Major theme parks are having a battle, one that is working to disadvantage tourists. Last week, Universal Orlando raised its single-day, single-park ticket prices to $88, making it the most expensive theme park in America. Walt Disney world couldn't let that slide. This week, the famous theme park is increasing their price to $89.
The new $89 is only a $4 increase, but with large families, that extra change can add up. Multi-day pass prices are also increasing. The price of a four-day Disney ticket rose to $256. Five- and seven-day passes are now $268 and $288, respectively.
The price increase has become a bit of a routine, as the prices are raised regularly. At the rate of price increase, it might not be long before entrance to the Magic Kingdom will feel less magical at $100 per person. Orlando Sentinel columnist Beth Kassab noted that the park has had an of average 6% annual increases over the past 10 years. She predicts the price could shoot up to $100 by 2014.
Kassab writes, "A hundred bucks is a lot of money. Like $4-per-gallon gas, it's a psychological milestone."
A $100 admission could also be a psychological limit to money-conscious families. Eli Portnoy of CultureRanch, a consumer behavior company, told USA Today "It's a barrier no one wants to cross, and Disney is going to have to be careful about crossing it." Factor in the cost of a flight and a hotel stay, and a trip to Disney World could cost a fortune.
The West Coast Disney theme parks have also raised their prices. This summer, Disney's California Adventure will open a new attraction, "Cars Land," based on the hit movie Cars. This new attraction and a modest increase in the economy inspired park operators to jack up the prices.
Prices for daily passes for the Anaheim Disney parks - Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park - rose a whole $7 from $80 to $87 on May 20. The 300,000 park-goers who choose the premium annual passes that include parking are hit with the biggest increase from $499 to $649.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
