Is The Magic Kingdom worth it?

[Michael G.]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

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[asianthree]

Pass holder over 15 years. Our CC is Disney bonus $$. So for us 2 Pass holder end cost is less than $300 per year, which breaks down to $12 per visit. It’s Four parks not just MK. We will drive over for lunch or dinner some weeks.

Our Universal is $550 for pass holder, which breaks down to $38 per visit. Epic tickets are outrageous, but in a year our guess is they will be rolling in to pass holder cost. Three parks without epic

So no it’s not a problem for us, but some may struggle with $300-$1500 park entertainment budget per year.

[Papa_lecki]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

https://archive.li/FEiBx

Affordability is in the eye of the beholder (or wallet holder).
Some will say YES, some will say NO.

[Kelevision]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

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The annual passes are a bargain if you like going over. I love the pixie dust pass personally. Weekends and holidays are blocked out but I’d never go during those crazy busy times anyway. It’s around 400 for the year and that includes free parking everywhere. 20% off merchandise and some food and drinks. You can go over for just a few hours for lunch since it’s just an hour tops. I do often.

[MarshBendLover]

It was once great, but over the last fifteen years it has failed for who it really was created for. I'm sure Walt would have never let it happen. Sad.

[Kelevision]

It was once great, but over the last fifteen years it has failed for who it really was created for. I'm sure Walt would have never let it happen. Sad.

True Floridians would never say this. That’s why TV has such a bad reputation with locals. I was born here and watched Disney grow from nothing. It’s fabulous for most of us who love Florida as our home state.

[nhkim]

A couple folks mentioned going over for lunch. Any particular restaurant recommendations?

[USOTR]

We have been Disney senior Florida members for two years now. It's worth it to us, and we plan on renewing.

[Kittycat522]

I’m a pixie dust season passholder I find it’s very worth it. With the regular gate price and $30 parking for one day admission you’re looking at 200 or a little more than $200. And for the pixie pass, I paid $420. So you get your moneys worth after just a couple visits. I go at least once a month but usually 2 to 3 times a month to the parks. Plus, you get a discount on merchandise and dining. I love all the parks, but Epcot is my favorite as I love all the festivals they have. As for restaurants, I love the liberty tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom. I think that’s a hidden gem. This summer they’re running 40% off of dining at certain restaurants for passholders so I’m going to be trying all those restaurants that they’re offering the discount at. I love the parks and I feel there’s always something new to see and with all the upgrades like adding the nighttime parade and New lands and attractions, there’s going to be many new things coming. The park just never get old to me.

[Topspinmo]

No.

[barbnick]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

https://archive.li/FEiBx

We love Disney just for the fact it brings our family down to use us as a base to go to Disney!
We pet sit for the dogs and they go to the park.
(They also come for Christmas and we go together.)

[Nana2Teddy]

[QUOTE=asianthree;2432532]Pass holder over 15 years. Our CC is Disney bonus $$. So for us 2 Pass holder end cost is less than $300 per year, which breaks down to $12 per visit. It’s Four parks not just MK. We will drive over for lunch or dinner some weeks.

Our Universal is $550 for pass holder, which breaks down to $38 per visit. Epic tickets are outrageous, but in a year our guess is they will be rolling in to pass holder cost. Three parks without epic

So no it’s not a problem for us, but some may struggle with $300-$1500 park entertainment budget per year.[/QUOTE

Doesn’t the Disney CC have an annual fee? We never got it because of that. We just purchase our APs using our Costco VISA that has rewards points. With the 15% discount on renewals our Pixie Passes haven’t been more than the original price of $399 for 3 years now. We more than get our money’s worth even going sporadically, and never in summer unless just to enjoy a meal at a resort hotel.

Having grown up from age 3 with Disneyland though, WDW will never compare to Walt’s original park. I miss it, and always go when we go home to see the kids and grandson.

[Nana2Teddy]

The annual passes are a bargain if you like going over. I love the pixie dust pass personally. Weekends and holidays are blocked out but I’d never go during those crazy busy times anyway. It’s around 400 for the year and that includes free parking everywhere. 20% off merchandise and some food and drinks. You can go over for just a few hours for lunch since it’s just an hour tops. I do often.

