Magic now costs more money
There’s a new platform for buying tickets and prices vary daily.
A new era of ticketing began this morning for Walt Disney World’s theme parks. The resort introduced a new platform for ticket purchases and prices that vary from day to day. The changes were announced last month, but, as of today, potential park visitors can check out the admission cost for every day through the end of December 2019.
Disney says, depending on the day, ticket prices have gone up, down or stayed the same. But there continue to be many factors that play into the final cost, including length of stay, Florida residency and park-hopping abilities.
The new process is available at disneyworld.com, and tickets can still be purchased over the phone, at the theme parks’ front gates and elsewhere.
The new online platform features an interactive calendar that indicates the ticket prices based on date.
A post on the official Disney Parks Blog gives several examples. For instance, it says that a one-day ticket for Magic Kingdom earmarked for Dec. 25, 2018, has not changed, whereas tickets that cover July 4, 2019 — as part of a six-day deal — would go up $3 per day per person.
The new range of a one-day, one-park ticket goes from $109 to $129. Previously, the range was $102 and $129, depending on the season schedule.
If you wanted to go to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios or Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme parks for just today — Oct. 16, 2018 — and stay in only one park, it would cost $114, according to the website. That’s the same price you would have paid if purchased yesterday.
Generally speaking, individual-day prices are higher on weekends than on weekdays, but the costs rises as we near holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, which traditionally have been heavy traffic times at the theme parks. The new platform has a link to the months with lowest ticket prices, which are dates in January, February, April, August and September.
Disney says the pricing changes are “part of our broader efforts to better spread attendance throughout the year, and is intended to help us improve and deliver a great experience for our guests.”
Other notes about the ticket pricing:
All four of Walt Disney World’s theme parks are the same price. For the past few years, Magic Kingdom has been slightly more expensive than the others.
The new platform includes recommendations from the Disney Moms Panel and suggestions tailored to specific kinds of travel groups.
Once tickets are purchased, further vacation planning (i.e. FastPasses, dining reservations) will still be performed on the My Disney Experience app and website.
A park-hopper option — allowing movement between theme parks within a single day — is now $55 per ticket per day ($27.50 for Florida residents), according to the site. A “Park Hopper Plus” option, which throws in visits to Disney World water parks and miniature golf courses, is $80.