For years, Disney World vacations came with an unspoken compromise. You paid a premium, sure—but staying on Disney property softened the blow. Complimentary perks filled in the gaps. They didn’t erase the cost, but they made it feel justified. Booking a Disney hotel came with the sense that you were getting something extra.
That equation looks very different now that 2026 is underway.
Disney World has continued raising prices across nearly every category, while many of the perks guests once relied on have quietly disappeared. If you’re planning a trip this year, the pattern is impossible to miss. Costs are climbing, and what’s included with your stay keeps shrinking.
Rising Prices Are Touching Every Part of the Trip
Disney World price increases no longer feel isolated. It’s not just park tickets or hotel rooms. It’s the entire experience.
Tickets remain expensive, particularly during peak seasons. Snacks that once felt like impulse purchases now regularly hit double digits. Merchandise prices inch higher with each new release. Even standard hotel rooms are more expensive, making on-property stays harder to justify for families who are watching their budgets closely.
For a long time, guests could justify those costs by citing convenience and the included perks. Staying on Disney property meant having access to transportation, early planning advantages, and small comforts that added up.
That reasoning doesn’t land the same way anymore.
Familiar Perks Are Fading Away
Higher prices might feel easier to accept if the familiar perks were still there. Many of them aren’t.
What once felt like thoughtful extras now feel like leftovers from an earlier version of Disney World. Guests visiting in 2026 are discovering that several assumptions about what comes with a resort stay are no longer accurate. No single loss ruins a vacation, but taken together, the changes are noticeable.
Staying on the property still delivers immersion and proximity—but fewer conveniences than guests once expected.
Disney+ Isn’t Included in Your Room
One detail that catches some travelers off guard is in-room entertainment. Disney+ is not included with your hotel stay.
It never has, but as vacations get more expensive, guests pay closer attention to what’s included when they’re back in their rooms. Most families spend their downtime at the resort, especially after long days at the park.
Some Disney hotels allow guests to log in to their personal Disney+ account through the TV system. Others don’t have the app installed, meaning you’ll need a separate device to stream content. Without your own subscription, choices are limited. Many rooms feature classic Mickey Mouse shorts, which initially feel charming but lack flexibility.
Given the cost of a Disney hotel room, the absence of built-in streaming stands out more than it once did.
Delivery Services No Longer Work the Same Way
Disney once made vacations feel effortless by handling the small details. Delivery services played a significant role in that experience.
Guests used to send merchandise purchases from the parks back to their resort, freeing them from having to carry bags all day. That option disappeared and never returned in its original form.
Now, guests either carry their purchases with them or pay to have items shipped to their homes. Resorts can still accept outside packages for pickup, but the park-to-room delivery option is no longer available. Room service followed a similar path. Traditional in-room dining has largely vanished, with only a few Deluxe resorts offering limited options. Most guests now rely on mobile ordering and pickup.
These changes don’t end vacations—but they do reshape how days are planned.
MagicBands No Longer Feel Like a Perk
Receiving a complimentary MagicBand before a trip once felt like a warm welcome. It was practical, personal, and distinctly Disney.
That experience no longer exists. MagicBands are no longer free, and discounts on MagicBand+ for resort guests and Annual Passholders ended in late 2025. Everyone now pays full retail price.
While MagicBand+ remains optional, the symbolic shift is evident. What once felt like a perk is now simply another purchase.
FastPass Still Feels Like the Biggest Loss
Perhaps no change lingers quite like the loss of FastPass.
FastPass offered planning power and convenience without extra cost. Its replacements—first Genie+ and now Lightning Lane—require guests to pay for similar advantages.
That shift marks a fundamental change in how Disney structures its value. A benefit once included now comes with a price tag.
What 2026 Guests Should Expect
All of these changes add up. Disney World continues raising prices while trimming back perks that once justified them. The magic hasn’t vanished—but the value equation has changed.
For 2026 travelers, preparation matters more than ever. Understanding what’s included—and what isn’t—can make all the difference.
