A history of Disney price increases
“In fact, the old saying should be amended if you ask us: 'In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes and Disney price hikes,’” the Orlando Sentinel wrote in a 1989 column.
Prices for Walt Disney World single-day tickets and annual passes rose again effective Feb. 11.
Here’s a look at how prices have jumped over the years.
When the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971, adult admission was $3.50 and $1 for children — but that cost didn’t include rides.
“… the rides and attractions ranged from 10 cents to 90 cents on a pay-as-yougo basis. A package ticket that included admission and seven rides was $4.75 for adult,” the Sentinel said in a 1986 story.
An A-ticket was for a smaller ride while the coveted E-ticket was for an exciting attraction, such as the Haunted Mansion.
By 1982, the theme park stopped using the A-E tickets, and admission to ride all the attractions was set at $15 a ticket by the time Epcot Center opened in October 1982, reported several media outlets and All Ears, a website that has tracked the prices over time.
By 1986, WDW prices increased prices to $24.50 for adults and $19.50 for children — the fourth price increase in one year, the Sentinel reported.
“Folks might even start the rumor that EPCOT really stands for Experimental Pricing Concepts of Tomorrow,” an Orlando Sentinel staff writer wrote.
On the day Animal Kingdom opened on April 22, 1998, WDW tickets increased to $44.52.
Throughout the years, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando typically followed Disney’s lead and raised their prices.
2001 was a notable exception.
“Maybe the new millennium brought about the end of the world, after all. How else do you explain SeaWorld Orlando's brash decision to raise its ticket prices — up $1.95, breaking the $50 barrier — before being given the go-ahead by market leader Walt Disney World?” said an Orlando Sentinel article from January 2001. “The way it has always worked is that Disney announces an increase, and the other parks, after proclaiming the independence of their decision-making, quickly follow suit. But not this time. And at least for the time being, SeaWorld is the priciest show in town.”
An August 2007 Sentinel headline read: “Bring More Money If You Visit Disney.” The story went on to say WDW’s prices increased 6 percent to $71 a day.
“There was no indication that anyone expects Disney's price to scare away customers,” the story also said.
2010 brought a gamechanger in Orlando’s theme park industry: Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Universal Orlando posted its first attendance gain in two-plus years, then raised ticket prices in the same week WDW did.
2010 was also the year WDW’s ticket topped the $80 mark.
By 2015, it crossed another threshold — the first time a ticket cost more than $100.
The $100 mark has "a psychological impact," Joe Couceiro, a former SeaWorld chief marketing officer, told the Sentinel.
The Orlando-based Falcon’s Creative Group released details for a project to open a Chinese resort lat- er this year, according to a company release.
Over the past two years, Falcon’s Creative Group has been developing Atlantis Sanya’s Lost Chambers Aquarium and the Aquaventure Waterpark as well as designing buildings for restaurants and retail, the release said.
“Falcon’s Creative Group has immersed in the concept of Atlantis and created innovative, awe-inspiring experiences within Aquaventure Waterpark which is a key attraction,” said Cecil Magpuri, Falcon’s president and chief creative officer, in a news release.
“Much of the design emphasis was placed on the two main slide towers, which will have a unique style apart from the other two Atlantis locations. The slide towers house multiple waterslides, including a clear tube slide that takes guests directly through a shark tank.”
The attraction includes tunnels and water rapids. The themed water park will showcase Atlantean sculptures and murals “right down to the themed towel racks,” the company said.
Accesso, a Lake Marybased technology company, will continue to process tickets for Cedar Fair Entertainment Company.
Accesso declined to release financial terms for the five-year contract extension.
“Cedar Fair will continue to use the award-winning accesso Passport ticketing suite to power all of its parks’ eCommerce services, providing guests with a simple and responsive shopping experience that works on all platforms including desktop, tablet and mobile devices,” a company news release said.