Ticket Price Increase at Disney World & Disneyland
Disney’s annual park ticket price increase occurred overnight for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. In this post, we’ll share some details about the new prices, and offer tips for what you can do today to beat the increase. (Last updated February 19, 2018.)
Even though the price increase occurred, the good news is that you don’t just have to throw your hands up in the air in defeat. A handful of third party ticket sellers still have inventory of tickets at their discounted “2017” prices. For Walt Disney World, we recommend buying via Get Away Today, which still has a limited inventory of tickets at the old prices. (If/when they sell out, you might be able to find what you need at ParkSavers for similar prices.)
For the “old” prices on Disneyland tickets, the best option is also Get Away Today. As with Walt Disney World tickets, ParkSavers also has Disneyland tickets at the old prices. With either of these sellers, you’ll save significantly over direct-from-Disney prices, especially if you buy today, after the price increase. We’ve been advised that this inventory will likely sell out by the end of the day on February 20, 2018.
As predicted, prices increased across the board overnight on February 11, 2018. Walt Disney World raised the prices of its 4-day by $50 and the 5-day ticket to jump by $45. Shorter duration ticket price increased were more modest by comparison, with 1-day tickets increasing by $2 to $5 depending upon the park and season.
The biggest increase in 1-day tickets occurred with the Magic Kingdom 1-day ticket increasing by $5 to $129 before tax. Hopefully, if you’re reading this you’re primarily purchasing multi-day tickets or Annual Passes, as those 1-day tickets offer the worst bang for your buck–which was true even before this price increase.
The most noteworthy detail from the price increase is Disney’s statement that there are plans for “extending pre-published, date-specific pricing to multi-day tickets [to] further advance our efforts to spread attendance throughout the year.”
While that statement is sufficiently vague for this plan to take several forms, it sounds a lot like Walt Disney World is finally going to introduce some form of seasonal pricing for multi-day tickets, as they did for single-day tickets a couple of years ago. (Hence use of the word “extending.”) Honestly, we’re surprised this hasn’t happened sooner, and it makes complete sense that they’d roll this out before the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Given that the plan is to introduce this “pre-published, date-specific” pricing later this year, it sounds like a second price increase might be in store for later in 2018. Rarely does Disney tinker with pricing to reduce costs. More likely, the new “Value Season” pricing for multi-day tickets would be the current (new) prices, with Regular and Peak Season pricing increasing from that baseline.
This presents yet another reason to buy now at sellers where you can find the “old” pricing to avoid having to deal with tiered pricing for multi-day tickets. You can comparison shop the third parties to see which are cheapest if you’d like; the ones we recommend as being both safe and inexpensive are ParkSavers, Get Away Today, Official Ticket Center or Undercover Tourist.
If you missed this update yesterday and are considering the purchase of an Annual Pass now that the price increase has occurred, you should follow our Tips for Ticket Bridging Annual Passes. Prices for Annual Passes increased by the largest margins, and the only way to save on these now is via ticket bridging.
Disneyland Annual Pass price increases were especially brutal, with the Signature Pass going up by $150. As we’ve reported, Disneyland is using its Annual Pass pricing to thin crowds and deal with its parking shortage.
The Annual Passholder “situation” in California is a delicate balance. Disneyland relies much more heavily on locals during the off-season, but the AP population is so large that it causes serious over-crowding issues on days when lower tiers are not blocked out.
In short, Disneyland still needs Annual Passholders, but it needs them to visit on weekdays during the months of the year when tourists don’t flock to California. As we’ve written in the past, expect this “need” of Annual Passholders to change once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens.
Ultimately, you can view all of the large spikes in pricing as a precursor to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This new land is going to be a game-changer, and it’s the big reason why there is no pontificating about a “middle class breaking point” where you might expect one in a post about Disney raising ticket prices by such large amounts of money. The sad reality is that, regardless of how many guests Disney prices out, there will be more than enough people eager to take their place once Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens.
This new land is effectively a license to print money for Disney. Even though it’s over a year away at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, Disney is starting to prepare for the unprecedented crowds those lands will attract. This is particularly true with Annual Pass pricing, as whatever changes Disney might need to implement with those requires advance-planning given the AP’s duration.
