Latest news with #CraigStowell
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Going to Disney World unplanned? One dad pays price, goes viral after spending $1,400
Going to Disney World unplanned? One dad pays price, goes viral after spending $1,400 The dad's sticker shock on a last-minute family trip to The Happiest Place On Earth helped him go viral. But planning ahead can help cut costs. Show Caption Hide Caption Disney launches new Florida resident ticket deal Walt Disney World has announced the launch of a new ticket deal for Florida residents just in time for the summer. Fox - 35 Orlando It's no secret that Disney World is expensive, but just how much of a hit will your wallet take? Well, one dad from Florida went viral after breaking down the price of his $1,400, unplanned visit to Disney World. Craig Stowell, a professional YouTuber based in West Palm Beach, Florida, took his family to Walt Disney World in April, during Easter weekend and had some sticker shock after he spent a grand total of $1,391.91 on parking, tickets, food and drinks, he told USA TODAY. "Know that everything is more expensive than it used to be," said Stowell. "It's not just a quick trip up to Disney anymore. It's the cost of my son's first car." Nearly $1,000 just to get into the park Stowell's family was visiting him from New Hampshire on Easter weekend, when they decided to do an impromptu Disney trip, Stowell said. So, they packed their things and drove to Orlando, Florida, from West Palm Beach, Florida, which is around 170 miles southeast of Orlando. In a video he posted about his day, he talks about just how much money he and his family spent on a day trip to Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs. One of the first big purchases was the tickets, he said. For Stowell, his wife and three kids, including his son who was younger than 10, entrance to Hollywood Studios cost $974. The tickets were purchased on the day they visited the park. Tickets are broken up into two categories, according to Disney's website. Tickets for children who are 3 to 10 years old are a bit cheaper than tickets for adults, who need to be purchased for anyone who is 11 and older to enter the parks. Children younger than 3 enter the park for free. The remaining $345.91 was spent on parking, which is $30 per car, food and drinks. Spending Memorial Day weekend at Disney? See crowd calendar, weather Holiday surcharge made tickets more expensive Since the family visited the theme park on a holiday weekend, their tickets were more expensive due to a holiday surcharge, Stowell said. One-day tickets for Florida residents on Disney's website start at $119, and can be even cheaper for Florida residents planning to visit the park for multiple days. Will Disney tickets be expensive during Memorial Day weekend? Yes, tickets for Florida residents and non-Florida residents will be more expensive during Memorial Day weekend. During the holiday weekend, tickets start at $159, according to Disney's website. The price of admission for each park varies. Listed below are the prices of one-day tickets to enter the Disney parks on Saturday, May 24 for both residents and non-residents: Magic Kingdom - $184 - $184 EPCOT - $179 - $179 Disney's Hollywood Studios - $179 - $179 Disney's Animal Kingdom- $159 A family of five, with one child younger than 10 years old, would pay $947.87, including taxes, to enter Hollywood studios during the holiday weekend, according to Walt Disney World's website. That price tag doesn't include the additional costs of parking, Lightning Lane passes, photo packages, hotel stays or food. How to save on your Walt Disney World trip Stowell recommends that people trying to save some money plan ahead and skip the parks during holiday weekends and go during the off-season instead. Florida residents can also save money on their Disney trip by purchasing tickets for multiple days, according to Walt Disney World's website. While a one-day Florida resident ticket starts at $119, three and four-day tickets start at $87 and $72. The Florida Resident Summer Magic Ticket, which is valid from May 18 to September 27, offers an even more inexpensive experience. The summer magic tickets will cost the following, according to the resort's website: 4-Day Ticket – $60 per day, plus tax $60 per day, plus tax 3-Day Ticket – $75 per day, plus tax $75 per day, plus tax 2-Day Ticket – $105 per day Non-Florida residents can also take advantage of the 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket, which will allow guest admission to only EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollowood Studios, and excludes Magic Kingdom, stated the resort's website. Prices for the ticket start at $89 per day, and are valid until September 22, according to Disney World. The tickets must be used within five days of the selected start date. Finally, Stowell offered one more piece of advice for Disney guests above the age of 21: "Don't buy the alcohol," said Stowell. It "would have saved a lot of money for me." This story was updated to add new information. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
Indianapolis Star
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Going to Disney World unplanned? One dad pays price, goes viral after spending $1,400
