While there have been quite a few rumors around the last few days about upcoming changes to Disney ticket prices, and a change to seasonal ticket pricing at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, the official announcement isn’t quite what was rumored. For most people, this will not effect their Disney visits at all. For some, it may raise the price of your Disney ticket, but not too much.
With the additions of the new Star Wars experiences that have already opened at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort, and upcoming later this year, several new experiences are expected to open on both costs, such as the new Soarin’ Around the World at Disney California Adventure Park and Epcot, a “Frozen”-inspired musical at Disney California Adventure Park, new nighttime experiences at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, the Frozen Ever After attraction at Epcot and a new stage show at Magic Kingdom Park, there is unprecedented demand for the Disney theme parks, especially during peak seasons.
Disney has for years, looked for ways to spread out visits. Walt Disney World and Disneyland Hotel rates are quite a bit cheaper during slower times, and quite expensive during peak season. Disney often offers fantastic discounts during the slow times, and rarely offers any discounts during peak season, making the price difference quite dramatic. Disney has also pushed many special events during slow season, including the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Mickey’s No So Scary Halloween Party as well as many youth sports and cheerleading programs.
So, beginning tomorrow, February 28, 2016, both Walt Disney World and Disneyland are shifting to seasonal pricing for 1-Day tickets. It’s an approach that you are probably familiar with from many other areas, including sports, entertainment and travel.
How will it work? Each month is divided into value, regular and peak days with an advance 8-11 month calendar available for viewing online. Here’s an example, if you plan your visit for September, you’ll have a variety of options, including many days in the value period, which will give them the opportunity to pay less for a 1-Day ticket. If they plan to visit during a peak period, like the winter holidays you will pay more. Purchasing a 1-Day ticket in a non-peak period, or choosing multi-day ticket and annual passes, will provide additional flexibility and value.
Please note, Seasonal Pricing will not effect 2 day or longer tickets at either Walt Disney World or Disneyland, this change is for 1-day tickets only!
Seasonal pricing for a 1-Day ticket and price increases for multi-day tickets will go into effect at Disney Parks Sunday, February 28, 2016.
For Walt Disney World, 1-day passes range between $97 per adult for non-Magic Kingdom parks during value season to $124 per adult for a Magic Kingdom ticket during peak season. For Disneyland, 1-day, 1-park passes range between $95 per adult during value season to $119 per adult during peak season, plus tax.
You can see the calendars for both Disneyland and Walt Disney World here: Disney Ticket Calendar
In addition, although in the past 1-Day tickets for Walt Disney World Resort did not expire, 1-Day tickets sold on or after Sunday, February 28, 2016 for Walt Disney World Resort will expire at the end of the next calendar year. For example, 1-day tickets sold in 2016 will expire on December 31, 2017. The amount paid for an unused, expired ticket may be applied towards the purchase of a new ticket at the current price.
While this change does not effect multi-day tickets at either resort, we expect this to be another change Disney looks at in the future to further attempt to spread out attendance.
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