By now, it’s a fact of life that prices go up every year. But, sometimes those price hikes are a little more than we bargained for. Turns out, even “The Happiest Place on Earth” is raising their prices, and you have a brand new exhibit to thank.
Not too long ago, the park announced the August arrival of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge park, which seems like a must-visit for any fan of the franchise.
The park will allow visitors to ride in the Millennium Falcon on a secret mission, and build a custom lightsaber. Guests can even assemble their own droid and grab a drink at Oga’s Cantina. It seems like it’s one of the most interactive experiences a Star Wars fanatic could hope for.
But with such a hefty project at hand, it must be pretty pricey to put it all together. And that’s where you, the guest, come in.
To be fair, it’s not certain that the price hikes have anything to do with the Star Wars park. But… it makes sense, right? In October of 2018, when these plans were likely well into development, Disney World announced new pricing.
Theme Park Insider noted that most pricing plans went up around 15 percent, especially on peak days when the park was guaranteed to be busy.
Fox35 reported that even Florida residents are feeling the burn. Park hopper tickets for locals also increased, and now cost between $139 and $189.
According to HelloGiggles, the only dates when you can book in August and September without seeing an increase is right when Florida is in the midst of their hurricane season.
So, it’s a gamble, but a good option for those out there who aren’t enjoying the price hike.
That’s especially tough for parents. Imagine promising your kid a fun Disney vacation, but having to cancel at the last minute?
When you look at the numbers, it’s apparent that Disney-goers will probably spend about $200 to get in for a day.
And that’s not including all the Mickey Mouse ice cream cones you’ll probably eat, and stuffed animals you’ll probably buy.
Even though Disney World is typically viewed as a “big vacation” to most families, especially today, more and more people are realizing that it’s an experience they can no longer afford.
Since Disney World is so massive, it’s hard to cut a trip short while you’re there.
We’ll never see a point when people stop going to Disney World. But it might just be a rarer experience.
Even back in 2015, people were trying to make financial cuts on their trip. And that often meant smuggling in canned spaghetti and meatballs.
Disney world is too expensive so I brought this lmao pic.twitter.com/XchPOygdVA
— pb (@zzzimsleepin) May 12, 2015
While talking about the price hikes, a bunch of people are stating that it may just be a way to serve as crowd control.
Because if you’ve ever been during peak season, you know it can get a little messy.
With slight increases, the trip may suddenly fall out of some families’ budget range. With Star Wars opening in August, the crowd issue may be even more of an issue due to the film’s fanbase.
💡 But @WaltDisneyWorld & @Disneyland need to take this crowd control one step further, especially with their new #StarWars lands opening. I suggest @DisneyParks eliminate their #annual passes. This should thin the #DisneyWorld & #Disneyland crowds some or even by quite a bit.💡
— Steve 🗳 👠 🇺🇸 (@Neilfan12) March 18, 2019
Those who are Disney regulars are also a little worried about Disney World’s calendar being a bit too packed around that time.
Because Disney’s not as fun if you’re constantly worried about getting lost from your group due to the crowd.
And, nobody wants to be the next “Lost at Epcot” story. We all saw how badly the internet roasted that one lady’s boyfriend a few days ago.
I can’t 😂 she lost her boyfriend at Disney World. https://t.co/Lz9Qhsgtt6
— StayNiley (@11NightsInJune) March 19, 2019
So, if all of your Disney dreams are crashing down due to this news, here’s what you can do.
For one, try creating your own Disney staycation.
Yes, it’s not going to be as fun, but it’s an excuse to marathon all your favorite Disney movies.
MyDisneyShop offers a lot of the snacks and merch you can get at the park, if you want to make it an even greater experience.
#DisneyWorld if you’re considering a vacation to Disney World... don’t do it. It’s oversold, long lines (some as long as 4 hours) and everything is expensive. You’re lucky to get a few rides a day for your hundreds of dollars in tickets and food. Just don’t!
— Steve (@xtvnmql) March 22, 2019
If you really want to go to Disney, the good news is that there are plenty of resources out there to grab a deal.
It’ll still be expensive, sure. But Disney is such a popular location that plenty of fans have tried and true methods of cutting down on cost.
And if it’s crowds you’re worried about? Just wait a little bit.
It’ll always be popular, but enthusiasm for the Star Wars experience will eventually die down. If you check it out during the winter, your overall experience may be even more magical.