It's no secret that Disney World is expensive, but just how much of a hit will your wallet take? Well, one dad from Florida went viral after breaking down the price of his $1,400, unplanned visit to Disney World. Craig Stowell, a professional YouTuber based in West Palm Beach, Florida, took his family to Walt Disney World in April, during Easter weekend and had some sticker shock after he spent a grand total of $1,391.91 on parking, tickets, food and drinks, he told USA TODAY. "Know that everything is more expensive than it used to be," said Stowell. "It's not just a quick trip up to Disney anymore. It's the cost of my son's first car." Stowell's family was visiting him from New Hampshire on Easter weekend, when they decided to do an impromptu Disney trip, Stowell said. So, they packed their things and drove to Orlando, Florida, from West Palm Beach, Florida, which is around 170 miles southeast of Orlando. In a video he posted about his day, he talks about just how much money he and his family spent on a day trip to Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs. One of the first big purchases was the tickets, he said. For Stowell, his wife and three kids, including his son who was younger than 10, entrance to Hollywood Studios cost $974. The tickets were purchased on the day they visited the park. Tickets are broken up into two categories, according to Disney's website. Tickets for children who are 3 to 10 years old are a bit cheaper than tickets for adults, who need to be purchased for anyone who is 11 and older to enter the parks. Children younger than 3 enter the park for free. The remaining $345.91 was spent on parking, which is $30 per car, food and drinks. Spending Memorial Day weekend at Disney? See crowd calendar, weather Since the family visited the theme park on a holiday weekend, their tickets were more expensive due to a holiday surcharge, Stowell said. One-day tickets for Florida residents on Disney's website start at $119, and can be even cheaper for Florida residents planning to visit the park for multiple days. Yes, tickets for Florida residents and non-Florida residents will be more expensive during Memorial Day weekend. During the holiday weekend, tickets start at $159, according to Disney's website. The price of admission for each park varies. Listed below are the prices of one-day tickets to enter the Disney parks on Saturday, May 24 for both residents and non-residents: A family of five, with one child younger than 10 years old, would pay $947.87, including taxes, to enter Hollywood studios during the holiday weekend, according to Walt Disney World's website. That price tag doesn't include the additional costs of parking, Lightning Lane passes, photo packages, hotel stays or food. Stowell recommends that people trying to save some money plan ahead and skip the parks during holiday weekends and go during the off-season instead. Florida residents can also save money on their Disney trip by purchasing tickets for multiple days, according to Walt Disney World's website. While a one-day Florida resident ticket starts at $119, three and four-day tickets start at $87 and $72. The Florida Resident Summer Magic Ticket, which is valid from May 18 to September 27, offers an even more inexpensive experience. The summer magic tickets will cost the following, according to the resort's website: Non-Florida residents can also take advantage of the 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket, which will allow guest admission to only EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollowood Studios, and excludes Magic Kingdom, stated the resort's website. Prices for the ticket start at $89 per day, and are valid until September 22, according to Disney World. The tickets must be used within five days of the selected start date. Finally, Stowell offered one more piece of advice for Disney guests above the age of 21: "Don't buy the alcohol," said Stowell. It "would have saved a lot of money for me." This story was updated to add new information.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Going to Disney World unplanned? One dad goes viral after spending $1,400 on family trip
It's no secret that Disney World is expensive, but just how much of a hit will your wallet take? Well, one Dad from Florida went viral after breaking down the price of his $1,400, unplanned visit to Disney World. Craig Stowell, a professional YouTuber based in West Palm Beach, Florida, took his family to Walt Disney World in April, during Easter weekend and had some sticker shock after he spent a grand total of $1,391.91 on parking, tickets, food and drinks, he told USA TODAY. "Know that everything is more expensive than it used to be," said Stowell. "It's not just a quick trip up to Disney anymore. It's the cost of my son's first car." Stowell's family was visiting him from New Hampshire on Easter weekend, when they decided to do an impromptu Disney trip, Stowell said. So, they packed their things and drove to Orlando, Florida, from West Palm Beach, Florida, which is around 170 miles southeast of Orlando. In a video he posted about his day, he talks about just how much money he and his family spent on a day trip to Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs. One of the first big purchases was the tickets, he said. For Stowell, his wife and three kids, including his son who was younger than 10, entrance to Hollywood Studios cost $974. The tickets were purchased on the day they visited the park. Tickets are broken up into two categories, according to Disney's website. Tickets for children who are 3 to 10 years old are a bit cheaper than tickets for adults, who need to be purchased for anyone who is 11 and older to enter the parks. Children younger than 3 enter the park for free. The remaining $345.91 