Are These U.S. Family Attractions Too Expensive For What They Offer?

Every grown-up knows that the best things in life are free and that the fun you have depends on the company you keep. But try telling that to a troop of young siblings with their mind set on a holiday visit to Disneyland or SeaWorld.

For kids, the anticipation of a trip to a big-name attraction is half the fun. But as Disney's failed $6,000 Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser hotel and role-play experience shows, a big name doesn't guarantee a good time — and traveling home with empty pockets and mediocre memories is a double blow.

So, which family attractions are worth booking, and which leave you regretting your big spend? As experts in coupons, discounts and good value deals, CouponBirds has analyzed thousands of reviews of America's most popular family attractions and can now reveal the ones that tourists reckon to be the worst value.

What We Did

We identified 35,000 family-friendly attractions across America, grouped them by state and category, and ranked them by the most mentions of the word "expensive" in their TripAdvisor reviews.

Key Findings

• Magic Kingdom Park in Florida is America's worst-value family attraction, with 3,259 TripAdvisor reviews labeling it "expensive."

• Florida's NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is America's worst-value family museum, with 977 reviews mentioning "expensive."

• Georgia Aquarium, GA, is America's worst-value zoo or aquarium (1,719 mentions).

• One World Observatory in Manhattan is New York's worst-value family attraction (1,408 mentions).

• In California, Universal Studios Hollywood is the worst-value family attraction (2,548 mentions).

Visitors Think These Are the Worst Value Family Attractions in America

The map below indicates the family attraction in each state, with the most reviews mentioning the word "expensive," as reflected in the figures attached to each state.

California's worst-value family attraction is Universal Studios Hollywood, with 2,548 reviews mentioning how "expensive" it is. It is also the fifth worst value in America. Universal Studios can work out nearly ten times more expensive per ride than Disneyland. However, since Universal Studios operates surge pricing, it is possible to reduce the price of entry by booking at quieter times of the year. California residents can save money with the California Neighbor pass, and Costco and AAA customers may also purchase discount passes and tickets.

The state of New York counts the One World Observatory in Manhattan as its worst-value family attraction. New York City's highest point offers unparalleled 360° views at the end of a 47-second elevator ride up 102 stories. However, basic access to this view starts at $44, and extras can soon increase your total spend.

"Really good with a few surprises, but expensive at over 120 bucks for a family of four," writes one reviewer. "Once we'd also shelled out $15 for an iPad viewer to zoom in on the sights and over $50 for four pastries and drinks, the whole experience wasn't worth almost $200. Overall, would go for the Empire State, which is cheaper and you get to go outside."

UPDATES: Interestingly the states of Arkansas, Delaware and Kansas do not feature in our states map as there were no standout 'bad value' attractions identified in these states in any of the 35,000 reviews we looked at.

The 20 Worst-Value Family Attractions in America

America's four worst-value family attractions are in Florida: Magic Kingdom Park Florida (3,259 reviews mentioning "expensive"), Universal Studios Florida (3,258), Walt Disney World Resort (2,589) and Discovery Cove (2,577).

In fact, nine of the top twenty are in the Sunshine State, where the weather and cluster of big-name theme parks attract many tourists. Florida has plenty of cheaper options, though, including the completely free 50,000-square-foot Lake Nona sculpture garden.

Disney fan website Inside the Magic notes that, in addition to being highly expensive, the Magic Kingdom Park has lost much of its 'magic.' Overcrowding, long queues and broken rides contribute to a significantly lower overall TripAdvisor rating than parks Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.

"You really need to study up on MagicBand+, Genie, Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane to make the most of your visit," says one lifelong Magic Kingdom visitor, referring to the different access bands and virtual queueing options that are available. "I also must say that everything is much more expensive than it used to be. You can buy water at stadium prices, or you can just bring your own. You may start to feel nickel & dimed after a while. Is it the Disney way? Hmm."

The Worst Family-Friendly Museums for Your Money

Narrowing it to museums, we found the NASA Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida to be America's worst-value attraction, with 977 reviews mentioning "expensive." However, you do get a lot for your money, and it may take a couple of days at the museum (albeit at extra cost) to experience it all.

"I thought it was expensive to go until we went and saw how much to do there was," writes one reviewer. However, another notes that they "felt there were a lot of films saying essentially the same thing" and would "like more context, more narrative, more 'flow' and less 'dumbing down'. It starts to feel a bit repetitive and disjointed as the day goes on."

Outside of Florida, the American Museum of Natural History in New York is the worst-value museum, with 545 reviews flagging the cost. Despite the educational value, children also require expensive tickets — although residents of New York, New Jersey or Connecticut can pay what they like.

Even if you pay what you can afford for entry, it's worth taking your own snacks: "The cafeterias are so expensive that a family of four (or larger) will need to take out a second mortgage on their home to eat lunch here," says one reviewer.

The 10 Worst-Value Zoos & Aquariums for Families

California is the capital of the pricey aquarium, with three Californian aquariums and one zoo among America's worst-value attractions in this category. San Diego Zoo is California's most slated for price and the second worst value in the U.S., with 1,685 reviews mentioning the expense.

Few doubt the vast range and high quality of the zoo, and chief executive Paul Baribault says that if "we were priced on the wrong side of the spectrum, you wouldn't get that feel-good experience." Still, with child passes starting at $60, it's no wonder reviewers say the San Diego Zoo "represents a sizeable investment" for a family.

However, the overall worst-value attraction in this category is Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, with 1,719 reviews. "Family of four, $280," reports one visitor. "I really think a "non profit" could do way better for the common family of four… Spent $10 on a small cup of soda and grapes."

During the summer, the aquarium offers $25 tickets (online booking only) for entry after 5 p.m. Since the aquarium takes up to three hours to wander around, this leaves plenty of time before closing at 9 p.m.

Ticket to Ride

Data suggests that the most common top motivation for attending a theme park is "to spend quality time with friends and family," with 23% of Americans claiming to feel this way. So if the best part of the trip is already in the car with you, why pay to enter the most expensive attractions? With a bit of preparation, it's possible to find cheaper alternatives to America's worst-value family attractions — or to find discounts and other reductions when the kids won't take No for an answer.

Methodology

We started our study by collating a list of 35,000 family-friendly attractions across America by applying the "Good for Kids" filter on each state's TripAdvisor page. We then isolated the attractions by state and category, with the majority of reviews mentioning them as "expensive." Our study was completed in July 2024.

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