Sadly, the Happiest Place on Earth Is Only for the Richest Folks

“You’ve won the Super Bowl, what are you going to do next?”

“I’m going to Disneyland!”

Remember those commercials? At the time, the fantasy family theme park was the place to go. Now, however, things are a-changing. Disney’s woke politics are having an effect on the company’s reputation as well as its finances. Instead of working to please its guests, the company seems to be trying to make up for lost profits with high ticket prices.

It looks like the happiest place on Earth is now for only the rich, because it is unlikely the average family can afford a trip to Disneyland or Disney World. Fox News Digital wrote a piece about a family of four who went to Disney World for five days and four nights and paid about $10,000. Here’s the breakdown:

• Private transportation: $200. The Magical Express courtesy shuttle is no more, so they had to pay for rides to and from the airport.

• Park hopper tickets: $2,550. This allowed them to visit different parks on the same day.

• Genie pass: $300. This let them skip the long lines for rides.

• Food: $950. For sit-down eating.

• Snacks and souvenirs: $700.

Adding the cost of airfare to the amusement park entrance and goodies rounded out the total cost to $10,000. “I feel like Disney is pricing people out, can the average working American family really afford this?” the family’s mother told Fox Business.

Jason Cochran, editor-in-chief of Frommer’s, a travel site, said Disney’s guests are “disenchanted” by the ways the park has changed.  “Disney has not publicly, but very apparently privately made the decision that it wants to court guests that spend more per day than guests used to spend,” he remarked. “In order to do that, it’s done a number of things both to maximize the profit that it’s making on a day-to-day basis and also to increase the prices of access for guests.”

Disney has not been improving its adventure experience as much as it has been subtracting from it. Parking trams in its Orlando parks, except for the Magic Kingdom, are no longer available. Guests at the hotel resorts now have to pay $15 to $25 to park per night while those visiting for the day spend $25 for a regular parking spot, up to $50 in one of the better areas.

Recent Liberty Nation polls have shown that people are concerned about the high cost of living, which doesn’t include a $10,000 trip to fairytale land. When asked if the United States is headed for a recession, 92% said yes, 4% said no, and 4% said they didn’t know.

And with the price at the pumps skyrocketing, who can afford a long road trip to experience Disney’s enchanted world? Sixty percent of those polled expect the average national gas price to go above $6 per gallon by summer, 30% expect the cost to be between $5 and $6, while 10% think it will not go above $5.

Disney also has reduced many of its live entertainment offerings. Cochran said the company has yet to bring back many of the 32,000 employees that were let go during the pandemic and has even eliminated positions.

If you’re looking to escape the high price of the theme parks and are considering Disney cruises instead, well, those aren’t so cheap, either. A brief glimpse at Disney’s cruise website shows the cheapest package is a three-night Baja cruise leaving from San Diego with tickets starting at $1,236. A seven-night Mexican Riviera cruise from San Diego begins at $3,592. However, these prices don’t include other necessities, such as bottled water, hotels, and even wi-fi/internet access. So, the actual price tags will be much higher.

As Liberty Nation Economics Correspondent Andrew Moran earlier reported:

“What was once the must-owned stock on Wall Street has quickly turned into a toxic security. Disney shares recorded a weekly loss of 9.35%, adding to their year-to-date decline of more than 23%.”

Even so, Disney is not backing off on its woke politics. After losing, at least for now, its battle against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ bill to eliminate some of the company’s huge tax breaks, and its continued fight against the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the corporation apparently can’t see the forest for the trees.

As if Disney isn’t getting enough backlash for its in-your-face leftist politics, for example, the company recently released a new LGBTQ+ line of clothing for children. Kids can now get T-shirts, sweaters, backpacks, socks, and bracelets imprinted with the Pride flag. Baby clothes, too, are available -- since it’s never too early to start indoctrination.

Although Disney has been producing the Pride-saluting Rainbow Disney Collection since 2018, the clothing line got a name change to Disney Pride Collection. And it’s not just the rainbow flag being featured on the apparel: Some of the products depict characters such as Mickey Mouse. How about a Pride-themed Star Wars or Marvel product? Yes, those are available, too.

In an announcement, The Walt Disney Company said:

“The Disney Pride Collection was created by LGBTQIA+ employees and allies at The Walt Disney Company and is a reflection of their incredible contributions and place at the heart of the company. We stand in solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ community everywhere.”

In the past, only a small portion of the proceeds of the collection were donated, but now Disney promised in a statement that it will contribute all the revenue from Pride Collection sales to various LGBTQ+ charities until June 30,  the last day of Pride month. Charity is admirable, but perhaps Disney should add to their list financially strapped families who would love to take their kids to the happiest place on Earth.