Is Disneyland even worth visiting anymore?

[Distorian]

I'm looking at a family trip this summer to Disneyland. We've not been since 2022 and with it being America's 250th birthday, the park dedicated to the "the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America" seems like an appropriate place to celebrate. However, the cost for the 4th of July is $200 for a one day, one park ticket. We could go on a weekday instead, but that is still $150 per ticket. Beyond the cost, however, my other concerns come with the declining maintenance of the park, the declining quality of service, the increased demand for smart phone use to access services, and the increased wait times due to Lightning Lane. Even with these factors, is the park still worth visiting compared to the memories of the 2010's or has it really dipped down in value that much?

 

[britain]

Honestly, only with really good discounts and only once every three years or so for my family.

 

[DavidDL]

I can't even fathom how much a family would spend these days on a trip to the park. Let alone one from out of state. My wife and I are firmly in that local "dual income, no kids" category so as long as they keep Haunted Mansion and SoCal Resident tickets around, things aren't so bad for us.

But gosh.. if I had a family of three to four visiting multiple days? Buying food in the park? Little one(s) begging to build a Lightsaber? Lightning Lanes? Parking? Plane tickets and an on-site hotel? Truthfully, you may as well go anywhere else in the world and have a true bucket list experience for a much better value.

Without too much digging or planning, the site I normally use shows 3 weeks in the heart of Tokyo for a family of four at around $6,000 total for flight and hotel.

3 days of the Disneyland Resort for that same family of four after theme park tickets, parking, Lighting Lanes, hotel (Pixar Place) and flights (from out of state), is totaling around $5,161.

 

[shambolicdefending]

The value is lower and the price is much higher than in the past. The majority of people here would agree in that basic viewpoint, IMO.

Is it "worth it" for your family? That's more subjective.

 

[John park hopper]

IMO NO

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Last decade, I used to do 14 day trips to WDW, or a five day trip to DL. Twice per year.

But that was solo. I, too, can't even fathom what one would pay in 2026, never mind times four / five for a family. And with kids that would also mean staying someplace more expensive, during school holidays, with expensive food and merchandise (me I'm perfectly fine with some off-site dump and cereals in the morning and a banana for lunch).
And also, worst of all, not even getting on any good rides if you don't fork out several hundreds of dollars for LL each day.
Just horrific. Getting into $2000 per day territory to visit a theme park?

America now has a nearly completely bifurcated economy though, so I guess it all depends on which side of the fence one sits. I'm not just shocked by how much Disney costs nowadays, I'm equally baffled by cops and nurses earning well into six figures, or professionals making 600k per year and the like. I earn European wages and pay European taxes, so by now all of the above is just some sort of bizarre sci-fi movie set in another universe.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Just go to Silverwood.

 

[DavidDL]

Just go to Silverwood.

Funnily enough, I did this last September! Never did get to pay my respects to Corkscrew while it was here at Knott's Berry Farm (it left just a few months after I was born) so that was fun to say I did. I also liked that their Main Street Theatre was a full-sized theatre that served popcorn and snacks in the lobby. Sort of bummed that I missed the train ride, though. Last departure happened while I was out exploring the rest of the park. Next time!

 

[BrianLo]

I'm equally baffled by cops and nurses earning well into six figures, or professionals making 600k per year and the like

Why? Nursing is a professionally educated, very in demand speciality. Cumulative inflation in the US has been 90% since 2000. Generally a well functioning economy would even like to see wage growth reasonably above inflation. Did nurses not deserve 40-50k 26 years ago? Because that’s the threshold for them to deserve 6 figures today.

I feel like comments like this simply ignore the economic reality. Things can’t be simultaneously more expensive/inflated, but you also want to advocate for wage suppression.

Ps I’m coming at this from the third party Canadian lens, but NHS obviously has its issues as well.

 

[BrianLo]

Disneyland ticket pricing has obviously been Supra-inflationary. The answer to the question is individualized.

Yes it’s an expensive day, but it’s ultimately still a good product. Nothing wrong with visiting every 5 years.

Max pass was ideal, but I still would not trade LL back for paper fast pass. It’s an infinitely more enjoyable product today, cost aside the density of Disneyland attractions make it worth it on a busy park day. Still way more value I derive than the cost multiples express pass runs. I’d easily take 2 minutes on my phone than constantly having to run across the park and backtrack to optimize in the olden fast pass times.

Disneyland/DTD is generally in a better place today sans entertainment. DCA is better than 2010, I guess, but as a whole the resort was at its best a decade ago.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Why? Nursing is a professionally educated, very in demand speciality. Cumulative inflation in the US has been 90% since 2000. Generally a well functioning economy would even like to see wage growth reasonably above inflation. Did nurses not deserve 40-50k 26 years ago? Because that’s the threshold for them to deserve 6 figures today.

