Disneyland quietly rolled out new theme park admission price increases Sunday morning, raising prices across the board. The biggest price hikes were a $13 increase for One-Day Park Hopper tickets and a $50 jump for the Premiere Annual Passport. The price jumps come as Disney prepares to kick off the busy summer season with another one of its popular 24 Hour Party events this weekend but with no new attractions for guests coming later this summer. Today we’ll take a look at the new Disneyland prices and fan reactions as well as update you on all the latest goings-on at the resort in today’s update.
Don’t miss your weekly Disneyland Resort crowd forecast — provided by our friends at MouseAddict — in the Weekly News and Information Roundup at the end of today’s update!
Get a closer look at today’s update! Click on any photo in today’s blog to see a larger, high-resolution version.
It’s another big news week, so let’s get started!
Welcome to Disneyland! |
Guests arriving at the parks will be met with a few remaining refurbishments before most of them wrap up before this weekend’s official launch of the busy summer season.
Up, up, and away |
Disneyland Resort Theme Park Ticket Price Increases Effective May 18, 2014 |
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Ticket | New Price Age 10+ / Age 3-9 |
Old Price Age 10+ / Age 3-9 |
Price Increase Age 10+ / Age 3-9 |
5-Day Park Hopper |
$305 / $289 | $300 / $279 | + $5 / + $10 |
5-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$266 / $250 | $265 / $244 | + $1 / + $6 |
4-Day Park Hopper |
$289 / $274 | $285 / $265 | + $4 / + $9 |
4-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$250 / $235 | $250 / $230 | + $0 / + $5 |
3-Day Park Hopper |
$265 / $254 | $260 / $244 | + $5 / + $10 |
3-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$226 / $215 | $225 / $209 | + $1 / + $6 |
2-Day Park Hopper |
$217 / $204 | $210 / $197 | + $7 / + $7 |
2-Day 1-Park Per Day |
$178 / $165 | $175 / $162 | + $3 / + $3 |
1-Day Park Hopper |
$150 / $144 | $137 / $131 | + $13 / + $13 |
1-Day 1-Park |
$96 / $90 | $92 / $86 | + $4 / + $4 |
Disneyland Resort Annual Passport Price Increases Effective May 18, 2014 |
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Annual Passport | New Price | Old Price | Price Increase |
Premier (Disneyland & Disney World) |
$1,029 | $979 | + $50 |
Premium | $699 | $669 | + $30 |
Deluxe | $519 | $499 | + $20 |
Southern California NOT AVAILABLE |
$379 | $359 | + $20 |
Southern California Select | $289 | $279 | + $10 |
Auto Parking Increases Effective May 18, 2014 |
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Parking | $17 | $16 | + $1 |
These new prices continue the aggressive post-50th Anniversary trend of annual price hikes that are seemingly an effort to slow down annual attendance growth and overcrowding while maintaining profit growth. Is this the right strategy for Disney? Is it sustainable when the cost of admission has more than doubled since 2003 and there have been no new E-Tickets added at Disneyland park in nearly 20 years? When will the price be too high for too many people? Wouldn’t a better strategy be to aggressively expand the parks, utilizing existing expansion pads in both parks, to add capacity that will help grow business and disperse crowds?
We asked our followers on Twitter if they thought Disneyland and Walt Disney World had added enough over the last ten years to warrant a doubling in admission prices. Below are some of the responses we received.
POLL: Do you think Disney has added enough at Disneyland and Disney World in the last 10 years to warrant 1-day tickets doubling in price?
— Dateline Disneyland (@DatelineDisney) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney I've got to say no. Having them suspend the AP I have is not making points either – good thing I already renewed!
— Bobbie Hill (@BobbieHill) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney in regard to Disneyland Noooooo! Tomorrowland is so yesterday and they take things away instead. It's really shameful!
— Sandra Gomez (@SandraGoGo) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney The Disneyland Resort is still worth it. WDW, I'm less impressed.
— David Hunter (@hunterd42) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney No. The price increases are far above & beyond the pace of inflation or what has been added to the parks in the past decade.
