Disneyland is making a big change that visitors may not like

If you plan to visit Disneyland (early) soon, you have an unpleasant surprise.

The theme park just made a major adjustment to its prices at a time when visitors are sinking into financial debt to afford Disney vacations.

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The new Disneyland ticket prices

According to Disneyland’s most recent price increase, 1-day tickets have increased by up to 6.2%, or $12, depending on the ticket.

The cheapest 1-day ticket will remain at $104, while the other tiers will increase between $7 and $12.

A 4-day ticket is now $474, up $29 from the previous price, and a 5-day ticket is now $511, up $31 from the previous price.

Disneyland’s Magic Key Passes experienced the biggest price increases, rising between $100 and $125, depending on the type of pass. Monthly payment plans for permits have also gone up to $10.44 per month.

In addition, Disneyland visitors who want to skip the long lines with a Lightning Lane Multipass will also have to pay extra as the price has increased from $30 to $32.

Disney will lay off 28,000 employees at Disneyland and Walt Disney World as the company continues to grapple with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the six-month closure of its Anaheim theme parks, the company announced today.

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All of these price increases came into effect on October 9. To soften the blow of higher ticket prices, Disneyland has announced that it is reintroducing the $50 child ticket and offering additional savings on hotels.

“There’s nothing quite like a visit to the Disneyland Resort,” said Disneyland Resort spokeswoman Jessica Good. “We always offer a wide variety of ticket, dining and hotel options, as well as promotional offers throughout the year to welcome as many families as possible.”

The last time Disney raised the price of Disneyland tickets was in late 2023, when Disney raised ticket prices at both Disneyland and Disney World by between $5 and $65.

Consumers are going into debt to pay for Disney trips

Disneyland’s latest price hikes come at a time when visitors are going into debt to pay for trips to Disney theme parks.

According to a recent survey conducted by LendingTree, about 65 percent of survey respondents said food and beverage at Disney parks is a significant expense, while 48 percent singled out transportation and 47 percent said lodging.

The survey also found that 24 percent of visitors and 45 percent of parents visiting Disney theme parks went into financial debt to cover the costs of their trips, with unexpectedly high costs listed as a major factor.

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Gavin Doyle, founder of MickeyVisit.com, says timing is of the essence when it comes to getting lower prices and deals on visits to Disneyland and Disney World (It’s also important to note that Disney theme park ticket prices can change depending on the day of the week or time of year).

“There are still options for guests to prioritize a budget vacation over the ultimate vacation,” Doyle said. “If you’re willing to travel on weekdays during the less popular months of the year or be responsive to Disney’s year-round deals, you’ll be rewarded with lower ticket prices and area hotel deals.”

Disneyland ticket prices have skyrocketed over the past 10 years

Over the past 10 years, Disneyland ticket costs have risen significantly. For example, the highest-priced 1-day ticket has increased about 114% since 2014, according to a recent analysis from Mickey Visit.

Also, the Disneyland 5-day Park Hopper ticket has skyrocketed 101.97% since 2014.

Doyle argues that Disneyland’s most recent price increases coincide with an increase in demand.

Related: Disney Has an Unexpected New Theme Park Rival

“All of these increases come at a time when in-person entertainment is more popular than ever, and demand (and Disneyland crowds) remain strong,” Doyle said. “It’s also at a time when cast member salaries are increasing, Disney is investing in attraction expansion with new attractions for Disneyland, and the Walt Disney Company as a whole is relying on the theme park business to generate higher profits for the entire company. “

The latest theme park price hikes also came after Disney revealed in its second-quarter 2024 earnings report that while its U.S. theme park revenue rose 3 % year over year, operating income (how much a company makes). after expenses) in the sector decreased by 6%.

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