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Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
All the ways Disney World has cut corners... from removing free transportation to reducing cleaning services
For years, Disney World provided a long list of epic perks for those staying at a hotel at the beloved theme park - like free gifts and complimentary transportation. But recently, many of those bonuses have slowly started to disappear... and now, some avid Disney fans feel that the silent removal of the benefits, along with rising prices, is simply ruining the magic. Back in 2010, a one-day adult ticket to Disney World ranged from $79 to $82, and now, 15 years on, single day tickets cost as much as $189 for Magic Kingdom - and it was recently announced that the ticket prices would be going up again in 2026. Staying overnight at the theme park also comes at a steep price - for example, a weekend at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows in December will cost nearly $2,000 for two nights, while Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa comes to $2,600. Families forking over thousands-a-night on a hotel room certainly expect to receive VIP treatment, and Disney used to go above and beyond to ensure all hotel guests had an amazing experience. But as of late, the company has eliminated many of the things that previously made staying on-site so special. Guests are now forking over more money and getting less, and longtime park goers are not happy about it. 'It definitely doesn't feel great to be nickel and dimed during your trip,' Disney regular Shannon Albert, 50, from Fort Worth, Texas, scathed to Daily Mail. 'So many things that used to be included are now separate charges,' added the Texas-native, who has gone to Disney 'every other month' for the last 20 years. But the higher-ups at Disney have insisted that the quality of their parks still remains the gold standard. 'The number-one thing we hear from the millions of guests who visit our parks each year is how much a Disney vacation means to them,' Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney's Experiences division, said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal back in February. 'We intentionally offer a wide variety of ticket, hotel, and dining options to welcome as many families as possible, whatever their budget.' Even so, there's no denying that Disney has quietly cut corners by getting rid of many of the free perks it used to offer hotel guests. Take a look at all the benefits that Disney has discontinued over the years. Disney used to offer free transportation to and from the airport - as well as a complimentary luggage delivery service In past years, Disney would offer its hotel guests complimentary transportation from Orlando International Airport (MCO) straight to their resort - known as the Magical Express. That's right, guests would be greeted by an official Disney driver upon landing, and would board a comfortable and airconditioned motor coach that would bring them right to the magic. In addition, Disney guests didn't even have to head to baggage claim to pick up their luggage at the airport because Disney would take care of that too. They'd grab your bags, load them into the car, and have them brought directly to your room after your arrival at the hotel. Sounds like a hassle-free and breezy experience. But now, the magical perk has vanished. The luggage service was cut in 2020, while the transportation perk was removed in 2022, which means guests now have to find their own ride to the resorts while dragging their suitcases - and taxis and Ubers are not cheap. Disney has greatly reduced housekeeping services - leaving guests struggling to get clean towels and forced to take out their own trash Daily housekeeping should be a norm at all hotels right? Wrong. At Disney hotels, cleaning services have been greatly reduced in recent years. Disney's website currently states that guests staying at Value or Moderate resorts will only receive housekeeping services 'every other day,' while Deluxe resort guests get it daily. However, many Disney guests have complained that wasn't the case for them, and some have alleged that housekeeping only comes if you specifically request it. One user took to Reddit last year to share their frustration after they claimed they had been at their Disney hotel for five days and a housekeeper hadn't come once. 'Bed never made, dirty towels are left all over I had to ask for towels one day because we had no more,' they scathed. 'I think you have to specifically ask for it! Ever since COVID we've had to explicitly say we wanted it or else they'd assume we didn't,' someone else shared in the comment section. 'Just came back from a three day stay at the Contemporary, and we had the same experience. Not one cleaning,' revealed another user. 'We had to take out our own trash at one point because it was getting out of hand. It sounds petty, but for the price I expected more.' Disney's website also states that those staying in a Disney Vacation Club room won't get cleaning services unless they're staying more than eight nights, but will receive 'trash and towel service' on the fourth day of their visit. AJ Wolfe, who runs the popular Disney Food Blog, dished to the Daily Mail, 'I think for many people not having housekeeping every day at the less expensive hotels is a major difficulty. 