Ditto! This is what we have and do. :)

[Bill14564]

Doesn’t the Disney CC have an annual fee? We never got it because of that. We just purchase our APs using our Costco VISA that has rewards points. With the 15% discount on renewals our Pixie Passes haven’t been more than the original price of $399 for 3 years now. We more than get our money’s worth even going sporadically, and never in summer unless just to enjoy a meal at a resort hotel.

Having grown up from age 3 with Disneyland though, WDW will never compare to Walt’s original park. I miss it, and always go when we go home to see the kids and grandson.

My Disney CC through Chase has a $49 fee. At 2% back, $2,500 worth of purchases pays for the card. We easily make money on this card.

[Nana2Teddy]

True Floridians would never say this. That’s why TV has such a bad reputation with locals. I was born here and watched Disney grow from nothing. It’s fabulous for most of us who love Florida as our home state.
I have the same love for Disneyland in Calif because I grew up with it from age 3 in 1956, so I understand how you feel. While Disneyland will always be where I feel nostalgic every time I go, I’m loving exploring Disney World as an AP holder now. There’s so much to see and do that it’ll never get old, and we’ll likely never see it all. I’m bummed though at the changes they’re going to make at MK. We love the Rivers of America, Liberty Belle, and Tom Sawyer’s Island. I think it’s an age thing and get that it’s not as popular with the younger generations. Thankfully, we’ll still have it at Disneyland whenever we visit.

[ilwitxvafl]

Pass holder over 15 years. Our CC is Disney bonus $$. So for us 2 Pass holder end cost is less than $300 per year, which breaks down to $12 per visit. It’s Four parks not just MK. We will drive over for lunch or dinner some weeks.

Our Universal is $550 for pass holder, which breaks down to $38 per visit. Epic tickets are outrageous, but in a year our guess is they will be rolling in to pass holder cost. Three parks without epic

So no it’s not a problem for us, but some may struggle with $300-$1500 park entertainment budget per year.
I am relatively new to TV and I was looking at the UOAP FL resident rates and I cannot find a Villages discount anywhere. I must be looking in the wrong place. Some info on Disney would be a great help as well. Thanks in advance!

[bgalasso]

101 percent worth it, i can always make more money, but you only get 1 chance to make a memory.....

[Bill14564]

I am relatively new to TV and I was looking at the UOAP FL resident rates and I cannot find a Villages discount anywhere. I must be looking in the wrong place. Some info on Disney would be a great help as well. Thanks in advance!

Never heard of a Villages discount. We’re not that significant.

Searching on “Disney annual pass Florida resident” (and Universal) should help you find what you’re looking for.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

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Please ask a 9 year old. . or maybe 10

its all affordable once for my grand kids at this point.. . I suspect more than once. . for me, no, for them yes, at least once,

[Fenster]

First, it’s for children. Can’t understand why adults would like it. Do they sit at home and play with Barbie and GI Joe?

Second, it’s ridiculously expensive. Hotel rooms for $700? At Disney?
Admission over $100. Parking.

Lastly, their politics are disturbing. TOTV is a no-politics zone, rightfully, so enough said on that.

[Cliff Fr]

The admission price in 1977 was $6. After inflation $6 then is now worth $31. I would say that a lot more people can now not afford to go. Especially families or lower middle class people.

[asianthree]

[QUOTE=

Doesn’t the Disney CC have an annual fee? We never got it because of that. We just purchase our APs using our Costco VISA that has rewards points. With the 15% discount on renewals our Pixie Passes haven’t been more than the original price of $399 for 3 years now. We more than get our money’s worth even going sporadically, and never in summer unless just to enjoy a meal at a resort hotel.

