In a startling new low for Disney, the company put out a poll asking guests to predict when their loved ones might die.
According to a bombshell report from The Wall Street Journal, Disney sent a 47-page survey to Disney Vacation Club members this fall, loaded with invasive questions about their finances. But one question in particular stood out for its morbid audacity: Disney asked respondents how likely they were to experience the “loss of a family member or loved one” within the next five years—or to be “receiving/managing an inheritance.”
Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World During a Stage and Fireworks Show – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
READ: EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Government Paid Over $14 Million of Taxpayer Funds to Suspected Disney Subsidiary
Yes, you read that right. Disney issued a poll to its customers about potential family tragedies to gauge how many of them might soon be flush with inheritance money that could be spent on opulent Disney vacations. It’s a jaw-dropping ghoulish display of corporate greed, signaling that Disney sees the loss of your loved ones not as a cause for sympathy but as an opportunity for profit.
Desperation Dressed as Data Collection
Melissa Buckley of Cedar Lake, Indiana, was one of those surveyed, according to the Wall Street Journal. Buckley, who works in procurement for the oil industry, finally took her family of four to Walt Disney World this past December—but only because of a recent inheritance. She had spent a decade saving for the trip, but unexpected bills kept pushing her dream vacation out of reach. When her family finally made it, their four-day Disney vacation, complete with line-skipping fees and a modest hotel stay, cost nearly $6,000.
“There’s no way we could afford this from our savings alone,” Buckley admitted.
Epcot Spaceship Earth Walt Disney World Orlando 2010. Photo Credit: chensiyuan, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Melissa’s story illustrates what Disney already knows: Their prices have soared beyond the reach of average families. And now, rather than making their parks more affordable, Disney seems to be banking on future windfalls from inheritance checks.
From Family Magic to Financial Predation
Disney’s price-gouging tactics are no secret. As we recently reported, ticket prices at Walt Disney World have soared to $194 per person per day, while once-free perks like FastPass have been replaced with costly upcharges such as Lightning Lane passes, which can cost up to $449 for a single-day experience.
Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World at Dusk looking into Liberty Square – Photo Credit: M. Montanaro
READ: Disney Scrambles to Justify Its Sky-High Prices After Wall Street Journal Exposé
Meanwhile, a four-day vacation at a Disney value resort has surged from $3,230 in 2019 to $4,266 in 2024, largely due to new fees for services that were once included. Disney’s own internal surveys, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, show a decline in guests planning return visits, proving that families are growing tired of paying more for less.
Tone-Deaf About Death
Despite mounting backlash, Disney’s response has been laughably tone-deaf. Executives have touted “affordable options” like $50 kids’ tickets and hotel discounts—crumbs that do little to offset the enormous costs of a Disney vacation. Their defense that guests “have options for every budget” falls flat when a family of four can spend upwards of $6,000 on a modest trip.
The revelation that Disney and its disastrous parks and experiences head Josh D’Amaro are now probing guests about possible inheritance money confirms what many longtime fans have feared: Disney is no longer interested in creating magical experiences—they’re hunting for revenue streams, even if it means capitalizing on personal loss.
Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro via Disney Parks YouTube
So, while Disney claims to be the place “where dreams come true,” it appears they’re more interested in where your money will come from—even if it comes from a loved one’s passing.
For millions of families, the magic is gone, replaced by a simple, sobering question: How much is Disney willing to take before they finally decide you’ve paid enough?
What’s your reaction to this ghoulish Disney poll? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
I imagine they’re asking on behalf of the government. Mussolini would be proud.
Die, Disney company, die and rot in hell.
Omfg….. They are pure satanic evil, thats so disgusting
Let’s stop pretending to be shocked that Disney would be this ghoulish. They’re woke so they have no morals and wouldn’t even understand why this question would be seen as offensive.
So, Disney is collecting a LOT of data on its customers. Data such as, is a family member close to death, plus all the other questions… These are gold to marketers. It’s possible that Disney then sells this data to third-party marketing organisations.
Which, of course, is really bad, they’re selling you out, and invading your privacy.