It’s still difficult to predict how Disney will handle the huge surge of crowds that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will draw, but it certainly would not surprise us to see 2 more price increases before the opening of the land. With its opening likely to be late 2019 in Florida, it would be reasonable for those to occur next February and July or August.
However, it’s not outside the realm of possibilities for 3 additional increases, with another one this July or August, too. Later this year or next year, it also wouldn’t surprise us to see monthly payments eliminated, more blockouts, and/or parking removed from all but the Signature Plus Passport.
The addition of another pricing ‘season’ for the first month or so that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is open, pricing for Disney’s Hollywood Studios that exceeds even Magic Kingdom, and a slew of pre-grand opening Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge hard ticket events, among other things, all seem likely. Of course, none of these things impact you today…we’re just speculating so you can mentally brace yourself for the sticker shock that will undoubtedly occur next year.
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of this ticket price increase? Will you be buying today to avoid the price surge? What are your preferred type of tickets to get? Do you recommend Park Hopper or other add-ons? Do you have an Annual Pass? Any tips or tricks of your own to add? Any questions? We love hearing from readers, so please share any other thoughts or questions you have in the comments below!
Is there any information about if annual passes will be increasing in cost again this year? Also I was wondering if anyone heard if benefits on the annual passes were going to change. I’m planning a trip in October and was going to purchase an annual pass at that time but am getting nervous about all of the changes and rumors. Any advice that you have is much appreciated.
Im an Anaheim resident. Our 1940s family shall now be added to the supply n demand below par equilibrium curve. Disney conglomerate seems so callously unloyal to its originators. Oh, well.
Do you know if the price increases will effect the Military – Stars & Stripes passes for 2018? We’re planning a DL trip this fall but not sure of dates.
Thanks to your posts we’re learning all the differences between FP+ at WDW and MaxPasses at DL. Thanks…,
The Disneyland Military Salute ticket prices remain unaffected throughout 2018. $165 for a three-day hopper and $185 for a four-day hopper. Same goes for Walt Disney World! I’m active duty Air Force and we purchase these every year! I sure hope they’ll bring back the same offer for 2019, but we are prepared if they don’t. Star Wars Galaxy Edge could totally change everything.
I tried to purchase annual passes online yesterday but Disney’s site wasn’t working correctly. I was able to purchase them by phone and I’m very glad I did as the price per pass increased by $119 today! Thank you so much for the heads up, Tom Bricker! My family and I are huge fans of this site!
My chilis getting older, and is very into Harry Potter (age 8, she has read all the books). I can soon see the day when she is a little bigger (size; she’s very petite) and braver and the lure of Potter attractions at Universal becomes a bigger draw than WDW.
At the very least, I can see staying off site (which we’ve only done the first of our 4 trips in the last 6 years) becoming an option again.
Thanks for the tip. I am booking our trip for November but I was holding off hitting the confirm button. You saved me about $200. First with the tip to use Get Away( no extra tax) and then to buy them yesterday Feb 10). Used your promo code and saved another $30. This is our second trip to Disney and we used your tips the first time too.
Now to book a villa.
Out of curiosity, I just checked now and prices have indeed gone up. Yesterday when looking at 5 day base tickets for 4 adults it was $1480 (before tax) and this morning it is now $1580 (before tax)
Good thing I got mine just the other night on the advice on this blog. Thanks!
We have been Disneyland AP’s for years thanks to the monthly payments. If they eliminate those in the future I don’t think we will be able to renew. And with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge coming next year, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got rid of them 🙁
This is totally speculation by unconfirmed sources. They will NEVER get rid of the monthly payments, it’s their bread and butter. It always goes up every year for tickets and annual passes.
Do the prices go up at midnight eastern standard time?
I purchased tickets for Disneyland at 10pm PST at the current prices, so it’s possible that you have until midnight on the West Coast.
Does anyone know if there’s a way to buy the Premier Passport online? Anywhere?
No, you can’t buy Premier online. You need to do it at the ticket booths.
This is Disney’s way for paying for all their renovations that they can give all the other profits to their management. I wont be renewing when my pasd expires 06/08/18. Good Bye Disney.
Goodbye
Not a bad idea. I loved the memories there. Hey wait, i can keep those for free! Thanks park, already paid for.
Bought our tickets from get away today thanks to your recommendation this week for our December trip and saved $75 (before the price increase!)! Thank you for the tip and promo code!