I feel like comments like this simply ignore the economic reality. Things can’t be simultaneously more expensive/inflated, but you also want to advocate for wage suppression.

Ps I’m coming at this from the third party Canadian lens, but NHS obviously has its issues as well.

I wasn't going anywhere near any of that. I meant to say that the US and Europe have completely diverged since the 2008 crisis, price wise and income wise.

A nurse in California earns on average $150k. In Germany, $50k. One third. $2000 for one day in a theme park hits very differently.

Salaries on the higher end in the US have enormously outpaced European ones in the last two decades. During the same period, through relentless price hikes, this became the market segment Disney parks now cater to.

Or, to put it more succinctly, US parks are now outrageously expensive, but there is now also a really rather large part of America with outrageously large disposable incomes.

 

[BrianLo]

I wasn't going anywhere near any of that. I meant to say that the US and Europe have completely diverged since the 2008 crisis, price wise and income wise.

A nurse in California earns on average $150k. In Germany, $50k. One third. $2000 for one day in a theme park hits very differently.

Salaries on the higher end in the US have enormously outpaced European ones in the last two decades. During the same period, through relentless price hikes, this became the market segment Disney parks now cater to.

Or, to put it more succinctly, US parks are now outrageously expensive, but there is now also a really rather large part of America with outrageously large disposable incomes.

Ah ok. Sorry I misinterpreted the nature of the comment as nurses (and others) don't deserve to be paid well.

 

[Distorian]

I wasn't going anywhere near any of that. I meant to say that the US and Europe have completely diverged since the 2008 crisis, price wise and income wise.

A nurse in California earns on average $150k. In Germany, $50k. One third. $2000 for one day in a theme park hits very differently.

Salaries on the higher end in the US have enormously outpaced European ones in the last two decades. During the same period, through relentless price hikes, this became the market segment Disney parks now cater to.

Or, to put it more succinctly, US parks are now outrageously expensive, but there is now also a really rather large part of America with outrageously large disposable incomes.

Free market American economic supremacy at play. The European mind can literally not comprehend independence from the regime.

Disneyland ticket pricing has obviously been Supra-inflationary. The answer to the question is individualized.

Yes it’s an expensive day, but it’s ultimately still a good product. Nothing wrong with visiting every 5 years.

Max pass was ideal, but I still would not trade LL back for paper fast pass. It’s an infinitely more enjoyable product today, cost aside the density of Disneyland attractions make it worth it on a busy park day. Still way more value I derive than the cost multiples express pass runs. I’d easily take 2 minutes on my phone than constantly having to run across the park and backtrack to optimize in the olden fast pass times.

Disneyland/DTD is generally in a better place today sans entertainment. DCA is better than 2010, I guess, but as a whole the resort was at its best a decade ago.

This is where I'm feeling. It's undeniably a lower quality product at a higher price, but considering it's been a while since our last trip it seems worth going once this summer and then not going again for a long time since I imagine the situation will only continue to get worse.

 

[Nirya]

I do think it depends very much on your personal situation. For example, for locals, the park is still an exceptionally good value, especially as prices for travel soar in recent months. I still think Magic Keys are probably undervalued compared to the value they provide, but not everyone is going to be able to utilize them to the fullest extent.

But to make a comparison, if you are from out of town there are likely much better bang for your buck. Case in point, this Christmas my partner and I went to Japan, and we spent three days of our trip at TDR; those three days cost significantly less than a trip to Disneyland would have if I was not a local with a Magic Key (to say nothing of WDW, a place that I am convinced at this point I will never go to thanks to the cost). And that price doesn't even cover the rest of our trip, which was similarly cheap compared to a vacation anywhere else in the United States.

I think from a US park perspective, Disneyland still carries value, and I think provides better value compared to WDW, but with how the economy is shifting, that value might not be worth it for many anymore.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm looking at a family trip this summer to Disneyland. We've not been since 2022 and with it being America's 250th birthday, the park dedicated to the "the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America" seems like an appropriate place to celebrate. However, the cost for the 4th of July is $200 for a one day, one park ticket. We could go on a weekday instead, but that is still $150 per ticket. Beyond the cost, however, my other concerns come with the declining maintenance of the park, the declining quality of service, the increased demand for smart phone use to access services, and the increased wait times due to Lightning Lane. Even with these factors, is the park still worth visiting compared to the memories of the 2010's or has it really dipped down in value that much?

