South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Disney World pass raises give fans pause
Some holders shrug, others reconsider
Rey Fernandez is such a Disney fan that he booked his hotel about 21 months in advance for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge even though no official opening date has been announced next year at Walt Disney World. He didn’t even make reservations this far in advance for his wedding.
But when it comes to his annual pass, the 37-year-old bank IT worker from Naples is having doubts.
“It gets pretty expensive,” said Fernandez, who is considering downgrading his pass to save money when it’s time to renew again.
Walt Disney World last week raised some annual pass prices by as much as 10 percent, following earlier price increases in February. Another pass option stayed the same in price while several others jumped about 3 percent.
Under the new prices, a platinum plus pass costs $849 a year while on the lower end, the pass to get into Epcot after 4 p.m. runs $289.
“We use pricing to manage the extraordinary demand for our parks with the goal of providing great experiences for our guests no matter when they visit. This includes a variety of annual pass options,” said Jacquee Wahler, vice president of communications, in a statement.
The price increases cost pass holders $4 or less extra a month, a Disney spokeswoman said, as the theme parks are adding more events and build new rides.
Historically, it’s only the fourth time Disney has raised the cost of annual passes twice in the same year, said Rick Munarriz, a senior analyst for Motley Fool, who recently penned an article: “Is Disney World Trying to Price Out Its Annual Passholders?”
“Pe o p l e l ove D i s n e y World as an icon, as a place that stirs up nostalgia. At the end of the day, it’s a busi- ness,” said Munarriz, who lives in Miami and holds passes for all the major theme parks in Orlando. “If they can charge more, why wouldn’t they?
Munarriz believes Disney’s strategy is phasing in price increases quietly as the Star Wars opening looms closer next year instead of doing it all at once with one massive bump, he said. A Disney spokeswoman declined to say if passes will go up again before Star Wars is scheduled to open in late fall 2019.
If the new prices wean off some pass holders, the demand among other visitors will certainly still exist, Munarriz said, looking at Disney’s upcoming lineup that also includes the popular Tron roller coaster coming to Magic Kingdom and the f i r st- eve r Mi c ke y Mouse-themed dark ride at Hollywood Studios. Epcot is also getting a rehaul with new rides and a fireworks show.