Family filmed violating major Disney rule—why internet takes their side

A viral video showing a child hiding in a stroller to bypass Disney park entry rules has ignited debate online, with many pundits arguing the stunt reflects growing frustration over the cost of visiting the “happiest place on Earth.”

The brief clip, posted by TikTok user sincitybornandraised, features a child concealed in the back of a stroller as it passes through security, accompanied by on-screen text reading: “DISNEY SO EXPENSIVE THEY SMUGGLING KIDS IN.”

The video has been watched 9.6 million times in two days, with viewers weighing in on whether the act was wrong—or understandable.

The incident appears to echo similar cases documented in past viral videos.

According to the New York Post one widely shared TikTok showed, “a woman who disguised an elementary school-age child as a baby to avoid paying the admission price at Disney World,” sparking a similar divide in public opinion.

Entry to Disney parks is not cheap. The New York Post reported that tickets can range, “from $109 to $159 per day,” with all visitors age 3 and up required to have a ticket.

Rising costs have become a recurring talking point for visitors and commentators alike.

Newsweek has previously reported on how price increases are reshaping perceptions of Disney vacations.

In one article, Florida dad Craig Stowell described the cost of a single-day visit for his family, saying: “To put it in perspective, one day at Disney for our family of five cost as much as a first car,” he told Newsweek.

Broader Financial Strain

The broader financial strain is backed by industry analysis. Dogan Gursoy, a professor of hospitality business management at Washington State University, told Newsweek that, “an increasing number of visitors now view Disney vacations as unaffordable, which is likely to reduce visit intentions and return rates.”

Against that backdrop, many TikTok contributors were sympathetic to the family in the viral clip.

In response to the video, a viewer pointed out, “Disney doesn’t realize how much money they could make by lowering prices.”

Another added, “That one $150 ticket saved will buy lunch for two people.”

A fellow commenter expressed support for the family, writing, “I saw nothing, heard nothing. Hope they have an amazing time at Disney.”

Others, however, questioned the ethics of bypassing park rules, echoing criticism seen in earlier viral incidents.

The New York Post noted that some viewers felt such actions crossed a line, with one critic remarking: “The way people have no shame just continues to amaze me.”