'If their families are anything like mine, that room can become a disaster in a matter of hours and it sure is nice to have it put back in order at the end of the day. 'Also, when you're paying hundreds of dollars for a hotel room, you do expect that the cost would include daily cleaning.' Disney resorts don't offer room service and almost all dining locations close at 11pm - leaving guests 'starving' after a long day at the parks There's nothing like having a mid-day resort nap or taking a day to rest rather than hitting the parks. But what happens if you get hungry and don't want to get out of bed? Most people would assume you could pick up the phone and order some room service... but nope, Disney World doesn't offer room service at almost all of its hotels. During the pandemic, Disney put a stop to their room service food delivery, and after everything opened back up, the theme park quietly left this perk under the rug. Disney reported on its website that out of the 32 hotels on property, only Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa offers room service for guests. That means guests at all the other hotels will need to venture to the resort food court or restaurants to get food. But if you want to get something to eat late at night, you're out of luck again, as almost all of the eateries on Disney property close at 11pm. This is certainly a problem since on some days the parks don't even close until 11pm, which means guests often get back to their resorts after a long day and find their stomachs growling, only to discover there's absolutely nowhere to get food. 'The last few times I have gone to Disney, I end up finding myself leaving the parks and just wanting to eat something,' one frustrated Disney attendee wrote on Reddit recently. 'However by the time we get back to the resort or once the park closes it just seems like there is no place whatsoever to eat food or get something to drink. Everything is closed and we are just left starving. 'I don't know how people feel about this but personally I am annoyed by this. We are spending thousands of dollars for our trip and the least thing is there can be more convenience when it comes to getting food at night. 'Not even the convenience stores are open to just get small items for the room at this point.' Resort guests used to get free MagicBands mailed to them ahead of their stays, but the pre-trip ritual was eliminated... and now the accessory costs $45 Years ago, guests staying at Disney hotels would get a package in the weeks leading up to their trips that contained free MagicBands for everyone on the reservation. MagicBands are wearable, interactive accessories that enhance the Disney experience at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. They act as a digital key to unlock various features, including park entry, hotel room access, payment options, and connections to PhotoPass and other Disney experiences. Starting in 2021, Disney cut out the free perk, which means the tradition of seeing the bands arrive to you in the mail before your vacation is now over, diminishing the pre-trip excitement. While they used to be free for Disney hotel guests, they will now cost you a whopping $35 to $45 per person. Disney did away with its free FastPass+ system, which allowed guests to skip long lines, to instead offer its extremely expensive Lightning Lane services Disney's FastPass+ was a highly praised system that allowed guests to book ride times in advance and skip long standby lines - all for free. Disney chucked that away in August 2021, and instead, began offering a similar service called Lighting Lane - but it comes at a hefty price. It costs between $15-$39 per person per day for the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which allows you to book up to three ride reservations in advance, and when it's time for your reservation, you can enter a special line that has a much shorter wait time. However, certain attractions are not included, and for those, you have to buy a Lighting Lane Single Pass that can range from $10-$25 each, according to The Park Prodigy. Even worse, The Lightning Lane Premier Pass, which provides access to all available Lightning Lane entrances without needing a reservation, can cost between $129-$449 per person, per day. For a family of four this could cost you well over a thousand dollars just to wait in shorter lines, not including the price of the park ticket. 'Having to pay for skip-the-line access when it used to be free is a hard pill to swallow,' AJ said. 'This is probably the most jarring and impactful change that Disney fans have had to accommodate. 'Spending potentially hundreds of dollars on something that used to be complimentary is a massive budgetary strain for plenty of guests.' Early access to the parks got cut from one hour to 30 minutes and Extended Evening Hours went from being available to all hotel guests to only Deluxe resorts Before 2020, all guests staying at Disney World hotels had the option to enter the parks an hour early every day, and stay in select parks two hours later on certain days. 