NONSENSE. The best Disneyland ticket prices – BY FAR – are at lmtclub.com
Just because it doesn’t pay commissions, the site is never mentioned in “money saving” blog posts.
Or because it’s a membership club that charges $50/year.
Have you purchased from LMT? I have been debating it, but haven’t heard many reviews from people who have.
My family only knew in advance that our trip during Christmas was going to be crazy, went anyway. However when purchasing tickets no one nor any info suggested booking reservations for the rides. We have never been so disappointed in Disney. What a horrible waste of money and great dissatisfaction for my granddaughter’s. Saw pretty much nothing most of the day, not a Princess, barely got on two rides.
You re obviously computer literate, as you have posted here. Not to sound rude, but there is plenty of information available with just a few mouse clicks to let you know about Fastpass+
I don’t think that is quite fair. Some people might assume the WDW parks opperate similar to how they did before fastpass+ or how Disneyland now opperates . Somewhat naive I guess but not out of the realm of being a reasonable expectation. Sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know. I am not blaming Disney for some not knowing how to best plan a trip but I think you were kind of harsh.
Sorry to hear that. Our post about Walt Disney World tickets has an entire section about the importance of FastPass+ – https://www.disneytouristblog.com/discount-disney-tickets/
DISNEYTOURIST promo code doesn’t work on Get away today.
Which tickets are you trying to purchase? (It only works on Walt Disney World tickets.)
Disneyland ! Based on the article I didn’t realize it was disneyworld only,guess that solves it. Thanks for responding!
Tried to enter your code and said it was invalid 🙁
I am so tired of hearing that Uncle Walt would hate this. He would stick with the times. He would be more upset that guests are having bad times because of over crowding! He was an innovator, but he was a business man. Until a few years ago I think the tickets were too cheap. Disneyland was also never meant to be a daily hang out for people. He wanted visitors from all over to come and experience it as a family vacation, a treat. I hope AP’s go up 2-300 dollars. I love both DL and WDW but I don’t need to be there every day.
I agree about SWL, it’s going to bring in epic numbers, so I am getting my trips out this year, and won’t be back until WDW 50th. I have been to both parks on a 10 day and I’m good….
I’m so tired of hearing that Annual Passports should go up 2-300 dollars. People who say that think they know Disney’s business better than Disney!
From a “business” standpoint, Disney need AP’s during non-peak seasons . Further, as part of their “business model”, blockout dates (and park hours) have been and will continue to be adjusted. Disney already limits entry if they see the parks are getting too full. Currently a section of California Adventure is closed for renovation – and from a “business” pov, they need APs to visit the park during this period. From a “business” perspective – with people paying for concessions, parking, souvenirs, etc – Disney doesn’t care if it’s a daily hangout. It allows them to keep the parks open for all guests during non-peak days.
Sounds like Disney has the “business” side of their operation addressed. Someone “hoping” they raise it 2-300 dollars, because it doesn’t personally have an effect on them, is either selfish (or a troll)
Hey Tom not sure if it can be fixed but still can’t see replys of others.
Says there are 47 replys but I can only see 1 when I click on older replys. I enjoy reading others comments and ideas from the people on your site. And your feedback and comments. Hope it can be fixed soon.
I’m having the same problem. I like reading the comments so I don’t ask the same question as someone else.
Me too, but only on mobile. When I’ve had this problem on other sites, I can usually tell my browser to “request desktop version” as a work around, but that’s not working here.
I’ve tried to solve this problem MULTIPLE different ways, all to no avail. The only options now involve messing with the site’s core code (something that terrifies me) or changing to a different WordPress theme. I’m considering the latter at some point this spring, but it’s a huge endeavor (and also a bit scary, given that I do this myself and have very little technical expertise).
For now, using a desktop computer should enable you to see all comments when this problem does appear.
My great, great uncle Walt would be turning in his grave knowing that the happiest place on earth is not affordable. It’s bad enough knowing disneyland, Disney world gets coca cola products for FREE, and you resale them at 700%.
If Disney gets Coca-Cola products for free and resells them at 700% of free that’s still zero. Walt wouldn’t turn over in his grave either. He loved technology and the advancement of it. He and his brother Roy understood the business side of running Disneyland and the importance of raising prices to fund projects (even after he’d contribute his own personal funds to build attractions…i.e. The Enchanted Tiki Room).