Affordable Airline Reduces Routes Following Federal Operational Freeze

If you’ve been counting on Spirit Airlines to get you to Orlando for cheap, your next trip to Disney World might just get a whole lot more expensive—and we’re not talking about the price of Mickey pretzels.

Spirit Airlines just pulled the plug on another round of cities, and budget-conscious Disney guests are scrambling. Starting October 2, Spirit is slashing routes from 11 U.S. cities, canceling plans for new service, and throwing serious shade at competing airlines—because apparently, no one in the airline industry can keep it professional when bankruptcy is involved.

Let’s get into it.

The Cities Spirit Just Ditched

Here’s the list of places Spirit is now ghosting completely:

• Albuquerque, NM

• Birmingham, AL

• Boise, ID

• Chattanooga, TN

• Oakland, CA

• Columbia, SC

• Portland, OR

• Sacramento, CA

• Salt Lake City, UT

• San Diego, CA

• San Jose, CA

And as a cherry on top: Spirit was supposed to start flying into Macon, GA on October 16. Yeah—that’s not happening either.

Instead, the airline dropped a quick apology and told affected travelers they’ll be contacted about refunds or other options. But let’s be real: for a lot of families planning their once-a-year Disney World trip, those “other options” probably involve paying double with another airline.

Spirit’s Collapse = Disney Budget Disaster

Let’s break this down: Spirit’s whole business model was built on giving you dirt-cheap airfare. Sure, they’ll charge you extra for water, a seatbelt, and the privilege of boarding, but for many people, the tradeoff was worth it—especially when you’re blowing your budget on character breakfasts, Genie+ (now Lightning Lane Multi Pass), and Minnie ears.

But now, with these 11 cities off the map, entire regions of the U.S. just lost their cheapest pipeline to Disney magic.

Families in cities like San Diego, Portland, and Salt Lake City—where nonstop options were already limited—are now stuck with connecting flights, longer travel days, or worse: sky-high prices from big-name airlines. The savings that used to make a Disney trip doable for larger families or solo park hoppers on a budget? Gone.

We’re not being dramatic when we say this could increase a Disney trip’s total cost by hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars, depending on when you travel and how many people you’re bringing. That’s money you could’ve used for an extra night at a Deluxe Resort or 15 more Dole Whips. Priorities, people.

And Now, a Government Shutdown?

Just when you thought things couldn’t get more chaotic: the U.S. government officially shut down as of October 1. And while flights are still operating (bless the air traffic controllers showing up unpaid), the ripple effects are already hitting travelers where it hurts.

Expect longer TSA lines, slower customs processing, and a whole lot of frustration if you’re flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO)—which is, by the way, already one of the most stressful airports in America during high season.

That’s a pretty rough combo when you’re trying to time your arrival with a park reservation, a Lightning Lane return window, or your highly coveted lunch at Space 220.

Let’s say your flight from Portland gets delayed. That tight window you had to get to Magic Kingdom and check in for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party? Gone. Those dining reservations at Cinderella’s Royal Table? Good luck explaining a TSA delay to a Cast Member. The Disney planning game is stressful enough without airport drama.

So What Now?

Okay, now that we’ve all screamed into the void together, let’s talk next steps.

Spirit’s not the only budget carrier in the game. Here’s where to look if your city just got cut off:

• Frontier Airlines is scooping up some of Spirit’s routes, but it’s hit or miss depending on your location.

• United Airlines is expanding into 15 new cities in January—but don’t expect budget pricing. They’re here to fill the gap, not keep prices low.

• Tampa (TPA) and Sanford (SFB) are alternative airports worth checking. Both are within reasonable driving distance to Walt Disney World and often have more options when Orlando’s booked up.

And if you haven’t booked your trip yet? Do it now. The closer we get to the holidays, the more the price of airfare is going to spike—especially with fewer flights in the system.

Spirit’s been in trouble for a while. After filing Chapter 11 in November 2024 and again in August 2025, the airline has made it clear it’s struggling to survive. Their own words: they have “substantial doubt” they’ll stay in business if things don’t improve. That’s not comforting if you’ve already booked your December Orlando flights with them.

Meanwhile, United Airlines execs are circling, clearly ready to pick up the pieces if Spirit completely goes under. In a statement dripping with “bless your heart” energy, one United VP said, “If Spirit suddenly goes out of business, it will be incredibly disruptive.”

Spirit’s response? “We appreciate the obsession some airline executives have with us.” Cute.

But let’s not get distracted by airline drama. The real issue is how this affects you—the family trying to make a Disney vacation work without mortgaging the house. And with fewer flights, higher prices, and a government slowdown in full effect, we’re entering a season where travel is going to test every ounce of your patience.

For Disney foodies, character dining fans, and Lightning Lane warriors, this isn’t just airline news—it’s vacation-breaking news. Spirit’s exit from these cities puts real pressure on park-goers who rely on low-cost airfare to get to the gates of Magic Kingdom without financial regret.

So what’s the plan? Watch flights like a hawk, book early, consider alternate airports, and pad your travel day with time for delays. That way, when you finally step off the plane and walk into your resort, you can leave the travel stress behind—and focus on what really matters: which snack to grab first.

Spoiler alert: it’s the Num Num Cookie.