45% of Disney-going, $DIS, parents with young children have gone into debt for trip

45% of Disney-going, $DIS, parents with young children have gone into debt for trip.

The magic of Disney is driving some parents into debt. Among the 77% of theme park-going parents with children under 18 who have visited Disney, 45% have gone into debt for a Disney trip, with 83% acquiring this debt within the past five years. Overall, 24% of Disney-goers have incurred debt for a trip, a 33% increase from the 18% reported in our 2022 survey.

Despite the financial strain, most parents find the memories worth the debt. Among parents of young children who have gone into debt for a Disney trip, 59% say they have no regrets. Furthermore, 90% of parents who have taken their children to Disney consider it a special treat. On average, parents of young children took on $1,983 in Disney-related debt.

In-park concessions often exceed budgets for many Disney-goers. When asked about unexpected expenses, 65% of those with Disney debt cited in-park food or beverages, 48% mentioned general transportation costs, and 47% pointed to accommodations. Fortunately, 41% of Disney parkgoers managed to use a discount on their most recent trip.

Cost is the primary deterrent for those who haven’t visited a theme park. Among Americans who have visited a theme park, only 25% haven’t visited a Disney park. Of those who have never visited a theme park, 60% say it's too expensive, 31% say it's too far away, and 26% dislike the lines. Additionally, 40% of Americans say their willingness to visit Disney is influenced by its political views, either positively or negatively.