Having grown up from age 3 with Disneyland though, WDW will never compare to Walt’s original park. I miss it, and always go when we go home to see the kids and grandson.[/QUOTE]





Our Disney Rewards doesn’t have a fee. As I posted Our end cost Pass holder is less than $300, for us (Two). Our Two 2024 Pass Holder was $700 then deducted our Disney Rewards Points for both was $234.
Disney Rewards is well worth for us, Four years our points covered entirely, Plus we do still acquire 8-10 free Disney Tickets for family by Volunteering. Our Universal tickets renew in November, hopefully Epic may be in pass holders package.

Rumor has it Disney pass holder rates may drop in January, when we renew. Thinking Epic may have a deciding factor in the equation. Have already taken advantage of significant drop in Deluxe Hotel rates, plus deals on Sit down restaurants.
Waiting to see if DVC resale points will drop. Plus with Marriot points now transfers to Disney Hotels, there may be more deals in the future.
We decided next year instead of usual Disney Land trip we are using passports for new Disney Experiences, before we hit our 70s.

[CFrance]

[QUOTE=asianthree;2432532]Pass holder over 15 years. Our CC is Disney bonus $$. So for us 2 Pass holder end cost is less than $300 per year, which breaks down to $12 per visit. It’s Four parks not just MK. We will drive over for lunch or dinner some weeks.

Our Universal is $550 for pass holder, which breaks down to $38 per visit. Epic tickets are outrageous, but in a year our guess is they will be rolling in to pass holder cost. Three parks without epic

So no it’s not a problem for us, but some may struggle with $300-$1500 park entertainment budget per year


.[/QUOTE Having grown up from age 3 with Disneyland though, WDW will never compare to Walt’s original park. I miss it, and always go when we go home to see the kids and grandson.
I'm with you on that one. Our first Disney visit was to Disneyland. Somehow, Magic Kingdom in FL just doesn't compare. Especially Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted House.


Went with our Aussie kids & grands to Disney World a couple years ago. MK was old and not very clean. Same thing this year. And what happened to those beautiful fountains that shot little jets of water from one fountain to the next?
Also, there were no Disney characters wandering around greeting people like there were back in the '90s. You had to reserve a place to see them. No casual meetups.


The only good thing was that pass you can buy the day of your visit that lets you skip the longer lines. But even that has gotten more restrictive and expensive since they ditched the Fast Pass. And you have to plan your day out ahead to make the best use of it. But my DIL's a Ph.D. in math and sees everything in sets, so we let her take over.


The parking is not $30 per ticket, BTW. It's per car. So for us it was $5/person. Having lived on the East Coast and paid for parking in Manhattan, I didn't think that was too bad.

[kingofbeer]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

https://archive.li/FEiBx
No. It's too hot to enjoy the park now.

[kkingston57]

It was once great, but over the last fifteen years it has failed for who it really was created for. I'm sure Walt would have never let it happen. Sad.

Created for kids and there are more strollers there than golf carts in TV. We have a season pass and parks are worth it. Can't imagine paying $170 plus a day per person and $30 to park.

[kkingston57]

The admission price in 1977 was $6. After inflation $6 then is now worth $31. I would say that a lot more people can now not afford to go. Especially families or lower middle class people.

Did go to WDW in 74 . Big changes since that time. No exciting/adrenaline filled rides back then. No yearly passes then and we had a coupon book for rides. We bought season passes and our average price is around $30 a visit.

Prices on all entertainment has gone up. Learned to ski in 1980. Lift ticket was <$20 at the window. Now approaching $300.

[tophcfa]

Is the Magic Kingdom worth it? I guess that’s a matter of opinion. I wouldn’t wast my time going there if it was free. I hate crowds and can’t stand waiting in lines. What’s up with adults going to a place for kids and what’s the attraction of a friggin mouse? The Villages is like Disney Land for adults, why pay good money to go to Orlando and wait in lines with all the stuff we already have that’s designed for adults? To each his/her own?

[Topspinmo]

My Disney CC through Chase has a $49 fee. At 2% back, $2,500 worth of purchases pays for the card. We easily make money on this card.

But, don’t you have to spend money… there no free lunch except in public schools. O wait somebody even paying for that….:icon_bored:

[Topspinmo]

Did go to WDW in 74 . Big changes since that time. No exciting/adrenaline filled rides back then. No yearly passes then and we had a coupon book for rides. We bought season passes and our average price is around $30 a visit.