'It was a big reason to stay on-site - you got more time in the parks than everyone else,' Inside the Magic reported. But Disney made some major changes to the perk after the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the parks opening an hour early for hotel guests, it's now been cut down to only 30 minutes. And rather than all hotel guests getting to enjoy the parks after closing, that's been revamped so that only those who are staying at Deluxe resorts can participate. That means guests at a Value or Moderate hotel no longer get to enjoy the Extended Evening Hours benefit. Other services like merchandise delivery to hotel rooms and babysitting have slowly disappeared over the years Another big benefit of staying at a Disney hotel was the free delivery of any merchandise you bought in the parks. That meant you could go shopping and have your shirts, ears, stuffed animals, and bubble wands all delivered right to your hotel room, avoiding the hassle of lugging them around on rides or on lines. But the service was revoked in 2020, and never saw the light of day again. In addition, babysitting services - also known as the Children's Activity Centers - has been removed from all resorts. That's right, for a small fee, hotel guests used to be able to leave their children aged three to 12 in a play area in Deluxe resorts so they could enjoy some adult-only time. But as per a post on Disney's PlanDisney website in 2023, 'They have all closed with no rumors of returning.' Daily Mail has reached out to Disney World for comment. In the end, Shannon said she 'worries' about the future of the parks amidst all the changes. 'The costs have certainly gone up, but people continue to pay which is why Disney keeps doing it,' she said. 'I worry that the addictive nature of the parks (which is why so many of us now go regularly) won't be as much now that so many perks and expenses have changed.'
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Disneyland announces closing date for beloved attraction during 70th anniversary celebration
Disneyland has announced that The Haunted Mansion will close temporarily this summer as part of its 70th anniversary season. The closure is set to begin on Monday, August 11. But, thankfully for fans, the popular ride is expected to return just 11 days later, reopening on August 22 in its seasonal form as Haunted Mansion Holiday. This special version features a makeover inspired by Tim Burton 's The Nightmare Before Christmas. While Disneyland has not officially stated the reason for the August closure, the timeline matches up with past years when the ride transforms into a holiday-theme. Haunted Mansion Holiday typically remains open through both Halloween and Christmas, and is scheduled to run until January 7, 2026. In 2024, the holiday version of the attraction opened earlier than usual in July. That early debut followed a lengthy closure that allowed Disneyland to complete several major updates to the ride. Enhancements included a more accessible elevator for guests with disabilities, revamped landscaping around the attraction, and the debut of Madame Leota's Somewhere Beyond gift shop. When the original Haunted Mansion returned in early 2025, guests were introduced to a newly updated version of the Bride, one of the ride's key characters. Though Haunted Mansion Holiday features the same general decorations each year, one element that changes annually is the gingerbread house in the ballroom scene. This centerpiece is custom-built and remains a fan favorite. The temporary closure of such a beloved ride is not unusual, especially during seasonal transitions, but still typically upsets fans regardless, as some plan their visit specifically for the Haunted Mansion. That being said, fans of the original Haunted Mansion have just over a month left to experience the classic version before the holiday takeover begins. For those who prefer the spooky charm of the holiday edition, the August 22 reopening will mark the return of Jack Skellington, Zero, and other familiar faces from The Nightmare Before Christmas. The Haunted Mansion remains one of Disneyland's most iconic attractions, and both versions continue to draw long lines and loyal fans year-round. Guests planning a visit in August should keep the closure dates in mind, as the ride will be unavailable for nearly two weeks. Despite the temporary closure, Disneyland's 70th anniversary celebration will include plenty of other attractions, entertainment, and limited-time experiences across the park. According to Disneyland blogs, this includes a new theme song by the Jonas Brothers and a new 'World of Color' show. As with all seasonal changes, dates are subject to change, and guests are encouraged to check the Disneyland website for the latest updates. Whether you're a fan of the traditional Haunted Mansion or the festive Haunted Mansion Holiday, 2025 offers the chance to enjoy both versions during a milestone year for the park.