was spent on parking, which is $30 per car, food and drinks. Spending Memorial Day weekend at Disney? See crowd calendar, weather Since the family visited the theme park on a holiday weekend, their tickets were more expensive due to a holiday surcharge, Stowell said. One-day tickets for Florida residents on Disney's website start at $119, and can be even cheaper for Florida residents planning to visit the park for multiple days. Yes, tickets for Florida residents will be more expensive during Memorial Day weekend. During the holiday weekend, tickets start at $159, according to Disney's website. The price of admission for each park varies. Listed below are the prices of tickets to enter the Disney parks on Saturday, May 24: Magic Kingdom- $184 EPCOT- $179 Disney's Hollywood Studios- $179 Disney's Animal Kingdom- $159 A family of five, with one child younger than 10 years old, would pay $947.87, including taxes, to enter Hollywood studios during the holiday weekend, according to Walt Disney World's website. That price tag doesn't include the additional costs of parking, Lightning Lane passes, photo packages, hotel stays or food. Stowell recommends that people trying to save some money plan ahead and skip the parks during holiday weekends and go during the off-season instead. Florida residents can also save money on their Disney trip by purchasing tickets for multiple days, according to Walt Disney World's website. While a one-day Florida resident ticket starts at $119, three and four-day tickets start at $87 and $72. The Florida Resident Summer Magic Ticket, which is valid from May 18 to September 27, offers an even more inexpensive experience. The summer magic tickets will cost the following, according to the resort's website: 4-Day Ticket – $60 per day, plus tax 3-Day Ticket – $75 per day, plus tax 2-Day Ticket – $105 per day Finally, Stowell offered one more piece of advice for Disney guests above the age of 21: "Don't buy the alcohol," said Stowell. It "would have saved a lot of money for me." Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dad goes viral for spending $1,400 on spontaneous family Disney trip
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Going to Disney World unplanned? One dad goes viral after spending $1,400 on family trip
Going to Disney World unplanned? One dad goes viral after spending $1,400 on family trip The dad's sticker shock on a last-minute trip to The Happiest Place On Earth helped him go viral. But planning ahead can help cut costs. Show Caption Hide Caption Disney launches new Florida resident ticket deal Walt Disney World has announced the launch of a new ticket deal for Florida residents just in time for the summer. Fox - 35 Orlando It's no secret that Disney World is expensive, but just how much of a hit will your wallet take? Well, one Dad from Florida went viral after breaking down the price of his $1,400, unplanned visit to Disney World. Craig Stowell, a professional YouTuber based in West Palm Beach, Florida, took his family to Walt Disney World in April, during Easter weekend and had some sticker shock after he spent a grand total of $1,391.91 on parking, tickets, food and drinks, he told USA TODAY. "Know that everything is more expensive than it used to be," said Stowell. "It's not just a quick trip up to Disney anymore. It's the cost of my son's first car." Nearly $1,000 just to get into the park Stowell's family was visiting him from New Hampshire on Easter weekend, when they decided to do an impromptu Disney trip, Stowell said. So, they packed their things and drove to Orlando, Florida, from West Palm Beach, Florida, which is around 170 miles southeast of Orlando. In a video he posted about his day, he talks about just how much money he and his family spent on a day trip to Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios and Disney Springs. One of the first big purchases was the tickets, he said. For Stowell, his wife and three kids, including his son who was younger than 10, entrance to Hollywood Studios cost $974. The tickets were purchased on the day they visited the park. Tickets are broken up into two categories, according to Disney's website. Tickets for children who are 3 to 10 years old are a bit cheaper than tickets for adults, who need to be purchased for anyone who is 11 and older to enter the parks. Children younger than 3 enter the park for free. The remaining $345.91 was spent on parking, which is $30 per car, food and drinks. Spending Memorial Day weekend at Disney? See crowd calendar, weather Holiday surcharge made tickets more expensive Since the family visited the theme park on a holiday weekend, their tickets were more expensive due to a holiday surcharge, Stowell said. One-day tickets for Florida residents on Disney's website start at $119, and can be even cheaper for Florida residents planning to visit the park for multiple days. Will Disney tickets be expensive during Memorial Day weekend? Yes, tickets for Florida residents will be more expensive during Memorial Day weekend. During the holiday weekend, tickets start at $159, according to Disney's website. The price of admission for each park varies. Listed below are the prices of tickets to enter the Disney parks on Saturday, May 24: Magic Kingdom - $184 - $184 EPCOT - $179 - $179 Disney's Hollywood Studios - $179 - $179 Disney's Animal Kingdom- $159 A family of five, with one child younger than 10 years old, would pay $947.87, including taxes, to enter Hollywood studios during the holiday weekend, according to Walt Disney World's