www.parkworld-online.com
The Tom Anstey Column
In Orlando alone, guests can find strong competition nearby - SeaWorld, Universal, Merlin and others offer compelling, high-quality experiences at a lower cost. At these operators’ attractions, it's so much easier to get so much more bang for your buck. At those parks, it’s far easier to get more bang for your buck. Queuing is an inevitable part of any theme park visit (though who else misses the virtual queues that became so popular during the pandemic?), but at Disney, I might experience only a handful of attractions – and miss others entirely unless I’m up at 7am to battle the app for a booking slot. Is that really worth my hard earned $200? I last visited a Disney park two years ago, buying a ticket for one of my long-time favourites, EPCOT. I had such a poor experience that I haven’t been back since. Why would I, when Universal is just down the road offering more flexibility, fewer frustrations and, frankly, better value?
Imagine a family of four buying single-day Magic Kingdom tickets. For the same price, with a bit of savvy shopping, they could enjoy a week’s holiday in the Canary Islands. That comparison alone highlights the astronomical rise in Disney prices over the past decade.
And yet, while rising costs might have put me off, they haven’t slowed Disney down. The company remains an unstoppable force. Even with ticket prices soaring and wait times stretching, attendance is strong, and records continue to fall in Disney’s favour. For context, Disney’s earnings for its third fiscal quarter ending June 28, 2025, showed revenues up 2% to $23.7 billion, with income before taxes rising 4% to $3.2 billion. Simply put, the strategy is working for the Mouse.
‘Managing crowds’ or shifting priorities? It’s been suggested that higher prices could also be part of a wider strategy to manage park attendance during peak seasons while shifting demand toward other Disney products, such as Disney Cruise Line – this same observation was made in 2015. Indeed, a four-night sailing aboard the upcoming Disney Destiny is now cheaper than a comparable stay at Walt Disney World – something unlikely to be a coincidence.
While fewer guests in the parks could improve the visitor experience, there’s an undeniable risk that escalating prices could alienate the very fanbase that built Disney’s reputation as the industry’s gold standard.
Finding balance Universal, Disney’s chief rival, this year debuted the outstanding Epic Universe in Orlando. It’s also announced plans for a new resort in the UK – signalling growing competition in the themed entertainment sector. For Disney, maintaining its lead means walking a fine line between exclusivity and accessibility.
A spokesperson for the company told Business Insider that Disney continues to offer “options designed to suit a wide range of needs and budgets,” adding that “our commitment to creating magical experiences for everyone remains at the heart of what we do.” It’s a noble statement – though for a multinational entertainment giant, the financial reality is clear: revenue comes first.
The cost of magic What Disney continues to deliver, however, remains almost unmatched. Themed environments, storytelling, and technological integration set a standard few can rival, while the company continues to invest heavily in new park experiences worldwide, including ongoing expansions at Walt Disney World, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disney Resort.
But as ticket prices climb beyond $200, the central question becomes harder to ignore: how accessible will “the happiest place on Earth” remain to the next generation of guests? With more operators investing in immersive,
family-friendly attractions at far lower price points, the decision ultimately rests with the guest – is Disney still worth the cost?
TOM ANSTEY
Tom Anstey is a world- travelled journalist who has been actively working in the attractions and wider leisure industries for more than a decade. Currently serving as Editor-in-Chief at Planet Attractions, a platform he co-founded in 2020, Tom is known for his deep industry knowledge and his commitment to exploring the stories and the people behind some of the world's most ambitious attractions projects. His favourite attraction is SeaWorld Orlando’s Mako coaster.
OCTOBER 2025 49
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92