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Disney World fan sparks fierce debate after making major complaint about the beloved theme park
Walt Disney World fans have become embroiled in a heated debate about the transportation at the beloved theme park. A new map breaking down the complimentary transportation offered throughout the massive resort has detailed all the ways that the 130 million annual riders can get from park to park. Guests at the Happiest Place on Earth can travel all the way from Magic Kingdom to Epcot on Disney's Monorail - a quick and easy train that goes back and forth between the parks as well as to some of the hotels. Or they can use the 36-boat transportation services in both parks as well as at Disney Springs. To get from Epcot to Disney's Hollywood Studios, people can hop on the Skyliner, which is a gondola lift system. However, the only mode of transportation that touches Animal Kingdom is the free Disney buses - and some fans are not happy about it. After the new map was released, one Disney fan took to Reddit to express their outrage over the lack of options to get to Animal Kingdom. And the post lead to a massive argument about the Disney bus system. 'I'm someone that prefers Skyliner or Monorail transportation so it's really unfortunate that the ONLY way to get to Animal Kingdom right now is by bus,' the user expressed. 'The yellow line [is] there for the Skyliner [and] could easily be extended all the way to Animal Kingdom if they wanted.' They suggested: 'Maybe even have a station at [the hotel] Coronado Springs and [the water park] Blizzard Beach.' 'Having no way to get to Animal Kingdom except driving or taking the bus is really inconvenient and it's weird that it's the only non-water park to only be accessible via bus,' they continued. 'I'm someone that I would visit Animal Kingdom way more if I could just hop over there on the Skyliner from Hollywood Studios. So why is there no Skyliner?' Many other people rushed to the comment section to share their thoughts, and discussed the possibility of Disney adding more transportation to the park. 'I wouldn't be surprised if we eventually get some sort of transit line out to Animal Kingdom, but it's gonna take a lot of money and desire to make it happen,' one person wrote. Another added: 'Disney likes to avoid guests seeing the backstage areas. They do a really good job at Epcot to minimize the amount you can see from the Monorail and it is only a few seconds right at the end where you can see backstage.' 'I just went on Google Earth and measured [a] straight line from the [Hollywood] Studios gate to Animal Kingdom gate [which] is a little under two miles,' shared someone else. 'But that wouldn't even be feasible because said straight line is right through the middle of the studios.' Others said they had no problem with the bus and speculated the lack of Monorail or Skyliner transportation was due to the animal enclosures. 'It's literally not that hard. You get on a bus and sit down,' a person wrote. 'You do realize it's not as close as this map makes it look right?' another said. 'Not to mention it would have to be routed to avoid all animal areas,' someone else observed. 'Can you imagine how much trash would be dropped in the animal enclosures?' a different user shared. 'A free bus that runs all day is pretty convenient. I would suspect that the ANIMALS play a big factor into the lack of overhead rails and lifts,' a different comment read. 'We're so spoiled at Disney, honestly. One of the best bus systems in the world and we (including myself sometimes) complain about it,' another user admitted. 'Yeah, 15 to 20 minutes from the Contemporary to Animal Kingdom on a mostly empty bus with the AC set to like 60F didn't exactly seem like a burden during our visit earlier this month. [The] bus is good. Take [the] bus,' a person urged. 'Maybe it's just me but the bus ride to Animal Kingdom is totally reasonable,' someone else penned.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
New Disney plans revealed – and they include new ‘major theme park' in the US
DISNEY fans are thrilled to learn a brand new theme park could be set to hit the US. It would mark the creation of the fifth attraction as part of the franchise. Comprehensive Plan 2045, from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, understands plans are already in motion. Documents revealed there's a sprawling 400 to 500 acres ready for construction. It is thought there will be two smaller attractions in the form of water parks, around 147 acres each. Walt Disney World has not officially confirmed a fifth Florida theme park. Despite this plans show the park requested permission to build underground networks. These are usually used by staff and cast members to navigate around the site unseen. This news comes as Disney fans threatened to boycott the theme park. Uproar was sparked after the company revealed plans for a Cars land that would replace Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland. Fans can mark the last day of Tom Sawyer Island on July 6, 2025. Outraged visitors expressed their frustrations on X, with one penning: "Canceling my trip in October and sadly, will never visit that park again." Disney announces brand new theme park "This is an abomination