Disney Raises Prices on Parking and Annual Passes at Walt Disney World and Disneyland
Disney fans who have been planning their vacations to the beloved theme parks will have to budget a little more, as prices for parking and annual passes have increased overnight at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Additionally, some ticket prices and other costs have also been raised at Disneyland.
In response to the price hikes, a spokesperson for Disney stated, “We are constantly adding new, innovative attractions and entertainment to our parks and, with our broad array of pricing options, the value of a theme park visit is reflected in the unique experiences that only Disney can offer.”
These price changes coincide with a highly anticipated announcement about park hopper rules at Disney World. Starting January 9th, guests at Disney World will once again be able to park hop at any time of day during park hours, pending capacity. Previously, guests had to wait until 2 p.m. to change parks if they purchased the park hopper option for their tickets. This change will align with the lifting of reservation requirements for most Disney World guests and the return of the prepaid Disney Dining Plan.
However, along with the exciting park hopper update comes an increase in parking prices at Disney World. As of Wednesday, standard parking prices now cost $30, up from $25. This price matches the starting parking price at SeaWorld Orlando and the regular parking price at Universal Orlando Resort. It is important to note that parking remains free for guests staying at Disney’s resort hotels and for Disney Springs guests while they are visiting the shopping, dining, and entertainment complex.
Moreover, the prices of all four annual passes at Disney World have increased overnight. The top-tier Disney Incredi-Pass now costs $1,449, up $50 from $1,399. The Disney Sorcerer Pass is now priced at $999, a $30 increase from $969, and is only available to Florida residents and Disney Vacation Club members. Florida residents can also opt for the Disney Pirate Pass, which now costs $799, up $50 from $749. The Disney Pixie Pass, also available to Floridians, now costs $439, an increase of $40 from $399. However, existing annual pass holders have the option to renew at special reduced prices. There have been no changes to the prices for standard, dated tickets, which are the most common type of ticket purchased by guests at Disney World.
Disney has also announced further changes to the annual passholder system at Disney World. Previously, the resort introduced “good-to-go” dates, when annual pass holders and cast members could visit the parks without reservations. These “good-to-go” dates will begin rolling out in January, with more releases planned on a periodic basis. On non-“good-to-go” dates, pass holders and cast members will still require a reservation for their starting park if they enter before 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, at Disneyland, the starting price for one-day, one-park adult tickets remains at $104. However, higher-tier ticket prices rose by $5 to $15 on Wednesday. The highest-priced one-day tickets for Disneyland or Disney California Adventure now cost $194, which is $15 more than the previous price of $179 for the highest-demand dates at the Southern California resort. In comparison, the most expensive one-day, one-park tickets at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom cost $189.
Multi-day ticket prices at Disneyland have also increased. Two-day tickets are now priced at $310, up $25, while three-day tickets have risen to $390, an increase of $30. Four-day tickets now cost $445, up $50, and five-day tickets are priced at $480, a $65 increase. Park hopping remains an additional cost, with a $65 fee to add it to a one-day ticket. However, on Wednesday, the park-hopping add-on prices for multi-day tickets rose by $5 to $15.
Disneyland is offering limited-time discounts on kids’ tickets for next year, with prices as low as $50 per child, per day, from January 8th to March 10th. Only children between the ages of 3 and 9 qualify for these discounted tickets. Guests aged 10 and up are considered adults, while children under 3 can enter the parks for free.
At Disneyland, the prices for the Magic Keys, the park’s annual passes, have also increased. The top-tier Inspire Key now costs $1,649, up $50 from its previous price of $1,599. The Believe Key is now priced at $1,249, an increase of $150 from $1,099. The Enchant Key has risen to $849, up $150 from $699, and the Imagine Key, available only to Southern California residents in specific zip codes, is now priced at $499, up $50 from $449. Existing Magic Key holders are able to renew their passes, but new purchases are not available at the moment.
To provide additional benefits for Magic Key holders, Disneyland has introduced the new Magic Keys Extra Unlocked section on their app and website. This section lists exclusive perks for pass holders, such as a complimentary holiday tote bag available next month (while supplies last).
Other changes at Disneyland include a $5 increase in the price of theme park and hotel parking. However, the hourly rates for guests visiting Downtown Disney without entering the parks remain unchanged. Additionally, the cost of pre-purchasing Genie+ has also risen from $25 to $30. Genie+ helps guests reduce wait times for select attractions and includes unlimited PhotoPass downloads. Unlike Disney World, Disneyland’s Genie+ also includes access to Disneyland’s newest attraction, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. In November, Ariel’s Undersea Adventure will be included in the Genie+ service as well.
With these recent price increases and updates, Disney fans will need to factor in the higher costs when planning their visits to Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Despite the changes, Disney continues to provide unique and memorable experiences for guests, ensuring that the value of a theme park visit remains unparalleled.