Yesterday, I noted that the theme park business is booming and suggested that, based on how crowded the parks are, Disney should raise their prices. It turns out that they had done just that the night before.
the company raised the prices for single-day and annual tickets — something it typically does each year. It now costs $92 (+5.7%) for those over 10 to enter Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park, and parking costs $16 (+6.7%). If you want to visit both parks then it will cost $137 (+9.6%). An annual ticket usable almost any day runs $669 (+3.1%). And it takes $95 (+6.7%) to experience the Magic Kingdom at Orlando’s Walt Disney World. The increase there comes about two weeks after Universal Orlando raised its one-day price to $92 (+3.4%) for either Universal Studios or Islands of Adventure, or $128 (+3.2%) for both. Disney Premier Passport — which offers anytime admission to any of its parks in California or Florida — now costs $979 (+15.3%).
My guess is that the increase is small enough as to deter approximately no one who would have bought at ticket at the previous price point, meaning this will be pure profit and, alas, not alleviate the crowding one iota. But at least Disney—and Universal—continue to invest in making their parks better rather than resting on their laurels. The Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland was under serious renovation on my previous visit and greatly refreshed when we went last week—and they were building major new exhibits next to it on that visit.
