May a Disney vacation become too expensive for the typical American family.

The U.S. travel sector has been surprisingly resilient when it comes to travel.

Despite the increase in air travel, inflation-weary consumers may be opting to spend their money elsewhere, such as on theme parks.

Despite a 3% increase in revenue compared to the previous year, Walt Disney reported a 6% decline in operating profits in its domestic theme parks in the third quarter of 2024, citing a "softening consumer environment" as the reason for the sliding demand.

In the fiscal second quarter, Universal Studios' parent company reported a nearly 11% drop in theme park revenue due to lower attendance.

"Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock stated that consumers have numerous options and are making deliberate choices about where they spend their time, resulting in a competitive environment. As a result, it is crucial for Disneyland to be intelligent and considerate in understanding and catering to consumers' needs."

Despite being the most popular theme parks worldwide, with 142 million visitors in 2023, Disney parks have seen rising ticket prices and increased costs for visitors.

Over the past decade, the average cost of a one-day Walt Disney World ticket has increased by 5% annually, outpacing the national inflation rate of 32%. According to Wolfe Research, the cost for a single day ticket at Walt Disney World inflated by 56% between 2014 and 2024.

While the cost of Disney World and Disneyland's cheapest ticket has remained constant since 2019, the average price of a one-day ticket at Walt Disney World is $154, with Magic Kingdom tickets costing $189 during peak travel times.

Disney has been experiencing disappointment with linear television for the past decade, which may have led to a more aggressive pricing strategy for its parks in order to boost financial results. However, this premium experience puts pressure on price-sensitive customers who struggle with the cost.

Disclosure: Comcast owns NBCUniversal, the parent company of CNBC.