News LA Times: Disneyland ticket prices go up as much as 8%, parking up 20%

[Mr Wiggins]

Disneyland ticket prices go up as much as 8%, with parking rising 20%

Los Angeles Times
October 25, 2021

Disneyland and neighboring California Adventure Park raised most daily ticket prices Monday and are adopting an even higher price to visit on the most popular days of the year, such as Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

Daily ticket prices are jumping 3% to 8%, with standard daily parking rates going up by 20%. The parks last raised ticket prices by as much as 5% in February of 2020 — shortly before the parks closed for 13 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To manage crowds, the park adopted a five-tiered pricing scheme in 2016 that charges more for days when demand is highest and less on slow days. The price for lowest demand days — such as Tuesdays and Wednesdays in late January — remains unchanged at $104. But prices have increased for the four other tiers, and the resort added a highest-price sixth tier, $164 for a one-day visit to a single park on the highest demand days of the year, including select weekends, holidays and spring break.

The previous highest one-day, one-park ticket was $154.

The prices are the same for visiting Disneyland and neighboring Disney California Adventure Park. The prices for tickets that let you visit two parks in one day — Park Hopper — are increasing by as much as 7%. The inflation rate in the U.S. was 5.4% for the 12 months that ended in September.

The price increases come despite several popular attractions at the parks remaining shut since the parks reopened in April from the pandemic closure, a complaint that theme park fans have voiced often on social media. The nightly fireworks show, water-and-light displays such as Fantasmic and World of Color and most daily costumed parades have yet to return to the parks.

Higher costs may turn away some Disney fans upset that they are being charged more for fewer attractions, but the price hike is likely to generate more revenue overall for Walt Disney Co. even with a slight drop in attendance, said Martin Lewison, a business administration professor and theme park expert at Farmingdale State College in New York.

“I think many guests will find this a very bitter pill at this point in time,” he said. “But it wouldn’t be the end of the world for the company if attendance dipped a little bit.”...

Longtime annual pass holders have complained about the Magic Key program, saying the reservation system makes it too difficult to visit the parks on high-demand days, even for those with the most expensive pass. The resort’s reservation calendar shows that no reservations are available for nearly every weekend over the next two months, but that can change as Disney has occasionally opened up reservations....



Full story at the link above.

[stovk]

Laughable. With all the moaning and groaning about Reservations and how Guests were "hoodwinked", the Magic Keys are selling like hotcakes.

[debkwan]

It's just unbelievable to me. Why are they trying to kill off this park? It's like they're pushing to find the breaking point and won't stop until people stop coming. Glad I didn't buy a key, and even less likely now to go back anytime soon. Not that anybody cares about that, there seems to be plenty of people to take my place. Until there's not.

[Blurr]

At this point I might as well just pay the "all day fee" at the Anaheim hotel. I think it's $35? Sure it's $5 more but we'd literally be across the street from the entrance and not have to make that tram route walk.

[Captain Andy]

I recommend to those who want to dodge parking start utilizing the ART shuttles.

As far as price increases... we can rule out crowd control because the reservation system is in place, and Disney has all the power to control crowds and staffing. I'll leave it at that.

[Goldendreamer]

I recommend to those who want to dodge parking start utilizing the ART shuttles.

As far as price increases... we can rule out crowd control because the reservation system is in place, and Disney has all the power to control crowds and staffing. I'll leave it at that.

I agree with you - people are saying that the crowds are the same as ever. This board speculated that would be the case during Covid because they need people to spend to make up for the closure. I think it was done to drive the stock price back up so they have good numbers by the end of the quarter. The press was really negative after the WDW Genie+ roll out, the lack of trams coming to a boiling point, and the passholders not being able to get a reservation for the next twelve weekends. People are/were intentionally not buying keys, so that takes away a big chunk of their passive revenue stream.

[Captain Andy]

I agree with you - people are saying that the crowds are the same as ever. This board speculated that would be the case during Covid because they need people to spend to make up for the closure. I think it was done to drive the stock price back up so they have good numbers by the end of the quarter. The press was really negative after the WDW Genie+ roll out, the lack of trams coming to a boiling point, and the passholders not being able to get a reservation for the next twelve weekends. People are/were intentionally not buying keys, so that takes away a big chunk of their passive revenue stream.

This is a good theory.

And I hate being pessimistic, but if Disney is chasing that ever-evolving stock price, one can only imagine what 2022 Q1 will bring. I have my bets on charging for Fantasmic! and World of Color seating.

I want to be wrong, but the price hikes sort of brought me back to reality, and every crumb of good news usually comes with a new price tag.

[Jesser-pie]

This is a good theory.

And I hate being pessimistic, but if Disney is chasing that ever-evolving stock price, one can only imagine what 2022 Q1 will bring. I have my bets on charging for Fantasmic! and World of Color seating.

I want to be wrong, but the price hikes sort of brought me back to reality, and every crumb of good news usually comes with a new price tag.

If we’re placing bets, mine is that there will be a renewal fee for Magic Keys.

[Goldendreamer]

If we’re placing bets, mine is that there will be a renewal fee for Magic Keys.

I’m curious to know your thoughts on this. Would you mind elaborating on your theory?

There has always been a renewal fee for annual passes, and I have heard that people have contacted Disney to get a refund after purchasing and then learning there is no availability. Passes had a must use by date of October (I do believe) regardless of when purchased.

[Jesser-pie]

I’m curious to know your thoughts on this. Would you mind elaborating on your theory?

There has always been a renewal fee for annual passes, and I have heard that people have contacted Disney to get a refund after purchasing and then learning there is no availability. Passes had a must use by date of October (I do believe) regardless of when purchased.

