Walt Disney World and Disneyland raise prices as Disney100 celebration continues

Disney World's Cinderella Castle on a clear, sunny day with a large crowd of people out front
Disney | Abigail Nilsson

If you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World or Disneyland, you may need to add a little more to your budget. On Oct. 11, Disney announced price increases on some tickets and offerings at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts. While price increases have been met with the same annual groans among fans, Walt Disney World added some pixie dust, offsetting the sting of the price hike with news of a policy change that has park goers celebrating.

This week also sees the debut of new entertainment, merchandise and attractions in celebration of Disney100 and the Walt Disney Company’s official 100th anniversary Oct. 16.

Disney100 sign at Disney World's Epcot
Simplemost | Brooke McDonald

Walt Disney World to Lift Park-Hopping Restrictions

Starting Jan. 9, 2024, Walt Disney World guests with a Park Hopper ticket or an Annual Pass can Park Hop — visit any of the resort’s other theme parks — any time throughout the day. Currently, guests must wait until 2pm to Park Hop.

Also beginning Jan. 9, 2024, date-based ticket holders won’t need theme park reservations. Annual Passholders, however, will still be required to make a theme park reservation and must visit their reserved park first before hopping to others. A new “good-to-go” system beginning in January 2024 will allow certain days where Annual Passholders can access specified parks without a reservation.

Disney’s dining plans also return to Walt Disney World on Jan. 9, 2024.

MORE: Disney plans more than 50 live-action remakes and franchise extensions

Price Hikes at Walt Disney World

Effective Oct. 11, Walt Disney World Annual Pass prices increased by $30 to $50:

  • Incredi-Pass: $1449, previously $1399
  • Sorcerer Pass: $999, previously $969
  • Pirate Pass: $799, previously $749
  • Pixie Dust Pass: $439, previously $399

Walt Disney World has also increased parking fees for standard theme park parking from $25 a day to $30 a day.

Cinderella approaches Cinderella Castle at Disney World's Magic Kingdom
Disney

Price Hikes at Disneyland Resort

More extensive price hikes have also hit Disneyland Resort. Magic Key annual pass prices are up between $50 and $150:

  • Inspire Key: $1649, previously $1599
  • Believe Key: $1249, previously $1099
  • Enchant Key: $849, previously $699
  • Imagine Key: $499, previously $449

New sales of Magic Key passes are currently paused but are available for renewal for existing passholders.

Prices have also been increased on most Disneyland theme park tickets. One-day theme park tickets for Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park are up between 6-7%. Disneyland’s highest-priced “peak” single-day ticket is now $194, up from $179; the lowest-priced single-day ticket, sold on lower-demand dates, remains at $104. Multi-day tickets saw the most notable increase — between 11-12%.

Disney Genie+ Price Increase at Disneyland

The pre-arrival price of Disneyland’s Disney Genie+ program increased from $25 to $30 a day; day-of purchases start at $30. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disneyland Park has been added to the Genie+ service, with Ariel’s Undersea Adventure set to be added in November.

MORE: Meet Binny, Disney World’s unexpectedly popular trash can

Disney100 Celebration Continues With Official 100th Anniversary

The Walt Disney Company kicked off its 100th anniversary celebration at Disneyland Resort in January, but celebrated the date of its official 100th anniversary on Oct. 16 with festivities, openings and debuts.

New original short film “Once Upon a Studio” debuted Oct. 16 on Disney+ following a premiere on ABC on Oct. 15.

Tickets for “Wish,” Disney’s forthcoming animated film premiering in theaters Nov. 22 are now on sale.

Disney has also announced that the song “This Wish,” performed by Ariana DeBose, will be released on Wednesday, Oct. 18, with additional new songs from the film released every Wednesday until the film’s release.

Disney also recently launched its “Wish Together” campaign celebrating the company’s longstanding relationship with Make-A-Wish. To celebrate the campaign and the new film, Disney launched a “Wish Together Sweepstakes” offering entrants the chance to win a vacation combining a Disney cruise with a stay at Walt Disney World. For every free entry received now through January 31, 2024, Disney will donate $5 to Make-A-Wish up to $1 million.

At Walt Disney World,  the new “Moana” attraction, Journey of Water, officially opened at Epcot on Oct. 16.

Exclusive new Disney100-branded merchandise has also been released, including new Disney100 collections from Columbia Sportswear and Vans.

What do you think? Will the price increases deter you from visiting The Happiest Place On Earth?

MORE: 16 things you can get for free at Disney World

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About the Author
Brooke McDonald
Brooke McDonald is theme park, travel and entertainment journalist with an emphasis on all things Disney and Star Wars. Her work has appeared in Insider, The Points Guy, Parents, TravelPulse, MSN, CNBC, Attractions Magazine and more.

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