— Matthew Gottula (@DLtoday) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney NO! Corporate GREED
— Joey Pacheco (@MRJOJOJOEY) May 18, 2014
Despite a majority of our followers responses saying not enough had been added in the last 10 years, the results were more mixed when we asked our followers if they’d still renew their Annual Passes after these new increases.
POLL: Will you continue to pay for Disneyland tickets or renew your Annual Pass after this new price hike?
— Dateline Disneyland (@DatelineDisney) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney probably. I go often enough my pass pays for itself. Even if over time I have to go less and less to do that.
— Alex Long (@alexxshortty) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney ug, probably…
— Francisco Rios (@GKY6N) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney I was thinking of getting a pass but I don't know anymore
— Wwe victoria (@VictoriaakaTara) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney still cheaper than the movies twice a month. So YES. For now.
— Daniel S Berger (@danriche) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney didn't renew it after last price hike and I had one for years. Sometimes you gotta take a stand. When is it enough?
— Sandra Gomez (@SandraGoGo) May 18, 2014
Prices will likely continue to climb until Disney starts seeing attendance and guest spending drop. But when will prices be too high?
POLL: How high does Disneyland admission have to go before you and your family can no longer afford to visit?
— Dateline Disneyland (@DatelineDisney) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney with the cost of travel, it's already there. Over $5k to visit Disneyland for my family
— Jeff (@JalenJade) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney I wouldn't do a one day ticket at this point. Multi day tickets aren't that bad when you look at a 4 or 5 day ticket
— Lars Kappler (@superlarz) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney They're getting close…
— Mark D. (@RealMarkD) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney its there for us unfortunately.
— Albert Jauregui (@AlbertMJ1) May 18, 2014
@DatelineDisney I can afford a lot of things, but whether it's worth it anymore? No.
— Nathan (@BroncoTruck) May 19, 2014
Admission prices aren’t the only increases around the parks. Earlier this month outdoor vending carts saw most items get a 25-50¢ increase for everything from churros and popcorn to ice cream and turkey legs.
Rock Your Disney Side — 24 Hour Party Friday, May 23 | 6 a.m. – 6 a.m. at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure |
Disneyland will kick off summer for the third year in a row with a 24-hour party that will keep both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure (as well as Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World) open from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m. Below are some special food and entertainment offerings that you can enjoy throughout Friday’s 24 hour party.
Guide to Rock Your Disney Side 24-Hour Party | |
Theme Park Hours Both theme parks will be open for 24 hours May 23-24, 6 a.m. – 6 a.m. Early Arrival: |
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[center]Special Dining Opportunities[/center] | |
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b] | |
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[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b] | |
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[center]Special Entertainment[/center] | |
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b] | |
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[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b] | |
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Kingdom Construction |
[center]Corridor Construction[/center]
In Main Street, the work has started on the new Guest Flow Corridors behind Main Street, USA. With the Main Street lockers closed during construction, signs outside of the park direct guests to the lockers facility in the main entrance plaza.
If you need a locker this summer, be sure to grab a locker as soon as you arrive and before heading into Disneyland.
With construction taking place in what is traditionally backstage areas, there’s not much to see as far as construction goes from Main Street.
On Center Street, the lockers facility is now closed while it’s converted into the temporary First Aid location.
The existing First Aid and Wish Lounge facilities at the end of Main Street remain open for now.
[center]Members Only[/center]
In New Orleans Square, the major Club 33 expansion continues.
Work continues on the New Orleans Square rooftops
Pirates of the Caribbean reopens Friday but the exit tunnel is still getting serious work done.
The walkway here is now closed as construction overhead continues
The caricature artists have been relocated and are now across from the Cafe Orleans entrance.
[center]Pinned[/center]
In Frontierland, the Westward Ho Trading Company pin shop has reopened after a brief refurbishment.
[center]Alice in Blunderland[/center]
In Fantasyland, work on Alice in Wonderland’s vine retrofit continues…
[center]“it’s a Cal/OSHA world”[/center]
Meanwhile, “it’s a small world” is set to reopen by the end of the week, fully retrofitted with new Cal/OSHA safety railings for Cast and maintenance workers throughout the attraction.
Unfortunately, the facade didn’t get a refurbishment during the long closure.
