A fed-up Florida father is going viral—and striking a chord with hardworking Americans—after exposing the brutal reality behind a one-day trip to Walt Disney World that left his wallet gasping for air and his family more frustrated than enchanted.
Craig Stowell, a father of three and Florida resident, recently took his family to the iconic Orlando theme park and walked away $1,400 poorer after just one day. In a now-viral TikTok video, Stowell detailed the eye-popping costs of a so-called “magical” experience—and he’s not sugarcoating it.
“I don’t want to say it this way,” Stowell said, “but if you do the average cost per ride, it probably isn’t really worth it.”
That’s right. For a single day of family “fun,” Stowell shelled out nearly $1,000 on tickets alone—\$974, even with the Florida resident discount. Add in \$30 for parking, overpriced food, and the upsell on Disney’s infamous “Lightning Pass” (which would have cost another \$400 just to avoid spending the whole day in lines), and you’ve got what Stowell calls a “cash cow” that caters more to Disney’s bottom line than to American families.
Appearing on “FOX & Friends,” Stowell said the experience opened his eyes to just how out-of-touch Disney has become with the everyday family. “It started with the ticket purchase,” he explained, “and then it ran right into the parking, and then it just was like a cash cow for the rest of the day.”
This isn’t just one dad griping. His story is striking a nerve because it reflects a larger trend: Disney has been jacking up prices year after year, while the average American is trying to stretch every dollar. In fact, internal Disney surveys reportedly show a *decline* in guests planning return visits—hardly shocking when the “Happiest Place on Earth” feels more like the most expensive place on Earth.
And now, Disney is hiking prices again for 2026. Single-day tickets are set to reach as high as $199. For a family of five, that’s nearly $1,000 just to walk through the gates—before food, parking, souvenirs, or even a sip of water.
Stowell believes Disney is deliberately pricing out local families in favor of high-rollers willing to spend thousands over five-day resort stays. “Unfortunately, I don’t think those day-trippers are what Disney wants,” he said. “They want you to never leave the park. They want you there for five days, and they want you to drop 10 grand.”
That’s a far cry from the Disney many Americans grew up with—the one Walt himself envisioned as a place where families from all walks of life could make memories. Today’s Disney appears more interested in maximizing profit margins and pushing ideological agendas than serving Middle America.
Stowell’s viral video resonated with millions, and for good reason. “It’s very relatable,” he said. “Disney’s always a hot topic and we’re all trying to pinch pennies.”
It turns out the magic at Disney may still exist—but only if your credit card limit is high enough. For many American families, it’s becoming increasingly clear: the real fantasy is being able to afford it.
