Sticker Shock - Disneyland's Jaw-Dropping Price Increase

I'm still trying to digest the news. I'm still in shock. I'm still running numbers trying to make sense of the math. As expected, Disney today announced a price increase ahead of their big summer season and the relaunch of the new and improved Disney California Adventure. I knew it would be big but somehow the actual news trumped the anticipation. Consumers of Disneyland just took one in the shorts, especially if you are an annual passholder.

Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I bought our first annual passes in November 2008. The price then was $269. Since we exchanged our parkhopper tickets, the annual pass price was pro-rated. Now here we are less than four years later and effective Sunday, May 20, the price of a deluxe annual pass is $469.00. Staggering. Even more staggering is the single day admission for a park hopper ticket - $125.00. For kids up to 10, it's $119.00. Kids! A three year old paying $119.00. This is madness. People will pay it.

What's really sad is Disneyland is no longer a park for Disney fans. Disneyland is a park for the upper middle class that still have a disposable income. Many of us don't. Every year, more and more children will never know what a visit to Disneyland is all about simply because mom and dad can no longer afford it.

MousePlanet posted this chart comparing last years price with the new price increase.

Ages 10 and older			Ages 3 - 9
Ticket	Old Price	New Price	% increase	Old Price	New Price	% increase
5-Day Park Hopper	$266	$290	9%	$246	$270	10%
5-Day 1-Park Per Day	$251	$260	4%	$231	$240	4%
4-Day Park Hopper	$249	$275	10%	$231	$255	10%
4-Day 1-Park Per Day	$234	$245	5%	$216	$225	4%
3-Day Park Hopper	$224	$250	12%	$208	$235	13%
3-Day 1-Park Per Day	$209	$220	5%	$193	$205	6%
2-Day Park Hopper	$173	$200	16%	$161	$188	17%
2-Day 1-Park Per Day	$158	$170	8%	$146	$158	8%
1-Day Park Hopper	$105	$125	19%	$99	$119	20%
1-Day 1-Park	$80	$87	9%	$74	$81	9%

Annual Pass	Old Price	New Price	% increase
Premier (DLR/WDW)	$749	$849	13%
Premium	$499	$649	30%
Deluxe	$379	$469	24%
Southern California*	$269	$329	22%
Southern California Select*	$199	$269	35%
Annual Parking Pass	$99	$129	30%