- Lending Tree interviewed Americans about how a Disney World vacation impacts their finances.
- Almost 50% of parents with children under 18 go into debt for trips to Disney.
- Respondents said in-park food and beverage were the biggest budget killer.
As prices soar, some parents are emptying their bank accounts for a trip to Disney. Others are maxing out their credit cards.
Disney’s expensive prices have been a hot topic among park-goers recently. They even caused Disney CEO Bob Iger to raise his eyebrows in disbelief.
Disneyland increased ticket prices in 2023 and Disney World is expected to increase costs in 2025.
Thus, Lending Tree interviewed more than 2,000 American consumers to understand how much a trip to Disney theme parks can impact a family’s finances.
What he discovered is a little worrying.
“Of the 77% of parents who attend theme parks with children under 18 and who have been to Disney, 45% went into debt for a trip to Disney,” the survey found.
This is higher than Disney’s 2022 debt survey, which found that 30% of parents with children under 18 were in debt.
According to the survey, parents with young children had an average debt of almost $2,000.
Despite the financial impact, 59% of parents said they did not regret the decision.
“For many parents, taking their kids to Disney is a rite of passage, something they remember fondly from their youth and want to experience with their kids,” Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at LendingTree, said in a statement. “Because of these feelings, they are often willing to go into debt to get there.”
Food, transportation and accommodation are the biggest problems for parents’ budgets at Disney. The survey found that 65% of respondents with Disney debt said food and drinks cost more than they expected.
Representatives for Disney World and Disneyland did not respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
Rising prices at Disney and, well, everywhere else, along with the crushing costs of child care, are already affecting parents across the country, leading some to look for alternatives to Disney.
One husband told BI that his family decided to visit the Great Wolf Lodge in North Carolina instead of their usual trip to Walt Disney World.
The husband said his children liked Great Wolf Lodge more than Disney adventures, and it also cost less.
Did you go into debt to take a trip to a Disney theme park and want to share your story? If so, please contact this reporter at ledmonds@businessinsider.com
