A British TikToker has sparked a debate after claiming that he was "screwed" during $700 Disneyland trip.
Alex Dodman, a father-of-three and social media influencer with 256K followers on TikTok, is known for his “real reviews” of family days out and holidays.
In a video shared in August, Dodman pulled back the curtain on Disney World Orlando, questioning whether it’s truly the magical experience it's marketed to be.
A man has sparked a debate after he reviewed Walt Disney World in Orlando. Credit: Gary Hershorn / Getty
A Pricey Day at the Park
The TikToker began his review by stating: "I don't know what it is about this place, but it's almost like we’ve been programmed to think that this is the most magical place on earth," before boldly labeling it “probably the most overpriced tourist p*** takes in history.”
Many parents can relate to the sticker shock of a Disney World vacation.
A trip for a family of four from the UK, including flights, can cost anywhere from over $8000 to $19,000 or more, depending on the package.
For Dodman, the financial reality hit him hard as his experience for a day included a ticket for two adults, two kids, and a baby for $709, followed by an additional $136 for Lightning Lane tickets for three rides.
"How is this even allowed?" he questioned.
The 'Magical' Experience Falls Short
While Dodman admitted that some people may find happiness at Disney, he was less than impressed.
He sarcastically referenced the crowds on Main Street, where visitors are offered a prime view of the Disney Castle.
“People pretending to cry when they first saw the castle,” he remarked before heading to the rides, where the Lightning Lane tickets did provide some relief from long waits.
Yet, even as Dodman conceded that Disney World might be "some people's happy place," he highlighted the difficulty of enjoying the trip while constantly calculating how much money was being spent.
"There's no way you can enjoy this without having in the back of your mind how utterly screwed you're being done by Disney," he added.
A Better Time at the Beach
While his children enjoyed the theme park, Dodman noted that they had a better time at Clearwater Beach, where they spent a weekend jumping in the sea - for free.
"Did the kids enjoy it? Yeah. But we also went to Clearwater Beach for the weekend, and they said they had a better time jumping in the sea there, which was free," he said, emphasizing that, no matter how you look at it, Disney World was simply "way too expensive".
Dodman said his kids had a better time at Clearwater Beach. Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty
Mixed Reactions to the Review
The video quickly sparked a wide range of reactions in the comments. Some viewers agreed wholeheartedly with Dodman's assessment.
One person commented: “That price for one day!! It’s the one reason we’ve not been, can’t justify it!!!” while another said, “Fully agree. It was the worst thing we did on our Orlando trip.”
However, Disney enthusiasts were quick to defend the park, arguing that his experience might have been different if he had done more research.
“Disney is not for the weak or the unprepared. You need to plan ahead and know what you’re going to do,” one user advised.
Others pointed out that Alex had only visited one park and didn’t take advantage of park hopper tickets, which make the experience more affordable.
One Disney fan commented: "If it’s not for you, it ain’t for you, badges get given to you by employees for occasions and you’ve sampled one park out of 4 to make one opinion - it may be an expensive holiday but it’s a phenomenal place…IF you allow yourself and everyone else to embrace what it is."
But not all viewers were sold on the idea of a Disney trip, as one parent admitted feeling relieved after watching the video: “And I thought I was a bad parent for not taking my kid here, thank you for validating my opinion.”
The TikToker said there's "no way" you can Disney "without having in the back of your mind how utterly screwed you are". Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty
While Disney World is still a popular destination for many, Dodman's review shows the harsh reality of its steep costs.
For some, it’s worth every penny for the magic and memories; for others, the price tag may outweigh the experience.