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Credit: ITMIs Disney too expensive?
Related: Disney Folds After Guest Complaints, Makes Changes at Haunted Mansion
Guests have seen a lot change at Walt Disney World and the resort’s four theme parks. From new rides and attractions to the closure of fan-favorite, decades-old locations, it seems like something is changing or being updated every day at “The Most Magical Place on Earth.”
This year has been especially busy for Walt Disney World, with 2025 marking the end of several iconic attractions and areas. This summer, guests said goodbye to Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat at Magic Kingdom. Guests also said goodbye to Muppet*Vision 3D and It’s Tough to Be a Bug.
Next year, Disney World will lose more attractions, namely the rip-roaring adventure through time, DINOSAUR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
This is to say that Disney World is constantly changing, with the goal being to get as many visitors through the theme park gates as possible. However, it seems that visitors have turned away from Disney in 2025.
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According to a new report, Walt Disney World faced its slowest time of the year during September, with attendance dropping to its lowest level since 2021.
Crowd-tracking data from Disney Tourist Blog and Thrill-Data shows that average wait times dropped to roughly 24 minutes per ride.
Despite low wait times, Disney has reported booming profits and revenue. Online, guests have described Walt Disney World as a “ghost town.”
“There is literally nobody here,” said one guest. “There is no wait time for anything. Space Mountain — walk on. Haunted Mansion — walk on. Pirates of the Caribbean — walk on. The longest I have ever seen a wait time for … 30 minutes.”
Some blame this on the cost of a Disney trip.
There’s been a lot of talk bout the rising cost of a Disney World vacation in recent years. A trip to Magic Kingdom has always been expensive, but in 2025, a single-day pass to the park can run guests up to $200. The other three theme parks aren’t quite as expensive but are still pricey.
Everything from he cost of food and drinks to hotel rates has increased over the last decade, with add-ons like Lightning Land inflating the overall cost of a vacation as well.
Construction has certainly played a role in how guests value the parks, too. Multiple attractions and locations closed permanently this year, with even more scheduled for 2026. Next February, Disney plans to close down the remaining parts of DinoLand U.S.A. at Animal Kingdom to make way for a new land called Tropical Americas.
Several heavy-hitters are currently closed, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, two fan-favorite roller coasters.
Have you been to Walt Disney World recently?