website. That price tag doesn't include the additional costs of parking, Lightning Lane passes, photo packages, hotel stays or food. How to save on your Walt Disney World trip Stowell recommends that people trying to save some money plan ahead and skip the parks during holiday weekends and go during the off-season instead. Florida residents can also save money on their Disney trip by purchasing tickets for multiple days, according to Walt Disney World's website. While a one-day Florida resident ticket starts at $119, three and four-day tickets start at $87 and $72. The Florida Resident Summer Magic Ticket, which is valid from May 18 to September 27, offers an even more inexpensive experience. The summer magic tickets will cost the following, according to the resort's website: 4-Day Ticket – $60 per day, plus tax $60 per day, plus tax 3-Day Ticket – $75 per day, plus tax $75 per day, plus tax 2-Day Ticket – $105 per day Finally, Stowell offered one more piece of advice for Disney guests above the age of 21: "Don't buy the alcohol," said Stowell. It "would have saved a lot of money for me." Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@
New York Post
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Florida dad who paid $1,400 for Disney World day trip recommends these more budget-friendly theme parks instead
Give the House of Mouse a miss. That's the advice from a Florida father of three who went viral after spending $1,400 on one day at Walt Disney World. Craig Stowell sparked a huge discussion about price hikes at Disney parks for the short video he shared on his TikTok account. He told The Post that there are much better choices for budget-conscious families — especially if you're going on short notice. Advertisement The mad Disney dad was said he felt like he was being punished when he and some family friends decided to go to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a last-minute trip. 5 Florida dad Craig Stowell spoke to The Post. NY Post 'Disney really wants you to be a Disney vacationer. So they want you not to leave the park,' he said. Advertisement 'You are there on the property the whole time and that is your vacation. Those one-day trips that I used to do as a kid, that's not really what they want anymore.' Forking out half a monthly mortgage payment for just one day in the park — without evening staying in a hotel overnight — led to some tough conversations for Craig with his children. 'We spent just under $1,400 in one day, which to me is nuts,' he said. 'My oldest son's 15, and he's starting to save for a car. That's how I put it in perspective and put a value on that dollar amount is, 'hey bud, this if your first car. We spent as much as you would have saved for your first car on this one day at Disney.'' With many Americans having to tighten their belts, taking the family to Disney is in danger of becoming out-of-reach for middle-class families, Stowell warned. Advertisement Single-day passes at Disney World start at $119, the most expensive of the major parks. As a result, he recommends that families choose other parks around central Florida for their next trip, if they're not looking to spend a mint. Cheaper options include SeaWorld Orlando's Four Parks: Unlimited Visits passes. For $62, families can go to SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Adventure Island, with free parking included, he pointed out. Advertisement Even Universal Orlando Resorts is cheaper than Disney, at $109 for a one-day pass. 5 A trip to a Disney park can cost an arm and a leg. Walt Disney Resorts via Getty Images 5 Craig documented how much he spent in a single day at Walt Disney World. flyingwheels/TikTok 'Just to put it in perspective, the Disney annual pass is $1,500 per person. I think I paid $300 a pass for Universal Studios. So it is a no-brainer for me to choose Universal over Disney 100% of the time,' Craig said. He added: 'For a day trip, we'll shoot right up to Universal and not think twice about it. And I paid for it once. I didn't have to finance it throughout the year. I didn't have to suffer the $7,500 for a family of five to get Disney passes. It was like under-$1,200. The cost of a Universal season pass was less for a family of five than one season pass would have been for one person.' 5 Tickets alone for Craig's family cost almost a grand. flyingwheels/TikTok Craig promised budget-conscious travelers that they won't be disappointed if they go somewhere other than Disney. 'There are other parks that are far more family-friendly and affordable,' he said. No surge Advertisement Craig also criticized Disney's introduction of so-called surge or dynamic pricing at its parks this year, where prices are higher depending on how much interest there is at the park that day. Under the pricing scheme, one-day tickets can hit $169. And, Disney is set to raise prices even more for 2026 by increasing the number of days dynamic pricing is in effect, according to Disney watchers. 5 Disney recently introduced surge pricing at busy times. Advertisement 'Disney absolutely capitalized on me as a parent, my wallet, and everyone else's wallet with that surge pricing,' he said. 'Not only did I not pay the $119 advertised price, it was $184 per ticket because it was a prime weekend. 'And then that's the same with the lines. We're paying a premium to go on that premium day, and the only way to get on enough lines is to once again, pay for your express pass, your fast passes.' Walt Disney World did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
