Disney Increased Ticket Prices Again. Here’s Why It Really Doesn’t Matter

I’m a Floridian, and I’ve never been to Disney World.

Shocking, right?

OK, my parents strolled me around the park once — when I was 2. It rained… I cried.

I guess the experience scarred them for life.

So now’s my time, right? But I just heard the already-expensive ticket prices are increasing at both its Florida and California locations.

“Disney Quietly Raises Theme Park Admission Prices Again,” one headline reads. “Disney Price Hike Could Add Hundreds of Dollars to Your Vacation,” reads another.

But there’s really no need to panic, cancel your spring break plans and watch Mufasa’s death scene on loop.

Here’s what you actually need to know.

How Much Are Disney Ticket Prices Actually Increasing?

First off: This isn’t new.

Disney tends to raise its prices in February; it’s occurred the past two years, according to TIME.

Second: The change in prices isn’t really a “hike” — defined as “a sharp increase.” Nor will it necessarily add hundreds of dollars to your vacation.

Here’s how Disney is adjusting the prices at its parks, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week:

• Midtier tickets (based on the time you visit) now cost $107, up from $102.
• Peak season tickets (think: spring break, summer, Christmas) are now $119, up from $114.
• One-day tickets during the least-popular days now cost $99, up from $97.
• A Magic Kingdom midtier ticket is now $115, up from $110.
• Florida resident gold passes cost $559, up from $549.
• Platinum passes now cost $679, up from $649.
• The price of preferred parking will also increase to $40, up from $35.

If you want to know the exact price of your ticket based on the time you visit or package deal you sign up for, check with Disney.

For the most part, the Disney ticket price increase is about $2 to $5 — or up to $30 if you’re investing in a super-duper Disney fan package.

The Orlando Sentinel spoke with Bob Boyd, an analyst with Pacific Asset Management, who made an interesting point.

“We believe it’s going to become increasingly difficult for Disney to continue to raising theme-park prices,” Boyd told the Sentinel, saying the increase could tip the scales and price out some visitors.

But if you were already planning to visit Disney and drop that type of money on tickets, this increase shouldn’t break the bank.

If the trend continues? Well, that’s another story for another time.

Here’s How to Save On Disney Ticket Prices

Before jumping into your family van with a “Disney, here we come!” sticker in the window (because that’s how everyone gets to Disney, right?), be sure to purchase your tickets online.

Pro tip from the Orlando Sentinel: Starting this Sunday, folks who buy their tickets online or through their Disney app can save $20 on Magic Your Way bundles (passes good for three to 10 days of park access). Other parks, including SeaWorld and Universal Orlando, also charge less when you buy online.

However, don’t buy them too early because all tickets will now have expiration dates (some did already). So be sure to check that.

We also have some tips about how to nab some Disney freebies. Sounds oxymoronic, right? Plus: Here are six more ways to save at Disney.

And hey, you can always keep an eye out for Disney’s latest casting call. Basically, you could get paid to go to the parks and “act” like you’re having fun. That shouldn’t be too hard, though… right?

Your Turn: Are you willing to pay higher prices to see Mickey and friends at Disney?

Carson Kohler (@CarsonKohler) is a junior writer at The Penny Hoarder.

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