Credit: DisneySelect Disney guests face sudden price increases for 2026, with emails distributed to those who must pay more for their vacations.
Disney vacations have never exactly been considered budget-friendly, but many fans argue that prices have soared at an unprecedented pace since COVID-19. Today, a one-day ticket to Magic Kingdom can reach $199 per person, while Disneyland Resort tops out at $206 — and that doesn’t even include Park Hopper.
In comparison, the Disney Cruise Line has undergone several favorable changes in regards to prices lately. For example, deposits were slashed from 20% to 10% in June. Meanwhile, a massive limited-time 40% discount was introduced earlier this month for select Disney Cruise Line sailings between October 17 and December 19, 2025.
But one price increase was just confirmed for select guests.
Price Increase Confirmed For Some Disney Cruise Line Guests
The State of Hawaii decided to extend its Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) to include cruise ship passengers earlier this year, which means guests will now need to cover the 11% Transient Accommodations Tax (TAT) and the 3% Local County TAT in their cruise ship fares.
That’s a whopping 14% tax for the portion of your fare in which the boat is docked in Hawaii.
This change officially kicks in on January 1, 2026. So far, the Disney Cruise Line has confirmed that this impacts two upcoming sailings: the South Pacific Cruise that sets sail on February 2 and the Hawaiian Cruise from February 16, 2026.
The new tax has been incorporated into the taxes, fees, and port expenses for each reservation. Disney started notifying relevant passengers today (September 25), issuing notices for the final payment deadlines for this updated total.
For those who have already paid off their upcoming voyages, that means an extra payment will be necessary to make up the difference in cost.
One guest noted that their trip has now increased in price by over $400 – a hefty increase for an already pricey vacation.
Have you received a notice from the Disney Cruise Line about an upcoming price increase?