The $13,854 Cost of Being a Disney Adult

Welcome to Show the Receipts, a series where we ask interesting people to share exactly how much it costs to get shit done. No matter the task, we're tracking every last dollar from start to finish. Up next: being a Disney Adult.

Samantha Weir moved to Orlando, FL with one thing in mind: to be closer to Disney World. The self-proclaimed Disney Adult and her husband packed up all their belongings in Wilmington, NC and drove nine hours to live just outside the "most magical place one earth" — somewhere with better weather, more job opportunities for her husband, and, most importantly, a Florida Residents Pass to Disney World.

Now, nearly eight months later, Weir says that Disney has taken over her life even more than it had before. "Nearly all of my free time is spent at the Disney parks or includes something to do with Disney," she tells PS.

When she and her husband aren't at the parks, which they frequent one to three times a month, she's buying new Disney decor for her house, posting on her Disney Instagram account, watching Disney movies, or reading up on the latest Disney news.

"It's nostalgic," she says. "It reminds me of all the time I spent with family at the parks, the countless hours of Disney movies I watched as a child, and the joy it all brought me."

Anyone well versed in Disney culture, however, will know just how quickly expenses can add up. And though Weir says being a Disney Adult is worth the splurge, she's had to practice restraint every time she's at the parks or has the opportunity to buy anything Disney themed.

Here's the full cost breakdown of being a Disney Adult.

Task: Being a Disney Adult
Occupation: Mental health therapist
Location: Orlando, FL
Timeline: March to November

The Receipts

Moving to Florida: $8,000
Florida Residents Pirate Pass (with the water park and sports add-on): $900
Transportation to and from Disney World: $564
Food and drinks at Disney World: $4,230
Disney attire: $80
Disney home decor: $80
Total: $13,854

How I Did It

Although Weir has loved Disney for as long as she can remember, she says it really started taking over her personality a few years ago. When she and her husband previously lived in Wilmington, NC, they would make a trip to Disney once a year. However, they quickly realized they wanted more.

Now that she and her husband live just 25 minutes away from Disney World, it's all she can talk about. "As my sister will tell you, I cannot have a conversation with her without Disney coming up in some form or capacity," Weir adds.

Weir and her husband expected the move to Orlando to make Disney more affordable, especially with the Florida Residents Pass, which allows in-state visitors to pay as low as $59 per day at a park, compared to the standard single-day ticket cost for non-residents, typically around $110. Weir says that because they visit the parks more frequently now than before, the expenses probably even out.

Below, Weir shares more on the costs that come with being a Disney Adult.

PS: How much did the move to Orlando cost you?
Weir: For the move itself, we sold a number of our belongings because it was time for new furniture anyway. We loaded up our two cars and drove to Florida ourselves, which allowed us to save on renting a U-Haul or paying movers. We did have to start from scratch with furniture, though, which was costly. Between gas and refurnishing our house, we spent around $3,000. We are also spending more on rent and utilities than we did in Wilmington, NC. We pay about $500 more in rent per month and $100 to $150 per month in utilities.

PS: How much do you save now that you're in Orlando?
Weir: Being in Florida does allow us to save a ton of money on Disney World. We have no hotel fees, no airfare fees, significantly less gas to travel, Florida resident rates on annual passes, free parking with an annual pass, and even a discount on some food with the annual pass.

PS: What's the most expensive part that comes with being a Disney Adult?
Weir: It used to be the park tickets and hotel stays, but now that we're local, our biggest expense is the alcohol and food we buy at the parks. We probably average around $75 to $90 per visit every time we go, which adds up. Food wise, my husband and I like to share the loaded breakfast tots at Launch Pad in Magic Kingdom ($11), a pizza slice at the pizza window in Italy at Epcot ($13), and/or a baguette with butter at Les Halles Boulangerie ($4). Every cocktail at Disney is good, but some of our favorites are the annual passholder-exclusive drinks, like the Fuzzy Tauntaun at Oga's Cantina in Hollywood Studios ($19).

PS: What's the most surprising cost associated with being a Disney Adult?
Weir: Disney home decor, mainly because it is not something I ever thought I would spend money on. Between Disney attire and decor, we probably spend around $5 to $20 a month on thrifted Disney items. I have a Disney Epcot cookie jar ($70), a Mickey-shaped throw pillow ($45), a Disney mug ($12), Disney magnets ($10), and more.

PS: What's an expense that's worth the splurge?
Weir: Staying on property at a Disney hotel. I did not get to stay on property until 2017, and it changed my love for Disney World. Not only do you get the ease and convenience of taking Disney transportation straight to your hotel, but you get to experience the Disney magic from the time you wake up till your head hits the pillow. Since moving here, we've been lucky enough to enjoy one staycation at a Disney resort with my father-in-law and his wife when they came to visit. They covered the cost.

PS: Is being a Disney Adult worth the money?
Weir: Absolutely. No matter how you put it, Disney is expensive. But there are definitely ways you can at least save a couple bucks here and there. Budgeting and saving where we can is the only way that my husband and I are able to be Disney adults to the extent that we are. One of my favorite budgeting hacks? Buying kids meals at quick service locations and bringing our own water bottles to the parks.

Taylor Andrews (she/her) is the balance editor at PS, specializing in topics relating to sex, relationships, dating, sexual health, mental health, travel, and more. With seven years of editorial experience, Taylor has a strong background in content creation and storytelling. Prior to joining PS in 2021, she worked at Cosmopolitan.