It’s not common to see “Walt Disney World” and “budget” in the same breath.
As costs for family getaways continue to rise steeply, Disney fans are getting creative about saving money without losing out on the fun. Borrowing items from others seems to be a popular strategy.
To combat the increasing financial burden of Disney trips, many are turning to Facebook’s “Buy Nothing” groups to borrow various useful things from other visitors, like strollers, rain ponchos, and even refillable popcorn buckets.
The idea is pretty straightforward. Families share what they have, passing on items that might otherwise go unused, and this helps cultivate a community based on generosity and thriftiness.
After all, one person’s disposable item could be another’s valuable find.
Kelsey Rush-Wolko, a Pennsylvania mom of two, recently decorated her hotel door with Mickey Mouse ears and other Disney items for other families to take. She decided to leave something behind that she couldn’t cart home and posted about it in the Facebook group.
“There’s a real joy in helping someone save a bit,” she shared.
These helpful groups are especially timely, given the recent price hikes affecting Disney’s two main parks in the U.S.—Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in Anaheim.
One of the largest increases saw Disneyland’s Tier 6 single-day tickets, which are valid on the busiest days, rise by $18 for adults, bringing the price to $224—a staggering 126% jump over the last decade.
Similarly, the 5-Day Park Hopper passes, which allow access to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure for up to five days, are now $655, reflecting an almost 108% increase in the past ten years.
Annual passes have also seen significant hikes. The top-tier Disneyland pass, the Inspire Key, went up by $150 to reach $1,899, while the second-tier Believe Key increased by $100 to $1,474.
Walt Disney World has broken the $200 mark for peak day tickets, which are now priced at $209, while annual passes across all tiers have risen between $20 and $80.
This price surge comes just after news about plans for expansion, which would include the first new Disney park since Animal Kingdom debuted in 1998.
As part of the Central Florida Tourism Monitoring District’s long-term vision, known as Comprehensive Plan 2045, there are plans for two smaller theme parks, a major new park, and potentially a water park to be developed over the coming decades.
