If you haven’t owned a pair of Levi’s, drunk a Coca-Cola, and visited a Disney theme park, do you even live in the U.S.?
All three brands are known around the world, but they are distinctly American, and most of us have probably spent some cash on each one.
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While it’s hard to track how many people have actually consumed a Coke or donned Levi’s denim, there is data showing that between 70 and 90% of Americans have visited a Disney theme park; the numbers come from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
That’s because the Disney Company has managed to convince moms, dads, and high-school principals (Grad Night, anyone?) across the country that visiting one of their parks is a box to check on the family to-do list.
Disneyland is celebrating its 70th birthday this year.
Image source: Shutterstock
A trip to a Disney park requires budget planning
In recent years, checking “Going to Disneyland” off the list has become something that requires a lot of planning for many families.
Just like everything else, it seems the cost of visiting a Disney park has gone up. A day in a Disney theme park can cost between $500 and $1,200 per person, per day. That total takes into account the cost of a ticket, a hotel, and three meals a day at $20 per meal (which, honestly, is probably on the low end). That means a family of four could easily spend upwards of $5,000 for a weekend.
The price tag for a park visit has come under fire, and even warranted comment from Bob Iger, the company’s CEO. Food prices have also gone up, just like they have outside Disney parks, which has resulted in customer complaints.
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Still, Disney is sensitive to criticism about the parks, especially since the parks and experiences division — theme parks, cruises, and consumer products — is the company’s most profitable division. This despite the fact that this division is not the highest in terms of revenue: In 2024 the parks and experiences generated more than $34 billion for the company. The entertainment division, which includes ESPN and streaming networks like Hulu and Disney+, generated $40 billion.
Disneyland is celebrating its 70th birthday with special ticket prices
Now, when you consider that the average cost of a concert ticket these days is $135, nearly twice what a concert cost in 2015, a visit to a Disney theme park doesn’t seem so outrageous. After all, you can easily spend more than 12 hours in one of the parks, versus a live show that might last for two-and-a-half hours.
A ticket to a National Football League game, by the way, will run you an average of $151.
These days, a one-day ticket for Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., runs between $126 and $206 (depending on which day you visit) for guests older than 10. A Park-Hopper ticket, one you can use to go to Disneyland and California Adventure Park, will run you between $191 and $271 per day.
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However, for the just-launched Disneyland Anniversary Ticket Offer, a three-day ticket is $360 ($120 per day), or a four-day ticket is $400 ($100 per day). The Park-Hopper add-on is $95 per ticket.
The Disneyland ticket deals are valid May 16 through August 14, 2025.
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