British Family Cancels $16,000 Disney World Vacation After Children Are Upset by Anti-ICE Protester Shootings in Florida

For nearly two years, Michelle Cowley and her husband had been quietly building what they thought would be the ultimate family treat — a long-awaited holiday to Walt Disney World.

Flights researched. Park passes compared. Hotel options debated over cups of tea at their home in London. The price tag? Around $16,000.

For their two children, aged seven and 11, it wasn’t just another holiday.

It was the holiday. Florida sunshine. Roller coasters. Mickey-shaped ice cream bars.

But in the end, none of it mattered.

The family pulled the plug.

The Moment That Changed Everything

The tipping point, Cowley said, wasn’t cost or logistics. It was what her children saw online.

In January, the fatal shooting of protester Renee Good in Minneapolis by an ICE agent sparked national outrage.

Weeks later, another protester, Alex Pretti, was shot in a separate incident.

Videos and images flooded social media, crossing borders almost instantly.

Even thousands of miles away in the UK, the story reached Cowley’s children.

They had questions. Hard ones.

The shootings became part of wider protests tied to immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump, who returned to the White House promising an aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigration.

For Cowley’s family, the unrest and imagery left a lingering discomfort.

“It just doesn’t feel like the right place for us right now,” she explained.

A Political Climate That Feels Unsettling Abroad

The shootings weren’t the only factor.

Cowley also pointed to what she described as a broader shift in tone since Trump retook office.

His renewed threats to annex Greenland — a self-governing territory of Denmark — raised eyebrows across Europe.

So did his remarks criticizing Britain’s military record in Afghanistan, which stirred debate in UK media.

From across the Atlantic, American politics can sometimes feel dramatic but distant.

This time, Cowley said, it felt personal.

And so a Disney fantasy became a cancelled booking.

It’s Not Just One Family Rethinking the U.S.

What makes their decision notable is that they’re far from alone.

According to recent data from the World Travel & Tourism Council, the United States was the only major global destination to experience a decline in international visitors last year.

January alone saw a 4.8 percent drop compared to January 2025.

Over the course of the year, that decline translated to roughly 11 million fewer foreign visitors.

That’s not a rounding error. That’s billions in lost spending.

And the ripple effects are spreading.

Canada Pulls Back — Hard

Canada has traditionally been the second-largest source of tourism to the U.S., just behind Mexico.

But in January, Canadian visits reportedly plunged 28 percent compared to the previous year.

The decline is being felt especially in cities that rely heavily on international tourism — particularly Las Vegas.

Local tourism officials have acknowledged hearing directly from Canadians who feel alienated by tariff threats and repeated comments about making Canada the “51st state.”

Consumer confidence numbers have also dipped, adding economic pressure on travel decisions.

When cross-border car trips and quick Vegas weekends start drying up, local businesses notice.

Europe Hesitates Too

It’s not only Canada showing caution.

The same tourism council data indicates noticeable drops in visitors from Germany and France.

Analysts say a mix of political tension, tighter immigration scrutiny, and a stronger U.S. dollar are contributing factors.

New entry policies have added another layer of friction.

The White House has expanded visa bans affecting more than a dozen countries. Fees for visa overstays have increased.

In some cases, travelers may soon need to provide up to five years of social media history as part of the vetting process.

For many would-be visitors, it’s not necessarily fear — it’s friction.

Travelers tend to choose destinations that feel easy, welcoming, and predictable.

When headlines suggest unrest or bureaucratic hurdles, some simply look elsewhere.

The Economic Stakes Are Enormous

The U.S. Travel Association has warned that when millions of international visitors don’t arrive, the consequences are immediate and expensive.

Hotels feel it. Airlines feel it. Theme parks feel it.

Restaurants, tour guides, taxi drivers — they all feel it.

The World Travel & Tourism Council estimates that policy-related travel hesitations could result in as much as $15.7 billion in lost tourism spending.

And this comes just months before the U.S. co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup, an event expected to draw global crowds.

Calls for boycotts tied to immigration enforcement controversies have already surfaced in activist circles.

What’s Next?

The big question is whether this dip is temporary or the beginning of a longer shift.

Major international events like the World Cup often reverse tourism slowdowns.

Large-scale sporting events can override political anxieties, at least in the short term.

But perception matters. And right now, perception abroad appears complicated.

If tensions ease and policies stabilize, visitor numbers could rebound quickly.

The U.S. remains one of the most desired travel destinations in the world, with unmatched national parks, entertainment hubs, and cultural attractions.

On the other hand, if headlines continue to center on unrest, visa barriers, and diplomatic spats, more families like the Cowleys may quietly redirect their vacations to Spain, France, or closer-to-home options.

A Holiday Decision That Reflects Something Bigger

At its heart, this story isn’t really about Disney rides or Florida sunshine.

It’s about how global politics filters into living rooms thousands of miles away.

How viral videos can shape a child’s perception of safety.

How rhetoric and policy can ripple into airline bookings.

For one London family, the magic kingdom will have to wait.

For the United States tourism industry, the challenge may be convincing the world that the welcome mat is still out.