Prices on all entertainment has gone up. Learned to ski in 1980. Lift ticket was <$20 at the window. Now approaching $300.

For 300 bucks I’d walk up mountain… :wave:

[Bill14564]

But, don’t you have to spend money… there no free lunch except in public schools. O wait somebody even paying for that….:icon_bored:

If I normally would put $3K+ per month on a credit card whether it's a Disney card or not then at 2% cash back the first month more than covers the fee and the other 11 month are cash in my pocket. I'll take that.

[margaretmattson]

A couple folks mentioned going over for lunch. Any particular restaurant recommendations? Go to Disney Springs. Jaleo, Boathouse, Art Smith's Homecoming, Morimoto Asia, Raglan Road, Gideon's cookies, and many more. At night, they have a wonderful drone light show. IMO, it is the best area to dine in Disney.

During your first visit, buy individual items from the walk up counters. It is the same food served in the sit down restaurants,but gives you an opportunity to sample several dishes.

[Nana2Teddy]

Go to Disney Springs. Jaleo, Boat House, Art Smith's Homecoming, Giddeons cookies, and many more. At night, they have a wonderful drone light show. IMO, it is the best area to dine in Disney.

Some of these places require a reservation that’s difficult to get. Definitely Art Smith’s Homecoming is a tough one. I think the drone show was a limited run that ended months ago.

[Nana2Teddy]

My Disney CC through Chase has a $49 fee. At 2% back, $2,500 worth of purchases pays for the card. We easily make money on this card.

Our Costco VISA card has a better rewards structure than that with no annual fee. We use it for everything. I guess our big annual rewards check is paying for our two Disney passes and more. I just hadn’t thought of it that way, lol.

[margaretmattson]

Some of these places require a reservation
that’s difficult to
get. Definitely
Art Smith’s
Homecoming is
a tough one. I
think the drone
show was a
limited run that ended months ago. Thanks. I updated my post to explain that there are walk up counters. Also, if you do not have a reservation, there is available seating in the bars. We have gone to some of the restaurants without a reservation and was able to be seated. Wait time was 30-40 minutes. Lunch is much easier than dinner.

A neighbor said the drone show will be returning. Not certain if she meant Disney Springs.

[buzzk]

We aren’t Florida residents but still have annual passes and come down from NC every month. We have a new house under contract in TV but will probably keep our incredi-pass and not get a lower pass because we don’t want any blackout dates. We love going to the parks and it really comes down to how much you enjoy Disney and most importantly how often you would use it.

[Bill14564]

Our Costco VISA card has a better rewards structure than that with no annual fee. We use it for everything. I guess our big annual rewards check is paying for our two Disney passes and more. I just hadn’t thought of it that way, lol.

There are pros and cons to both cards. The percentages look better for the Costco card but the fine print may make a difference. If I ever decide to buy a Costco membership I might consider it.

[Eg_cruz]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

https://archive.li/FEiBx
No family of 5 $1300 a day….no

[Jtown]

Do you feel it's still affordable even with our residence discounts?

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Well, if you had gone before COVID ,it was wonderful in my opinion. We have gone back twice after COVID and it’s lost all the magic charm in our opinion. It appears it’s only about charging more and giving less. Rides were down (several) people were upset about all the additional charges in place to get on rides you have already paid for! But if you have never been to Disney this could be a magical experience if you can’t compare it to anything else. Good luck and hope you have a fantastic time .

[Nana2Teddy]

Thanks. I updated my post to explain that there are walk up counters. Also, if you do not have a reservation, there is available seating in the bars. We have gone to some of the restaurants without a reservation and was able to be seated. Wait time was 30-40 minutes. Lunch is much easier than dinner.

A neighbor said the drone show will be returning. Not certain if she meant Disney Springs.

Margaret, thank you for this info. I didn’t know about the walk-up counters, and I do hope the drone show returns because we didn’t make it to the first run of it.

For dining reservations that are tougher to get I use a couple of iPhone apps. We do usually aim for lunch rather than dinner though.