$$ DI$NEY $$

Let’s face it, DI$NEY is America’s Mecca. Almost everyone makes a pilgrimage there at least once in their life. For America, it is proper that the place people would make a Hajj to, is also capitalism at its best or worst, depending on your view. Many Americans make the trip, despite going in debt to do so.

Per Wikipedia, Hajj is a “mandatory religious duty” for capable adult Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime. That means “Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.”  Of course, here in America, people complete their Hajj to Disney by bringing their families with them. 

Cathy and I made our own trip to the Magic Kingdom several decades ago. We linked up with my sister Roberta’s family while they were there.  It was particularly fun watching our young nieces run around and enjoy everything. I remember thinking at the time how clean everything was.  How flawlessly everything was arranged at the park.  Even the perfect fireworks in the evening, signaling the end to another perfect day. We did enjoy the visit, although for me, there was a bit of a “Stepford Wives” vibe to the whole thing.

 Time marches on, as does capitalism. The price of a trip to Disney World in Florida has become quite high/inflated/exorbitant. I will leave it to you to pick the appropriate descriptor. Per the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), “for a two-parent family with two young kids, a typical four-day visit to Walt Disney World, including a stay at a value-priced, Disney-owned hotel, cost $4,266 in 2024.” That does not include food or transportation costs. 

 By comparison, Cathy and I took a 12 day vacation to Portugal last year which cost less than that, including our food, lodging and a rental car. Airfare to Portugal was a bit more than the cost of tickets to Florida, but not by much. 

 By the way, added costs at Disney these days can also include: passes that let people skip the line on popular rides: up to $449; a meal with costumed characters, including Donald and Daisy Duck: $219; parking at $30/day.

 Both the right and the left have attacked Disney over the years. The right engaged in the fight between DeSantis/Florida and Disney for a couple of years over “wokeness.”  More recently, the left has attacked Disney because of the Jimmy Kimmel brouhaha. Neither effort from the right or the left has affected attendance at the park, with recent forecasts showing Disney to have modest gains in attendance this year, and larger gains in actual revenue. No one seems to protest the ever increasing prices.

 According to the WSJ, people these days often need to take out loans, borrow from the grandparents, or load up their credit card for the trip. It has become “almost” out of reach for the average family to make the trip without help. Despite this, nothing slows down the visits and people keep making their American Hajj. I wonder if Walt Disney is smiling in heaven at all of this.

 In a way, I understand the American need to visit a fantasy world where everything is perfect. I do not mean that as a current political statement. It has always been that way and always will be. Still, nothing quite says America like going into debt to make your Hajj. Apparently, here in America, that is capitalism at its absolute best. 

Addendum:

Header photo generated by the author with Google Gemini AI.

Here is the WSJ article about Disney: Even Disney Is Worried About the High Cost of a Disney Vacation