Why It's More Expensive to Go to Disney World Right Now

A Disney World vacation almost always comes with a hefty price tag, once you add up the cost of your hotel, park tickets, dining, and more. On top of that, you have to make sure you budget for your plane tickets and, if you choose, a rental car.

Walt Disney World Entrance

These days, you may have noticed that the overall cost of a Disney World vacation is a bit more than it usually is — and a big culprit is transportation fees alone!

So why does it cost so much just to GET to Disney World these days? According to CNBC, falling COVID rates nationwide have led to an increase in travel demand, thus an increase in the cost of services like airfare, hotels, and rental cars.

Airfare

Airfare, one of the biggest line items in any vacation budget, is up significantly since April 1st — up 9% for domestic travel and up 17% for international travel.

Airport Crowds

The rise in airfare can also trace back to the fact that tourism destinations around the country like Disney World have not only reopened, but have recently increased capacity and begun to modify health guidelines, like loosening their outdoor face mask policies.

Hotels

Hotels are another major cost in any vacation. Disney World hotels are typically priced at a premium compared to what you would find off-property, but even those hotels in the Orlando area have seen a price bump in recent months.

All-Star Movies

However, while prices have gone up, they have yet to exceed prices travelers would pay prior to the pandemic. According to CNBC, “Orlando hotel rates in early May were $107 a night, up from $62 last year but still below the $133 in 2019.”

Coronado Springs

This trend of rising costs is similar to airfare — while the prices have risen, they are on average still below 2019 costs.

Rental Cars

Another big line item in many vacation budgets is a rental car. While Disney World provides many complimentary transportation options, many guests opt to rent a car for added convenience and flexibility in their schedules, especially if their vacation involves off-property plans such as Universal Orlando or SeaWorld.

Magic Kingdom Parking Entrance

If you’ve searched for rental cars in 2021, you may be well aware of the recent sticker shock. Because of the pandemic, rental car companies sold off upwards of 30 to 40% of their fleet of inventory to cover costs. Now that the demand for travel is back faster than anticipated, the supply cannot keep up, thus a steep increase in the price of a rental car.

Animal Kingdom Parking

In many instances, the cost of a rental car for a week well exceeds the cost of roundtrip airfare these days. If you’re used to renting a car on vacation, this may be an opportunity to consider alternative transportation plans once you arrive in Disney World, or at least be prepared for the added cost.

Magic Kingdom Bus

With airfare, hotel, and rental car costs on the rise, it’s more important than ever to make sure you find any and all discounts and deals on your next Disney World vacation. We’re always on the lookout for new ways to save on everything from hotels to dining, so be sure to check back and follow along!