I was five years old in the summer of 1979 when my parents loaded up the car — no GPS, no iPads, just a paper map that folded like origami and an endless chorus of “Are we there yet?” We were headed south from Ohio to sunny Florida to visit friends in Daytona Beach.

Their friends told them, “You have to check out that new theme park over in Orlando.”

So we did.

Tickets were $7 each — a full day of magic for less than the cost of a drive-thru meal today. And they say kids don’t remember Disney? I remember the Teacups, Dumbo, and the Skyride. I remember feeling like I was flying.

Now here we are in 2025, where a single-day ticket to Magic Kingdom can cost between $144 and $199. Families are financing theme parks the way people once financed cars. Zach Rios’ video nails it; the levels of Disney vacation absurdity are off the charts.

There are entire Facebook groups (50 and counting) dedicated to navigating the mouse-shaped maze of Genie+, Lightning Lanes, and dining reservations that sell out faster than concert tickets. Some call it “exclusionary.” Others call it “the new American dream.”

But let’s call it what it is: a mirror.
Disney has become a reflection of our economy — how easily magic is marketed and how easily we swipe to chase it.

Yet there’s still wisdom to be found, especially for those of us who grew up before smartphones and instant gratification. Back then, we saved for vacations. We collected cans, babysat, or mowed lawns to make it happen. Delayed gratification wasn’t punishment, it was purpose.

If you’re planning a Disney trip today, take a cue from that Gen X grit:
Save, don’t swipe. Create a Disney sinking fund and watch the anticipation become part of the magic.
Do your research. Off-season travel, multi-day passes, and park hopper add-ons aren’t for everyone — know what’s worth it.
Buy Disney gift cards at Sam’s Club or Costco for small but real savings.
Use a planner like Donna Kemp of Magical Adventures Travel, known online as @magicaltravelingtimes, who helps families plan smarter, not harder.

Disney might be more expensive, but the lesson is timeless:
Magic doesn’t come from spending — it comes from saving up for something worth remembering.