When going on a vacation or staycation, it’s pretty important to stick to a budget. That can be hard to do in Florida. Many families save up all year just to visit some of the biggest theme parks and best beaches in the country. USA Today compiled a list of the most 100 overpriced attractions, tourist traps, and overrated attractions worldwide. Scroll down to see what made the list in Florida.
Obviously, tourism is huge in the Sunshine State, it is the biggest factor contributing to our economy. Apart from our gorgeous beaches, Florida is home to some of the biggest attractions in the country. Because of the popularity and demand to see these destinations, it can be pretty expensive to visit. It’s up to your own personal preference if these experiences are worth it to you. There are plenty of ways to enjoy some of Florida’s best attractions on a budget. These experiences could be even better than what is normally recommended and may be less crowded.
How did USA Today make their list?
In July 2023, USA Today analyzed 23.2 million Google reviews of the 500 most popular tourist attractions in the WORLD. For each attraction, they focused on how frequently the reviews mention the terms “tourist trap,” “overrated” or “expensive”. They then broke down that info by dividing the number of mentions in each case by the total number of reviews for that attraction. Click here to see their key findings.
Tourist Traps in Florida
Florida natives will tell you that the big theme parks, Disney, Universal, and SeaWorld are all the #1 culprits for tourist traps. While you may be spending a lot of money to attend, many families or thrill seekers find it worth it to visit at least once. USA Today actually lists the Everglades Alligator Farm (#30 on USA Today’s list) and the Kennedy Space Center (#81 on the list) as the top tourist traps in Florida.
These are the 5 most overpriced tourist attractions in Florida
Universal Studios
The first Florida destination to land on USA Today’s list (#44 out of 100) is Universal Studios. They mentioned that in over 127,000 reviews, 1,628 of them mention “expensive”. If you love roller coasters, superheroes and Harry Potter, we think Universal is definitely worth the trip! It helps that locals get hooked up with the Florida resident discount. But those from out-of-state are coughing up $175 for a 1 day-2-park ticket. And that doesn’t include hotel costs, food, drinks, and souvenirs.
Busch Gardens Tampa
Number #49 on the list is Busch Gardens Tampa… This is where we disagree with USA Today’s list. We think Busch Gardens is one of the more family-friendly and affordable attractions in Florida. Not only do you get to experience some of the best roller coasters in the country, but you can also get close and learn about various wild animals. Normally, a single day ticket will cost you about $140, but you can get one now for $85!
Tampa’s premiere theme park for more than 60 years.
Disney World
The last Florida attraction to make it on USA Today’s list is Disney World. Tickets to experience the magic of Disney only keep increasing as they continue to improve the parks. Annual pass prices increased by $30 to $50 on Wednesday 10/11, and parking passes increased by $5. Depending on the park, you could spend up to $170 for a single ticket and $236 for a park-hopper pass. And that’s just if you’re a Florida resident. Tickets are even more expensive if you live out-of-state. Many call Disney a tourist trap because of all the hoops you have to jump through just to experience some of the parks attractions. You can also expect there to ALWAYS be a large crowd, even during the hottest days of summer.
