One benefit of living in Florida is the resident rates we get on the major amusement parks in the state.

For many years, we would go to Disney World once or twice a year. We stayed on campus, packaging our hotel, food, and tickets. We saved and paid cash for our four days in the park.

Slowly, steadily, the prices began a sharp upswing. Hotel rates doubled or tripled, park ticket passes doubled.

Downtown Disney, which was a fun area of Disney based shopping, along with great food options, became transformed into Disney Springs. High end shopping has taken over – stores we never step into, due to out of reach pricing, line the sidewalks as you enter. It became a chore to find our favorite Disney stores.

We loved going to Disney World, and we had our favorite rides. Due to frequent overcrowding, Disney restructured their “fast pass” system, to allow one to pick three rides to ride per day.

It made things infinitely worse. Not only could we not ride our favorite rides – the “choices” given would only include one or two favorites – the lines for the popular rides were hours long.

Not surprisingly, the famous great service by cast members began to suffer. When we first started going to WDW 15 years ago, it was a true escape, a happy place, full of fun and relaxation.

Now, it’s expenses from parking to food to accommodations has made it unreachable to average folks. We live a comfortable life – we refuse to put ourselves in debt for a few days of walking around, packed like lemmings, missing our favorite rides, paying to park on campus,and spending more time standing in line in the heat.

I know this post will not sway the Disney junkies. I used to be one – but I refuse to spend the ridiculous prices.

I also know for average families, a trip to WDW has gone beyond something to save for, and they are going deep into debt to have a Disney vacation.

We used to joke that Disney is aiming at the rich for customers.

It’s not a joke anymore.

Based on what we’ve seen, soon the uber wealthy will be the only ones able to enjoy the parks.

We have a lot of great memories.

We miss Walt Disney – the man.

His dream for Disney World is a thing of the past.