Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland, celebrating “100 Years of Wonder.”
Aaronp/bauer-griffin | Gc Images | Getty Images
Price hikes are coming to Disneyland.
While the California-based park’s entry ticket will remain at $104, the same price it has been for six years, other ticket tiers, based on demand, will jump to between $7 and $12, an increase of 5.9 % to 6.5%, the company said Wednesday.
Likewise, the cost of the park’s annual Magic Key pass will increase between 6% and 20%, or $100 to $125 depending on pass type. These price changes take effect on Wednesday.
These price changes occur while Walt Disney Company is already under scrutiny due to the cost of its theme park admissions and hotel accommodation, which many consumers say has become too high.
Nonetheless, the company has sought to offer discounted tickets and hotel stays to those who choose to visit Disneyland during off-peak periods. Last week, Disney announced that its $50 kids ticket deal would be available on October 22 and could be used starting January 7. Additionally, the company is offering a hotel deal that can save customers up to 20% starting in January.
“We always offer a wide variety of ticket, restaurant and hotel options, as well as promotional offers throughout the year, to accommodate as many families as possible,” said Jessica Good, spokesperson of Disneyland Resort, in a statement Wednesday.
Much like the airline, hospitality, and even concert industries, Disney theme parks operate on a demand-driven pricing model. This means that certain times of the year are more expensive to visit the parks because more people try to visit them at that time. Major holidays like Christmas and Halloween, as well as school holidays, are perfect examples.
On the other hand, Disney said there was a period in January and February when a family of four – two adults and two children – could visit the park for $308. That’s two adult tickets for $104 and two children’s tickets for $50.
But to keep up with demand, Disney has a tiered ticket system. Level 0 is the lowest demand, the base ticket price of $104, while Level 6 is the highest demand and will see an increase of $12 to $206 per ticket.
The Magic Key program will also see a price increase due to demand. The lowest tier, called Imagine, will cost $599 per year, an increase of $100, Enchant will cost $974, an increase of $125, Believe will cost $1,374, an increase of $125, and Inspire will cost $1,749, an increase of $100.
Each level has different access to theme park dates and benefits. Disney noted that Magic Key pass holders will receive early access to the upcoming opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and discounts on Lightning Lane passes, as well as existing discounts on merchandise, food and parking.
Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, is not announcing any price changes. Disney’s online ticketing website for these theme parks – Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot – already reflects price increases for 2025, announced in February.
