Tickets to Disneyland, Disney World now cost how much?!
Pricing for a single day ticket for adults now varies from $95 to $119 at Disneyland and $97 and $114 at Disney World. Child tickets cost between $89 and $113.
They've done it.
The Walt Disney Company announced this weekend a new "surge" pricing structure for its guests — meaning you'll pay more to visit the increasingly popular (and crowded) theme park on its most popular days.
Although not unexpected, the move definitely puts a crimp on most families who typically need or want to travel when their kids aren't in school.
Bottom line: If you want to head to the Happiest Place on Earth or its Magic Kingdom counterpart in Florida over spring break, summer weekends or during the holidays, it going to hit you square in the wallet.
But if you can visit during less popular times, say a random Thursday afternoon in November, you'll pay less.
How the rates work
- Value days at Disneyland are now $95 per adult ticket and $89 for children between the ages of 3 and 9.
- Regular days are now $105 per adult ticket and $99 for children.
- Peak days are now $119 per adult ticket and $113 for children.
Previously, an adult, single-day ticket had cost $99. Children younger than 3 still do not need a ticket.
Disney World Resort pricing structure
- Value days are now $105 for adults and $99 for children between the ages 3-9 at the Magic Kingdom theme park
- Regular days are now $110 for adults and $104 for children.
- Peak days (which includes the last three weeks of March) are $124 for adults and $118 for children.
Again, children under the age of 3 are free.
Disneyland spring-break survival guide
Look at the calendar
So choosing your week can make a big difference.
Consider my family of four (with two kids younger than 10).
Going to Disneyland on a "value" or off-peak day, it would cost us $368 for admission.
But if we head to the park on a peak day, the cost increases by $96 to $464.
That's some surge.
Multiday tickets and park hoppers jump accordingly. A single-day park hopper, on peak days, is now $664 for a family of four, assuming two child tickets and two adult tickets.
And you haven't bought a single trinket or paid for any food.
Disney now makes it easier to determine which rates you'll pay for which days with a new ticket calendar on its website. The site is color-coded through the end of the year in three shades of blue. The dark the blue, the higher the rate.
Ease congestion?
A Disneyland spokeswoman told the Orange County Register that the goal was to spread out demand throughout the year.
“The demand for our theme parks continues to grow, particularly during peak periods,” said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland spokeswoman. “In addition to expanding our parks, we are adopting seasonal pricing on our one-day ticket to help better spread visitation throughout the year.”
The move to surge pricing comes as Disneyland shutters some rides to begin construction of its new, hotly anticipated Star Wars land.
Universal Studios Hollywood, which is preparing for the grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in April, also just moved to surge or demand-based pricing.
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