On Sunday May 20, 2012 Disneyland increased prices on its theme park tickets and Annual Passes. Walt Disney World is almost certain to follow in the coming days.
Over the last three years Disney has reportedly invested $1.2 billion dollars in the Disney California Adventure theme park. As the signature addition Cars Land prepares to open, Disney has positioned itself to begin recouping that investment.
Prices on all forms of ticket media increased Monday with some passes going up as much as 35%. Hardest hit are the Southern California Select (resident) pass, up 35% from $199 to $269 and the Premium annual pass up 30% from $499 to $649.
The Premier annual pass--which provides unlimited admission to all Disneyland and Walt Disney World parks--increased 13% from $749 to $849.
MousePlanet.com assembled a chart detailing the increases on all ticketing options.
Between the pending Cars Land opening on June 15, 2012 and its strong second quarter financial performance, Disney may be using ticket prices to help control the crushing flood of guests anticipated. For years some insiders including MiceAge.com's Al Lutz have commented on the challenges Disneyland has faced in dealing with an ever-growing Passholder population.
While these dramatic price increases are certainly designed to help pad the company's bottom line, Disney likely sees some benefit in thinning the ranks of its Passholder base.
So what does this mean for Walt Disney World? Increasing ticket prices is nearly an annual rite for the Disney parks. Only in the most troubled economic conditions will Disney go more than a year between increases. The last price increase at Disney's Florida resort occurred on June 12, 2011. Some form of adjustment is almost certain to occur in the coming weeks.
What remains to be seen is how substantial the Walt Disney World increases will prove to be. Florida's Magic Kingdom has its own Fantasyland expansion rounding into shape, but that investment is not as eagerly-anticipated as Cars Land.
Regardless, guests with upcoming Walt Disney World vacations would be well-advised to purchase their tickets now or keep a keen eye peeled for news of a pending price increase.