I wouldn’t go on the 4th. Crowds can be narsty although if I’m not mistaken in recent years it hasn’t been too bad? Someone correct me if I’m wrong. I’d go before or after the 4th of July weekend.

I think $150 for the best theme park in the world is worth it. Especially if you haven’t been there in a while and you have new stuff to see like Mando Smugglers Run. Would it be worth it for me who was a Magic Key and going 20+ times a year until recently? No. Of course the issue is if you want to do Soarin Across America you’ll need a park hopper so know you re at $220. Which I still think is worth it if you haven’t been in a while and choose the right day.

 

[Figments Friend]

The short answer is YES, Disneyland is indeed worth visiting.
The one and only, and it still carries that legacy and ‘Magic’.

More people should make time to visit Disneyland in sunny California.
Just do it…and enjoy…!



-

 

[Distorian]

I wouldn’t go on the 4th. Crowds can be narsty although if I’m not mistaken in recent years it hasn’t been too bad? Someone correct me if I’m wrong. I’d go before or after the 4th of July weekend.

I think $150 for the best theme park in the world is worth it. Especially if you haven’t been there in a while and you have new stuff to see like Mando Smugglers Run. Would it be worth it for me who was a Magic Key and going 20+ times a year until recently? No. Of course the issue is if you want to do Soarin Across America you’ll need a park hopper so know you re at $220. Which I still think is worth it if you haven’t been in a while and choose the right day.

I didn't even consider Mando Smugglers Run would be open by then. Honestly I was just planning to skip that ride entirely but since it'll be new maybe it'll be worth checking out. Unfortunately that probably means the ride won't be a walk on post-fireworks like it was on my last trip.

I'd love to see the new Soarin' Across America, but I can't justify the additional cost of doing a park hopper just for three rides (Soarin, GRR, and RSR) when I can use that time to do so much at Disneyland. If Tower of Terror and Paradise Pier' were still there, I'd be more willing to consider a park hopper.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by declining maintenance. Disneyland Park in particular is in very good shape at the moment and they are keeping to a very regular maintenance cycle on everything. There's been a very concentrated effort at both resorts in the last three to four years to get on top of maintenance, and they've stuck to it.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by declining maintenance. Disneyland Park in particular is in very good shape at the moment and they are keeping to a very regular maintenance cycle on everything. There's been a very concentrated effort at both resorts in the last three to four years to get on top of maintenance, and they've stuck to it.

The only thing many people here do is complain and let their grievances run their thoughts and posting history.

Not saying that those are never legitimate or that I've never done it, mind (I certainly have had my say about the decline of entertainment and of DCA 2.0 in particular), but it's rampant if you look for it. Not helped by the general direction pricing has gone in the past decade.

I would agree that maintenance has generally been trending in the correct direction.

The other thing to keep in mind is that because of pricing, reservations, and an increase in apathy/grievances, most people here are not visiting near as much as they once did. That makes it easier to go off of the hearsay of other people, and/or trust people that obviously have an agenda to portray the company in a certain light (i.e., they almost never post about good news but will show up gleefully to point out any real or perceived misstep).

Few people here also visit other theme parks on a regular basis, so they do not see that compared to much of the rest of the industry, Disneyland is still pretty darn good compared to most other options. The primary comparison they have is to Disneyland of the past, and there they perceive the current experience to be lacking through that lens (again, not saying they're entirely incorrect here). All of this makes it easy for genuinely good things that are happening to be overlooked or little discussed.

I'm probably one of the only people on this side of the boards that has upped my visitation to the resort in the past few years. For most others, it's been an aggressive move in the other direction for a variety of reasons.

 

[Nirya]

I'd say I hit most of the SoCal parks pretty regularly (Knotts and Universal at least once a year, saw Six Flags and SeaWorld for the first time in years this past year), and yeah, I would agree that the comparison point that people make about Disney declining is definitely with the DLR of the past and not with other parks. Which, if we're being honest, is a fair comparison to make, though it does fit into the general trend of most businesses declining by degrees, as the hunt for more profit and cutting corners has caused everything to feel lesser compared to the past.

But if you're measuring value, yeah, Disneyland still comes out well ahead of everything else in the SoCal area. Most of the other parks in the area have some intriguing hook (Knotts has the most if I'm being honest about the other parks), but generally they pale in comparison to Disney, usually not providing anywhere near the money's worth. Operations are usually poor comparatively, pricing is wildly inconsistent (anyone who complains about Disney's food pricing has never been to SeaWorld, just as an example), and there is a general lack of value to be had for what is being charged.

I think there are a few parks here and there that are providing better value (Silver Dollar City stands out in that regard), but especially in California, Disneyland is clearly at the top.