I think we might be talking about something different? I have never paid a renewal fee for my pass (the cost was the same as if buying it new). What I am referring to is an inverse of the old renewal discount on pass. In the past, one benefit of renewing your annual pass for another year, was Disney would give you a small discount on the price of that pass (around 40 bucks IIRC). Disney has long since realized that they don’t need to incentivize people to renew their pass and stopped offering the renewal discount years ago. What I am predicting is that Disney will take this a step further and charge you for the “privilege” of being able to renew (since they have stopped selling the Dream pass, there is newfound incentive for APs/MKs to pay extra for a “scarcer” item).

[BigThunda]

If we’re placing bets, mine is that there will be a renewal fee for Magic Keys.

I think you are on to something. "Pay to renew by this date and as a thank you, guests will receive [x] number of bonus reservations."

[Mr Wiggins]

From today's Micechat Disneyland Update:




One of the readers' comments:

"Ok, so if I wanted to go by myself to just Disneyland for one day during a peak day once Genie+ activates and want access to what used to be called Fastpass for all the rides it is available for, I will have to pay $164 (admission) +$30 (parking) +$20 (Genie+) +$15 (RofR LL) = $229 with no discounts available and not including food or souvenirs.

"Or, for just $198, I can get a 2022 season pass to all Cedar Fair parks (including Knott's, Great America, and Cedar Point) every day with free parking, 20% discounts, and free access to Soak City.

"Even Universal, which is 2nd most expensive, offers their Gold pass for $279 with free parking and 15% discounts with just 40 blackout days."

[Darth Scottie]

As said, somebody else can take my place. For me the magic has died and I'm paying extra for the funeral.

[Spongeocto4]

I said it before and I'll say it again. Disney is playing a dangerous game with it's price increases. One of the days the straw will break the camel's back, and the price increases will accidentally cause demand to plummet.

[Karalora]

I said it before and I'll say it again. Disney is playing a dangerous game with it's price increases. One of the days the straw will break the camel's back, and the price increases will accidentally cause demand to plummet.

I think that might be part of the plan, actually. I'm brewing a long-form post about my theories.

[Golden Zephyr]

As said, somebody else can take my place. For me the magic has died and I'm paying extra for the funeral.

hahaha, great quote. Yes, its just not worth it to me.

Others can happily take my place. I'm not bothered at all

I hope they enjoy it. Disneyland simply isn't worth that cost to me. $200+ a day before the "fun" even begins? thanks but no thanks.

Chapek must be grinning bigger than the cheshire cat right now.

[Stormy]

I'm surprised it happened so soon (relatively) after reopening. I'd expected it to be announced in Spring '22.

[Blurr]

From today's Micechat Disneyland Update:




One of the readers' comments:

"Ok, so if I wanted to go by myself to just Disneyland for one day during a peak day once Genie+ activates and want access to what used to be called Fastpass for all the rides it is available for, I will have to pay $164 (admission) +$30 (parking) +$20 (Genie+) +$15 (RofR LL) = $229 with no discounts available and not including food or souvenirs.

"Or, for just $198, I can get a 2022 season pass to all Cedar Fair parks (including Knott's, Great America, and Cedar Point) every day with free parking, 20% discounts, and free access to Soak City.

"Even Universal, which is 2nd most expensive, offers their Gold pass for $279 with free parking and 15% discounts with just 40 blackout days."

The difference is not just in prices of tickets between parks but in customer service between them, too.

Today I had a less-than-magical conversation with a help line CM trying to get a mistake I made while purchasing tickets (to take my wife for her birthday) resolved. What I walked away with was "Yeahhhh those tickets are non-refundable and can't be changed soooo......". No condolences, no other ways that I could be helped, nothing.

Meanwhile over at Universal; I had fears that the newly built Indominus Rex wouldn't be running during the day of our visit (due to reports online) so when I entered the park, I brought these issues up to a TM and asked if this were the case, could I just leave now and apply today's ticket to a different date to return? Not only were they willing to accommodate but they went out of their way to call the attraction before opening and inform me that the figure would be operational that day.

Reaching my own breaking points very quickly, myself. Today's increases were just salt in the wound. Hoping my last ditch e-mail to Guest Services will help bring back a bit of hope. But I doubt it.

[BigThunda]

As said, somebody else can take my place. For me the magic has died and I'm paying extra for the funeral.

Same here Scottie, same here.

P.S. Did you want to view the funeral right away with Lightning Lane, or wait in the Stand-by line?

[Kyuberto]

Disney is ultimately aiming to have everyone, including locals, pay gate price for every visit. I wonder if they’re rolling out these key packages so they’ll fail, and corporate will say, “See? We tried. No more loyalty programs. They don’t work.” That is very cynical of me to say, but I would not be surprised.

I am sure that Disney has a good idea of how much they can raise customer prices before losing revenue. There is no way they don’t; they probably pay a goldmine for those data. The only thing stopping them is public perception and the press. I think they will ultimately get rid of loyalty programs or make sure that they’re so impractical that no one wants them.

This is the harsh reality. We can say, “Mickey, I have been a loyal customer for years. I grew up with you. How could you do this to me?!” But Mickey can also say, “You told me you loved me, but you aren’t willing to shell out extra so that I can remain profitable and competitive! You want it all, and to pay less! How could you do this to me?!”

“Breaking up” with Disney has been a trip. Never before have I felt so emotionally tied to a business, and I didn’t even realize it. But I make hard choices as much as they do, and DL is not a high priority in this new scheme. It’s been painful, but there’s nothing I can do. Mickey and I are now separated. He would get the kids on the weekend, but they can’t afford it 😢