ORLANDO, Fla. — It's the "most magical place on Earth," but what's the actual cost of all that Disney magic?
For many families, a trip to one (or several) of Walt Disney World's four Florida theme parks — the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom — is a dream vacation.
But to make those dreams a reality, knowing the price tag before being transported to a "whole new world" is key. We found an average family of four could spend at least $800 for just one day at one of the Orlando-area parks.
Here's a deep dive into the current average cost of a Disney World vacation for a family of four:
Currently, the price for a standard, single-day ticket to any of Walt Disney World's four theme parks starts at $109. That doesn't account for extra fees, taxes, holidays or park hopper options.
It's also important to note each park can be priced differently, depending on the day. Typically, the highest prices are for the Magic Kindom and Hollywood Studios while EPCOT and Animal Kingdom tend to be lower.
Single-day prices can range from $109 to $189, according to Disney's booking website.
Disney does have a couple of offers for multi-day ticket packages that drop the price of a single-day ticket slightly, depending on which option you choose. Florida residents can save a little more on these multi-day ticket packages.
- Single-day ticket: $109+
- Annual pass: $1,449
- Florida resident Discover Disney 3-day ticket deal: $219
Total average single-day ticket cost for a family of four at a Walt Disney World theme park: $464.36 - $805.16 after taxes. Again, this does not account for a multi-day ticket bundle or additional features or perks.
Reservations: Depending on what type of ticket you have, you may need to reserve your spot before heading to the theme park. To see if your ticket requires a reservation, click or tap here.
Discounts: Discounted tickets can be purchased for members of different businesses and organizations, including GOVX, AAA, AARP, Costco and Sam's Club.
Food and drink
Whether you're staying for a single day or strapping in for an extra-long vacation at Disney, staying fed and hydrated is essential, especially in the hot Florida sun.
According to Disney's website, food items can range from $15 to more than $60 per person. According to travel blog Mickey Visit, it's not unusual to spend anywhere from $50-$80 per person during a typical day at a Disney World park.
For a family of four, that equates to between $200-$320 per day for food.
For drinks, Mickey Visit says non-alcoholic drinks average about $5 and $12 for alcoholic ones.
Guests who book a Disney resort hotel package can also buy a dining plan. Those plans, depending on which option you choose and the duration of your stay, appear to range from between $60-$100 per person each day. You can get more information by clicking or tapping here.
Hotel
Even if you are a Florida resident, many Disney World parkgoers don't live super close to Orlando, meaning a hotel stay even overnight needs to be factored into the cost of a Disney trip.
Of course, Disney offers several resorts and hotels — more than 30 — for guests. For a standard room at a Disney hotel or resort, the average per-night stay for a family of four ranges from under $200 to over $900. Depending on the time of year, those prices can fluctuate even more. Florida residents may be able to save more money with special discounts.
For those looking outside Disney property, hotel prices near the theme park start as low as around $100 per night.
If you and your family are staying at a Disney World resort, parking is typically complimentary, except at certain locations.
But if you're coming from off Disney property, the standard parking at Disney's four theme parks is $30 per day and preferred parking is $45, $50, or $55 per day.
If you and your family are banking on riding your favorite rides, getting Disney Genie+ may be your best option. This replaced the old FastPass system in 2021. While prices vary depending on the attraction and dates, the service per ticket starts at $15.
How much will a Disney vacation cost a family of four?
Adding all the lowest-option costs, here's how much an average one-day stay at Walt Disney World would be for a family of four. This total does not include airfare.
- Tickets: $464.36
- Food and drink: $200
- Hotel: $100
- Parking: $30
- 4 Disney Genie+ passes: $15 each
Average 1-day grand total: $854.36