Disney fans hoping to see park ticket prices drop appear to be out of luck.
In an interview Thursday on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger said “pricing is not an issue” at the parks.
He told CNBC’s David Faber:
“One of the things that we addressed as soon as I came back was whether our pricing was right or not and whether our pricing reflected value. I don’t know when the last time you visited Disney World. I say it’s where the Disney brand lives in its most sublime form. I still believe that it’s an incredible experience. It’s a very, very popular business and product. Very successful and, you know, we’re not wringing our hands over it.”
Asked if he was concerned, Iger replied, “I’m not.”
Yet the parks are as expensive as ever.
How much does Disney cost per day?
Prices vary by date and demand. At $109 for guests ages 10 and up, the starting price for Walt Disney World’s least expensive park is not cheap, but it is in line with competitors. As of last December, the Florida resort has different price ranges for each park:
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: $109-$159
- EPCOT: $114-$179
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: $124-$179
- Magic Kingdom: $124-$189
Disneyland’s starting price is slightly less. A one-day, one-park ticket is $104 at the California resort.
Special promotions may bring costs down further on multi-day tickets. For instance, Disney World is currently offering a 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket, which works out to $99 per day this summer. Both Disney World and Disneyland are also offering discounts to in-state residents and military service members.
Of course there are other expenses to consider like transportation, accommodations, meals and whether to buy Genie+, which starts at $25 at Disneyland and varies by park at Disney World. Add in character dining, Enchanting Extras like makeovers at Bibbibi Bobbidi Boutique, and souvenirs and the sky is the limit on spending.
What do you get with Disney tickets?
Admission covers all standard attractions and entertainment from park open to close. Think rides, live performances, character meet-and-greets, parades and nighttime spectaculars with fireworks.
But for many fans there’s something more: the chance to escape day-to-day cares and enter the immersive worlds of their favorite stories.
“I get to be a kid again,” Dino Lourdi previously told USA TODAY.
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Is Disney worth it for one day?
Many fans would agree with Iger: “it’s an incredible experience.”
But it won’t be worth it to everybody, including some people who may be willing to spend more money on other, shorter experiences like concerts and football games.
And like any experience, the parks will always be out of reach for some fans, particularly during peak times like the holidays, when ticket prices can soar.
