Visiting the Magic Kingdom is a dream for many, but that dream might be getting harder to achieve. The Walt Disney corporation raised its entry price from $95 to $99, and all of it’s other theme parks ticket prices from $90 to $94. Now Universal is raising the prices from $92 to $96 and bumping “park-to-park” tickets by $12.
CNBC reported that “[w]ith taxes included, the cost of admission to any one of the above has now topped $100 per person—more than $400 per day for Mom, Dad and two teens—and that doesn’t include food, souvenirs, parking or lodging.”
Disney spokeswoman Kim Prunty, speaking to CNBC, said “[w]e offer a variety of ticket options that provide a great value and find that most guests select multiday tickets that offer additional savings… Our pricing reflects the high quality and breadth of experiences we offer and our ongoing commitment to investing in our parks.”
Price rises for theme parks are not unusual and despite the cost, Mintel senior lifestyles and leisure analyst Fiona O’Donnell does not see the latest round of price rises deterring the parents of Disney-obsessed children from visiting altogether, but it may change the way people approach visiting.
According to O’Donnell, Disney appears to be moving more in the direction of tempting visitors to come less often, but to stay longer when they do. A five day pass to attend the Magic Kingdom costs only $60.80,with the hope that the guests will stay on the resort at one of the Disney-owned hotels, as well as purchase food and souvenirs from Disney-owned vendors.
“If raising prices puts the parks outside the reach of their traditional client base, it’s going to change the nature of their attendance base,” O’Donnell continued. “Maybe you no longer go every year; maybe it truly becomes a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”