May 20, 2026
Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, but not for your wallet. A trip there has never been cheap, but recent guests were shocked to see an $86 pizza combo for four — a 16-inch pepperoni pizza, two breadsticks, two side salads and four fountain beverages — at Alien Pizza Planet, a cafeteria-style restaurant. People are turning to the r/Disneyland subreddit to vent.
A Disneyland guest posted the combo price to Reddit with the caption, “I remember when the whole pizza was $30.” Hundreds of Redditors had a lot to say about the sticker shock, such as “holy crap, I thought it was a joke” and “$90 is the new $30.” While the majority of the posts laughed at how ludicrous the cost is, there were some helpful suggestions from fellow Disney fans.
Feed the family for less
Multiple Redditors recommended walking five minutes from the park entrance to Naples Ristorante and Napolini Pizzeria for “legit pizza” that’s $40-$48 for a large 20-inch.
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“It fed four of us, two adults, two teenagers, and it’s really good,” one user said (it should be noted that Napolini’s competing family meal for four, with pizza, salad and a pasta side rather than breadsticks, will set you back $120). Nearby Marri’s Pizza was another recommendation, as “$86 goes a lot further there.” (A comparable Marri’s meal of pizza, garlic bread and salad would run you at least $68 there, but the size of the large pizza isn’t given in inches on their site, so you might need to spend an extra $26 for a second one).
Other suggestions included ordering Uber Eats right to the drop-off area, going back to the hotel room and ordering delivery, or just bringing in your own food — which many guests don’t realize they can do.
“A bag of homemade bean and cheese burritos, Taco Bell sauce, some chips and store-bought candy bars is my Disney meal. $12.99,” said one commenter. Per Disneyland’s policy, guests can bring in food and non-alcoholic beverages as long as they don’t require heating. Glass containers are not allowed.
Families can bypass the in-park markup, lines and limited food options by getting meals from the two-block radius outside of the park. For those who prefer not to leave the park or prepare food, it’s worth checking restaurant menus on the Disneyland app to avoid surprises.
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Borrowing happiness
While guest numbers dropped to an all-time low in 2025 according to data analyzed by the Disney Tourist Blog and reported by Fox 35. However, revenue was still up for Disney due to guest spending, Travel Weekly reports.
According to a 2024 LendingTree survey, 24% of Disney visitors have gone into debt for their Disney trip. For parents with children under 18, that figure is 45%. Of this group, 59% say they don’t regret it. Parents of young children took on an average of $1,983 in Disney-related debt. When asked what expenses cost significantly more than planned, 65% of those with debt cited in-park food or beverages.
Disney lovers don’t have to forgo that magical trip. Instead, families could open a dedicated savings account to funnel a percentage of their income into each week. Even a small amount — such as 2% of your take-home pay — can add up. For example, if your family’s household post-tax income is $6,000 a month, that’s $120 per week or $6,240 annually, plus any interest you make if you put it in a high-interest savings account. If you set an annual “experiences” budget for your family, you can save with something specific to look forward to.
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Amanda Smith is an Australian freelance journalist and writer based in the New York City area who reports on culture/society, technology, and health.
