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Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is a dream destination for many. Millions of people visit the Most Magical Place on Earth every year. But a Disney vacation is expensive, with both expected and hidden costs that drive up many families’ overall budget.
Theme park tickets and buying food at the resort are some obvious costs associated with a Disney trip, and fans may be surprised to find out how much prices for those things have risen recently.
To understand how costs have changed at Disney World over the last decade, FinanceBuzz tracked prices for park tickets, as well as 10 iconic food items between 2014 and 2024.
Key findings
- The prices for food favorites at Walt Disney World have inflated 61% on average over the last 10 years.
- The cost of food at Disney World has inflated more than the cost of a single park ticket, which has risen by 56%.
- Walt Disney World food prices have significantly outpaced the rate of actual inflation (32%).
How prices have changed for iconic Disney foods
The prices for a number of popular Disney treats have increased by 50% or more in the last 10 years. That’s significantly higher than the real-world inflation rate of 32% over the same time period.
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Most egregious among Disney food inflation is the bread service at Sanaa, a restaurant in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Sanaa bread service is a beloved meal for many Disney fans, but it’s also had a bigger price increase than any other food item we looked at.
Since 2014, the price for Sanaa’s bread service, which includes five breads and nine different dips and sauces, has risen from $9.99 to $22.00. That means the cost has more than doubled in a single decade.
The only other iconic Disney World treat to double in price is the corn dog nuggets from Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom, which have gone from $4.99 to $10.79 since 2014.
While not as drastic, other popular treat prices that have outpaced the rate of inflation (32%) include Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream bars (63%), the famous Dole Whip (58%), churros (54%), and the fish and chips meal at the Rose & Crown Dining Room in EPCOT.
Disney disinflation
Mickey waffles are the one beloved snack that has actually seen prices stay below the rate of real-world inflation (32%). The waffles are just 30% more expensive today than they were in 2014.
The price of another core Disney cost, a park ticket, has also stayed relatively reasonable. The cost of the cheapest possible theme park ticket at Walt Disney World has risen by just 21% in the last decade, and it hasn’t changed at all since 2019.
It’s worth noting that the price for the highest-cost Disney ticket (on peak park days) has risen by 91% in the same time period. But peak ticket prices happen only a handful of times throughout the year when park attendance is at its absolute highest.
What you can expect to pay for food at Walt Disney World
Of course, many beloved Disney World treats are smaller, still relatively affordable items that visitors can grab on the go. People planning a Disney trip might prefer to see how the actual price tag has changed for these items, rather than the percentage increase.
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Prices for every single item have risen by at least $1.50, with most going up by at least $2 since 2014. The price of Sanaa bread service has gone up by $12.00 in ten years, which is more than any other food item we looked at. Corn dog nuggets ($5.80), fish and chips ($4.50), and turkey legs ($4.00) are other iconic Disney World foods that have gone up in price by $4 or more since 2014.
But while food costs have skyrocketed, the base price for the most affordable Disney World tickets has remained remarkably stable, going up just $19 from 2014 to 2024. That means that the cost of a ticket to one of Disney World’s four theme parks has gone up just $7 more than Sanaa’s bread service, despite being 10 times more expensive to start with.
Tips for saving money on a magical vacation
You don’t have to be an Imagineer to get the most bang for your buck at the Most Magical Place on Earth. To save some cash, you can plan your Disney visit for the right time of year, prioritize parks with lower demand, and create a budget for a must-have food list.
Beyond these basic strategies, here are a few more tips for getting the most for your money on your next Disney vacation:
- Save in advance for all your Dole Whips and Mickey Waffles. If your trip is planned far enough ahead, learning how to save money in advance can improve your Disney experience. You can create a nice vacation fund so you can pay for all of your magical experiences and meals without worry.
- Earn Disney-ready rewards on your purchases. Some credit cards let you earn rewards that can be used for lodging in, and travel to, Disney, while other cards offer bonuses for purchases made in the parks. Explore the best credit cards for Disney.
- Earn rewards for dining at the parks. If you manage to snag dining reservations at popular Disney restaurants, then come equipped with one of the best credit cards for dining. These cards offer rewards on dining purchases, such as points and cash back.
Methodology
Current menu prices were sourced directly from the official Walt Disney World website. Historic prices were collected from the official Disney World website and AllEars.net via the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
Inflation rates are based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI Inflation Calculator. Inflation rates were collected in May 2024.
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Benefits
Card Details
- Discounts on select Disney purchases
- Intro vacation financing offer on select Disney vacation packages
- $0 annual fee
- Apply Now
- Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn 1% in Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases. There are no limits to the number of Rewards Dollars you can earn.
- 0% promo APR for 6 months on select Disney vacation packages from the date of purchase, after that a variable APR of 18.49% to 27.49%
- 10% off select merchandise purchases at select locations and 10% off select dining locations most days at the Disneyland® Resort and Walt Disney World® Resort.
- Save 10% on select purchases at DisneyStore.com
- Member FDIC
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Intro Offer
Earn a $150 Statement Credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
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