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I grew up going to Disney World, and it remains my favorite vacation destination throughout my life.
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Now, however, I feel that Orlando Park, Florida, is losing the magic that makes it so special.
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Holidays became unaffordable as prices skyrocketed, and the loss of classic attractions changed Disney’s unique landscape.
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However, dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and layoffs of Disney World employees is what really climbs the deal for fans like me.
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I was about 18 months old when I first visited Disney World.
I do not remember anything about that trip, but old photos make me believe I loved it about every second – that is, if you do not count photos that make me cry next to Pooh and Tigger during breakfast.
From then on, my parents took my sister and I to Disney World as often as they could afford it. We drive every two or three years from New Jersey to Orlando, Florida, and ride a week on roller coasters, take photos with princesses and eat countless Mickey Mouse ice cream bars.
It’s been more than five years since I last visited, and much has changed at the theme parks. Ticket prices were raised, classic attractions were replaced with new ones, and beloved cast members lost their jobs.
No matter how far I look into the future, I’m worried that the Disney World I grew up for will not be there when I return.
The rising prices of Disney World vacations have made it difficult for fans like me to afford trips to the theme park
When I first visited Disney World in 1997, the single-day tickets for adults cost about $ 39, and children’s one-day tickets cost about $ 32, according to the Disney website AllEars. Ten years later, in 2007, single tickets for adults increased between $ 67 and $ 71, and children’s tickets for one day ranged from $ 56 to $ 60.
Due to consistent price increases, one-day Disney tickets for adults and children now cost more than $ 100, according to AllEars. The price goes up even more if you choose to visit during a ‘peak’ season, or if you buy a Park Hopper pass that allows you to go back and forth between Disney World’s four parks.
And it’s not just tickets that have risen in price. Food, souvenirs, holiday events and more have also become more expensive. In an article on price increases in the park between 2019 and the beginning of last year, Courtney Willingham of The Disney Food Blog wrote: ‘It looks like Walt Disney World and the phrase’ price changes’ are attached to the hip. “
Obviously, price increases at any theme park – and most other businesses – are likely to occur. But over the years, it has become clear that the rising prices of Disney World are the result of more than inflation.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Disney World has raised its prices by about double the inflation rate during the 2010s, and the reasons for that for the theme park differ, as reported by Reader’s Digest.
Disney World’s seasonal ticket prices, for example, encourage Disney fans to plan their vacations far in advance and therefore spend more money. The introduction of luxury hotels, VIP tours and other excellent services, on the other hand, attracted wealthy travelers.
The merits of these expensive tickets and amenities at the park have helped Disney World install major attractions – including Pandora in Animal Kingdom and Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios – and compete with surrounding theme parks, such as the nearby Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
As Robert Niles, editor of Theme Park Insider, told Business Insider earlier: “Disney does not like to lose – not only does it lose, Disney also does not like to compete. Disney wants to dominate its competition. “
If you visit Disney World, your favorite attractions may no longer be
When Disney World opened in 1971, only a handful of the original rides were inspired by the company’s movies, programs and other intellectual property (IP). Today, however, Disney World’s IP attractions – such as the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and the entire Toy Story Land – have more to offer than attractions such as Space Mountain and the Jungle Cruise.
This is partly because many of these newer rides with IP themes have replaced classic and beloved attractions. The Maelstrom in Epcot was revamped in 2014 with a “Frozen” theme, similar to how “Finding Nemo” characters were attracted to The Living Seas in 2006.
Hollywood Studios has also undergone major changes over the past few years, as The Great Movie Ride, Studio Backlot Tour, Streets of America, and more have been removed to make way for IP attractions, including Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge. As a result, the film aesthetics of Hollywood Studios have almost completely disappeared.
Although I have not yet experienced many of the newer IP attractions myself, I have enjoyed others a lot. The Living Seas with Nemo and Friends is cute to me, and newer additions to Fantasyland are magical. So I have no doubt that the other attractions of Disney World with IP themes – and what will come in the future – will be different.
Still, nostalgia strikes me as a temptation to plan a Disney World vacation. When I’m stressed or having a bad day, I daydream about running around in the parks without taking care of myself in the world. But knowing that the destination I’m nostalgic for is not the same – and changing more and more every day – makes me less likely to shell out hundreds of dollars for a trip.
Read more: 33 photos of old Disney World attractions we want will be back
Overall, it was Disney World’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic that really made me lose confidence in my favorite theme park.
In mid-March 2020, Disney World temporarily closed its doors to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But even on the last day that was open that month, Disney World took a risky step by gathering Mickey Mouse, his friends and numerous cast members for a farewell procession in front of hundreds of parkgoers.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Disney World reopened in mid-July, despite an increase in COVID-19 cases in Florida and other parts of the world. Although some people criticized Disney’s decision, hundreds of others flocked to the destination on the opening day, and even more have visited it since.
Personally, I was discouraged about the whole situation. Although I knew that many members of the Disney World parties would struggle financially if the parks remained closed, it did not seem like a better option to have them work with thousands of travelers during a pandemic, so they run the risk to get sick.
But that’s when Disney World started firing thousands of its employees.
Read more: Disney World employees describe the cost of staying safe as cases of coronavirus in Florida
According to The Washington Post, the theme park giant, according to Thanksgiving, planned to remove 32,000 of its workers. Almost immediately after the dismissal began, bills appeared of former employees struggling to pay their bills and relying on food banks for meals.
And when I read a story after a heartbreaking story of those affected, I could not help but wonder how the holiday destination with sky-high ticket prices and constant refurbishment could not afford to help those who create the magic.
Now I’m worried the magic will not be there when I return to Disney World
After a long time, I was planning to visit Disney World with my best friend in May 2020. While I knew some of my favorite places like the Great Movie Ride would not be there anymore, I was still excited to experience Disney World’s latest attractions.
Of course, these plans were quickly canceled, and to be honest, I’m not keen on rescheduling them.
The expensive park tickets do not seem worth it because shows, parades, fireworks and more have been stopped, and I’m not sure if I want to experience new attractions for the first time while wearing a mask. But most importantly, I can not imagine visiting Disney World without the players who have always helped make my vacations and millions of others so special.
I still love Disney World, and I know that one day, when it’s completely safe, I’ll return. But at the moment I can not say that I have much confidence in the future of the most magical place on earth.
Read more: Do not make the same mistake as when I visited Disney World during the pandemic. It’s just not worth it.
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