While most people think of Disney as the “Happiest Place on Earth,” it can also be one of the most expensive. Single-day, single-park tickets are 150 times more expensive since Disneyland’s debut 70 years ago.
For some, the magic of one of the most popular attractions in the world is overshadowed by ever-increasing ticket prices and astronomical add-ons. Not only are the parks pricey for those with a modest income and budget, they are even becoming steep for the more affluent.
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Here are the four things even the upper middle class can’t afford at Disney.
Table Service Dining
Disney parks are known for having a wide variety of dining options for guests. From quick-service seat yourself choices to dining with characters, park attendees can opt to spend a little or a lot on food during their visit.
Unfortunately, some of the dining options come with a price tag that is nearly unaffordable even upper-middle-class families. For example, dinner at ‘Ohana in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort costs $60 or more per adult. An adult entree from Disneyland’s Blue Bayou Restaurant, located in New Orleans Square, generally costs $35 to $59.99.
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Lightning Lane Passes
Guests hoping to skip the dreaded long lines of popular rides may be interested in lightning lane passes. Lightning lane passes allow guests to skip the standby line and enter a special entrance with a shorter line. The passes are purchased in addition to normal tickets.
Today, a single day pass to a Disney park runs around $103 to $206 depending on the date. Lightning lane single passes vary by date and attraction, while a lightning lane multi pass costs around $30 at Disney World and $36 at Disneyland. For a family of four, adding this perk can become quite costly.
Due to the popularity of lightning passes and the daunting wait times at most attractions, Disney now offers a Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which allows guests to have one-time entry to every lightning lane experience in the park. The Premier Passes are subject to availability and have very limited availability. They also come with a jaw-dropping price tag of $300 to $400 per day on top of the cost of admission.
Annual Passes
Until recently, an annual pass was one of the best deals in town if you wanted to experience Disney more than a couple of times a year. According to Park Lore, a Premium Annual Pass to Walt Disney World was $539 for ages 10 and up.
Today, a Disney Incredi-Pass costs $1,549 plus tax per person. Similarly, an annual pass with the least amount of blackout dates at Disneyland runs $1,749. While less expensive passes are available, they come with significant limitations or limited availability.
Disney Resorts
A summer stay at a moderately-priced Disney resort in Florida will cost $300 to $400 a night. Upgrade to slightly nicer accommodations, and the price doubles or even triples.
Guests hoping to find lodging near Disneyland have significantly less options if they want to stay on property. The least expensive hotel is Pixar Place Hotel, which still costs over $500 per night on average during a summer weekend.
While hotel guests receive perks like early access to the parks, they must still purchase theme park tickets making it a pretty pricey vacation even for upper middle class families.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Things the Upper Middle Class Can’t Afford at Disney
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