Disney World quietly raises key price with no fanfare

Disney World, you can argue, offers a la carte pricing. You can, of course, bundle park ticket, hotels, and even dining to save money, but a lot of add-ons are sold on their own.

On the one hand, that gives people some ability to hold their price down by only paying for what they need. I, for example, rarely visit multiple parks in one day, so if I was not an annual passholder (which I am) and had to buy individual tickets, I would not pay for the Park Hopper feature.

In addition, I rarely eat dinner in any of the four Disney World parks and rarely do an open-to-close day, so adding the meal plan would not make sense for me, either.

I do, however, often pay for Disney's Lightning Lane access. That allows me faster access to certain rides, which is valuable, given how long I'm able to spend at a theme park on any given day.

As a travel expert, I also suggest that people buy insurance for their trips. That's something Walt Disney sells directly (or your travel agent can add it for you), giving you meaningful protection if something goes wrong.

Disney World charging more for Travel Protection

Usually, when Disney World raises a price, it's big enough to raise eyebrows. In this case, the increase is minor enough that it has mostly stayed below the radar.

Walt Disney World's Travel Protection Plan now costs $99 per adult, up from $95 per adult. The last increase in price was in February 2023.

Disney World Travel Protection plan facts:

• Travel Protection Plan for Walt Disney World Resort: $99 per adult (children 17 & under included)
• It covers things like trip cancellation, interruption, delay, baggage, medical, evacuation, etc.
• The protection can be added anytime up to the final payment date (but not after full payment).
• It is refundable within the first 14 days after purchase; after that, generally non-refundable.

It's important that you read the fine print on Disney's Travel Protection plan or any travel insurance, so you know exactly what's covered.

Disney raises ticket prices in 2025

When you look at Disney World prices, it's important to realize that there is a range. And while prices have gone up at both ends of the range, the company does offer more days at the lowest end of the price range than it did before the increase.

Disney implemented a tiered pricing structure for its one-day, one-park tickets, with rates varying based on the park, date, and demand. The lowest prices typically apply to weekdays during off-peak times, while weekends and holidays see higher rates.

• Magic Kingdom: Increased from $124–$189 in 2024 to $139–$199 in 2025.
• EPCOT: Increased from $114–$179 in 2024 to $129–$194 in 2025.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios: Increased from $124–$179 in 2024 to $139–$194 in 2025.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom: Increased from $109–$159 in 2024 to $119–$174 in 2025.

Source: WDWMagic

Disney, it should be noted, believes that price is not the same as value.

“We’re delivering more value. Value is what you get as a consumer. Price is what you pay,” Disney Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston said during a Q&A session at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference in 2024. 

“People feel good about the value they’re getting, so we ought to be able to take more pricing. As a result, we will drive good financial results out of it.”

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Not everyone agrees with Disney's assessment.

"Walt Disney World is charging up to $194 for admission — per person, per day, pre tax— propelling a once-attainable family vacation into the realm of a luxury experience that many Americans can no longer afford," Dia Adams wrote at Fortune. 

She also shared a specific scenario.

"In 1998, when Animal Kingdom roared to life, a family of four could still enjoy a peak-season day at the parks for less than $300 in today’s currency. Fast forward to 2025, and the same family faces a staggering $766 pre-tax bill for four one-day peak-season tickets," she wrote, noting that today's tickets also have fewer perks than they did in 1998.

Disney World  average daily ticket prices (2015-2025):

• 2015: $105 - Standard pricing before tiered/date-based pricing
• 2016: $110 - Introduction of seasonal pricing tiers
• 2017: $115 - Continued implementation of tiered pricing
• 2018: $122 - Shift to date-based pricing model
• 2019: $125 - Minor increase; annual passes rose as well
• 2020: $109 - Temporary price reduction due to Covid
• 2021: $114 - Gradual post-pandemic restoration
• 2022: $129 - Park-specific pricing introduced
• 2023: $139 - Continued price adjustments
• 2024: $149 - Ongoing trend of annual increases
• 2025: $159 - Highest recorded price; from $119–$199, depending on the date

Source: Mickey Visit

Disney also sells a number of other add-ons

• Park Hopper Option: Allows visiting multiple parks in a single day. Prices range from $40–$53 per ticket, depending on the specific add-on chosen.
• Water Park and Sports Option: Provides access to water parks and other sports-related activities. This add-on costs $35 per ticket.
• Park Hopper Plus Option: Combines the benefits of both the Park Hopper and Water Park and Sports options. Prices range from $53–$64 per ticket.

Source: Disney World

How do you purchase Disney Travel Protection?

You can purchase a Travel Protection Plan for eligible trips anytime prior to final payment. To purchase the Travel Protection Plan when making a new reservation, select “Add Travel Protection” at the time of booking. 

To add the plan to an existing reservation:

1. Go to the bottom of any page of Disneyworld.com and select “My Plans.”
2. Select “Change Reservation” next to your package reservation.
3. Scroll down to see if your trip is eligible for a Travel Protection Plan — if it is, “Add” will be available; if it is not, “Add” will be unavailable.
4. Select “Add” and follow the prompts.

You may also add the Travel Protection Plan to your reservation by calling Walt Disney World Resort at (407) 939-5277. 

Source: Disney World

(The Arena Group will earn a commission if you book a trip.)

Please make a free appointment with TheStreet’s Travel Agent Partner, Postcard Travel, or email Amy Post at [email protected] or call or text her at 386-383-2472.

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