and a real disservice to all those who booked summer trips hoping to enjoy all this one more time," added another. A third agreed: "Never going back, I have a lot of happy memories there, and I'll keep them." "Huge mistake. Huge," and "Largest downgrade", echoed others. This comes as Disney revealed plans to open a brand new theme park - in Abu Dhabi. The huge new park will be in Yas Island, and a "groundbreaking resort destination" on the huge waterfront. Little-else is known about the theme park including how many lands and what rides it will include. However, it will have themed accommodation as well as dining and retail experiences, it has been confirmed. It states it will combine Disney's "iconic stories, characters and attractions" with Abu Dhabi 's culture and architecture. An opening date is yet to be confirmed. Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer at Walt Disney Company, said: "As our seventh theme park destination, it will rise from this land in spectacular fashion, blending contemporary architecture with cutting-edge technology to offer guests deeply immersive entertainment experiences in unique and modern ways." Josh D'Amaro, Chairman, Disney Experiences, added: "The location of our park is incredibly unique – anchored by a beautiful waterfront – which will allow us to tell our stories in completely new ways. "This project will reach guests in a whole new part of the world, welcoming more families to experience Disney than ever before." Yas Island is currently home to a number of other attractions including Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, once the largest indoor theme park. Inside are six themed zones, with 29 rides and experiences. Warner Bros Complex is the central land that celebrates the "Golden Age of Hollywood" with shops and restaurants. Guests can then choose between their favourite DC superhero, with both a Gotham and Metropolis land that have themed rides. Another land is Bedrock, a Flintstones themed land with a river ride and restaurants, along with Dynamite Gulch, and Cartoon Junction which is home to Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo. The last Disney theme park to open was back in 2016 in Shanghai. The very first Disney World opened in 1971, with Disneyland Paris opening in 1992. Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris is currently getting a €2billion transformation in 2025, including a glamorous new entrance called World Premiere. The park is also getting new Frozen, Tangled and Lion King rides - here's what you need to know. 1 .
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Report: Disney to introduce new US theme park
Published: Updated: Disney fans will be overjoyed to learn that Walt Disney World may be introducing a whole new kingdom. A fifth sprawling theme park is reportedly in the works, according to a new Comprehensive Plan 2045 from the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District. The plans detail a reserved development capacity for a 'major theme park' and two 'minor theme parks' to be built over the next few decades. The new park at the Orlando resort could be expansive - mirroring the scale of other popular parks such as Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom. The documents allotted 400 to 500 acres for the new park which would be Disney's first all-new gate in over 25 years. It is thought that the two smaller parks will be water parks, spanning an estimated 147 acres each. Disney fans have been eager for a new attraction since the last grand opening was Animal Kingdom way back in 1998. Walt Disney World has not officially confirmed a fifth Florida theme park - but has reached out for comment. In a map of the proposal, shared in the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District report, land has been earmarked for various uses. Among them was commercial, conservation, entertainment and hotels. The plan also revealed that the park has requested permission to build underground communication lines and facilities - known to be used by cast members to move around the parks. This latest venture comes after Disney World fans threatened to boycott the theme park after it unveiled the first major details on its upcoming Cars land. The Happiest Place on Earth announced last year that it would be getting rid of Tom Sawyer Island in Magic Kingdom's Frontierland to make way for a new Lightning McQueen-themed area. It has since revealed when it will officially be shut down - and the news has left hoards of Disney fans across the globe outraged. Tom Sawyer Island, as well as the Liberty Square Riverboat ride, will have its final day of operation on July 6, 2025. That means guests only have a little more than a month left to enjoy the serene island inspired by the stories of Mark Twain. Immediately, Disney park-goers took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their heartbreak over the announcement, and some even admitted that they no longer wanted to visit the park. 'Canceling my trip in October and sadly, will never visit that park again,' one user announced. 'This is an abomination and a real disservice to all those who booked summer trips hoping to enjoy all this one more time,' added another. 'Talk about timing. Thankful we enjoyed it recently.'