Nearby, the old Fantasyland ticket booth that was last used as a Kodak photo supply kiosk remains empty and uncared for, despite the new Nikon sponsorship in full effect.
[center]Toon-Ups[/center]
Back in Mickey’s Toon Town, the fountains are running again and Gadget’s Go Coaster has reopened after the refurbishment.
Roger Rabbit isn’t back yet but will be soon.
[center]Dried Up[/center]
In Tomorrowland, the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is still dry while its refurbishment continues.
[center]Space Junk[/center]
Space Mountain won’t close for refurbishment until next week now, but once it does hopefully the closure will include a proper cleaning for the filthy exterior.
[center]Pierfecting…[/center]
In California Adventure, the shade structure on Paradise Pier continues to get a lot of work to address its big wood rot issue.
[center]Dry Run[/center]
Over at Grizzly River Run, that popular water ride is closed through June 19 for refurbishment, just as the summer season gets started…
Bats Day in the Park |
Over the weekend, the annual unofficial Bats Day events came to Disneyland.
Similar to the last Gay Days event, Disneyland got into the spirit and served up a variety of themed desserts at select dining locations throughout the park. I really like that Disney is doing this now — these special offerings really make Disney seem more engaged with these sub-groups of fans, it’s easy money for Disney, and it’s really fun as a guest of these events to have something unique in the park. Kudos to the foods team for putting these offerings together — I hope to see more in the future!
Merch Madness |
More of the recent retro and Adventureland merchandise lines continue to roll out along with Graduation 2014 and summer vacation-themed items.
Aloha Isle is found at Walt Disney World…
New merchandise for Disney’s upcoming Maleficent movie has come to the parks…
Due to its popularity Disneyland has implemented a 5-item limit for Frozen merchandise.
A selection of graduation 2014 items are available now.
And a line of new summer vacation t-shirts have replaced the spring break shirts.
This and That |
California Adventure is getting ready for the summer season with patriotic decorations going into window displays on Buena Vista Street.
It’s too bad the bad window displays are still being used.
In Downtown Disney, the art and collectibles room in World of Disney is now behind walls as it gets a remodel.
A smaller selection of art and figurines has been set up nearby during construction.
Around the Parks |
We’ll wrap up today’s update with some photos from around the parks…
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Weekly News & Information Round-Up | ||
Weekly Theme Park Hours May 19 — 25, 2014 |
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[B]Disneyland Park[/B] | [B]California Adventure[/B] | |
Mon.-Thu.: 9 am – 9 pm Friday.: 6 am – 6 am Saturday: 9 am – 12 am Sunday: 9 am – 11 pm |
Mon.-Tue.: 9 am – 8 pm Wed.-Thu.: 9 am – 9 pm Friday: 6 am – 6 am Sat.-Sun.: 9 am – 10 pm |
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[CENTER]For a complete listing of theme park hours, visit the Disneyland.com Theme Park Calendar[/CENTER] |
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[center]Closure and Refurbishment Schedule[/center] | ||
[b][center]Disneyland Park[/center][/b] | ||
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[b][center]Disney California Adventure[/center][/b] | ||
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[b][center]Downtown Disney and Disneyland Resort Hotels[/center][/b] | ||
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[center] A weekly look at projected crowd levels at the Disneyland Resort.[/center] |
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[center]Headline Roundup A quick look at noteworthy Disney theme park headlines from around the web.[/center] |
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OK, that’s all for this week’s edition of Dateline Disneyland. How do you feel about the new ticket price increases? Will you continue to pay the price or will you be saying goodbye to Disneyland? If you are sticking around, will you be Rocking Your Disney Side at the 24 hour party this weekend? Let us know in the comments section below!
Dateline Disneyland is only here because of you. We’ve been able to bring Dateline Disneyland to you each week because of your generous donations. Consider helping us out by donating via PayPal, click here! For more Disneyland news, be sure to read MiceChat’s weekly In the Parks blog. And be sure to check out our sister blog, Dateline Disney World – a fantastic weekly photo blog covering Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida! Thanks for reading. See you at Disneyland! |
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FTC-Mandated Disclosure: Promotional consideration for this edition of Dateline Disneyland was provided by the Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel & Water Playground. |