Disney just hiked prices. Again. Across the board. Both US parks got hit. Your magical vacation is now more expensive. Get ready to shell out even more cash.
Disneyland ticket increases are huge. The top-tier Tier 6 one-day pass jumped $18. It’s now a record $224 per adult. That’s for the busiest, highest-demand days. It’s up a staggering 126% in ten years. The five-day Park Hopper also climbed $39 to $655. That’s nearly 108% more expensive in a decade. Annual passes took a hit too. The Inspire Key, Disneyland’s priciest pass, rose $150 to $1,899. The Believe Key went up $100 to $1,474. Lightning Lane Multi Pass, the paid skip-the-line service, is now $34 when bought early. That’s a 6.25% bump.
Walt Disney World saw peak one-day tickets break the $200 barrier for the first time. They’re now $209, up $10. Annual passes for Disney World also went up. They rose $20 to $80 across all tiers.
Don’t forget parking. It climbed $5 at both parks. Standard and preferred parking are now $35. Ouch. This is the broadest coast-to-coast price surge in years.
There’s a tiny glimmer of hope for the budget-conscious. The lowest one-day ticket, the Tier 0 pass, is still $104 for adults. It hasn’t changed since 2019. Even better? It applies to 38 days in 2025, up from only 15 last year. So you *can* find a cheaper day if you’re flexible with your visit. California residents also get a new deal. A Park Hopper offers three days for $249, or about $83 per day. It’s valid from January through May 2026.
Disney officials say these hikes reflect rising labor costs and ongoing park expansions. They claim cast member wages have doubled since 2015. They also say the cheapest ticket barely moved. They even called these the “smallest increases in several years.” Some of the seven ticket tiers did rise 3% or less at Disneyland. They’re emphasizing “strong demand” and “new savings offers” for Disney World, like free dining for kids for an entire year.
Parkgoers are furious. Social media is full of people swearing off Disney. Many are saying this is the “last straw.” Some longtime pass holders are calling it quits. They feel Disney is taking away value while raising prices. A family of four could spend nearly $900 for *one* busy day at Disneyland. That’s before food, souvenirs, or even parking. It turns “The Happiest Place on Earth” into one of the priciest.
So, how do you save money? Be flexible with your travel dates. Look for Disney deals throughout the year. Consider staying off-site. For Disneyland, look at places like Castle Inn & Suites, the newly refurbished Hilton Anaheim, Cambria Hotel & Suites, or The Anaheim Hotel. For Disney World, the All-Star Resorts are still a solid value. You don’t need to stay on property to have fun. Plan smart, save big.
Are these relentless price hikes finally the breaking point for your Disney visits?