joy it brings his children, which reminds him of his own childhood. That’s why his family tries to visit as often as they can. However, with rising ticket prices and added costs, he says families like his are starting to rethink how often they go — or whether they should look for more affordable alternatives. Disney recently raised prices again for many 2026 dates, with one-day tickets to Magic Kingdom now ranging from $139 to $199, depending on the season. Guests can also pay an extra $40 per person for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass to skip lines, though it only covers certain rides and was once a free perk. Stowell feels the company is prioritizing long-term resort guests over locals or day visitors, saying that one-day park goers like his family are being priced out in favor of those spending thousands on multi-day stays.
As Disney prices continue to climb, more social media users are going viral for sharing just how expensive a day at the park can be. Many feel Disney World is no longer worth the high cost due to rising prices, long wait times, and a decline in overall experience. Tickets, food, and extras have become more expensive, while added fees for things that were once free—like Genie+ and park hopping—can make the visit even pricier. Frequent ride stoppages and delays also contribute to frustration and reduce the value of the trip.
