Yep, I thought yesterday’s trivia question might be an easy challenge. I was right! 46.03% (29 of 63) of you got it right! The answer … Disney’s Magic Kingdom opened with a general admission price of $3.50.
You know, this question got me to thinking. These days, a one-day park ticket would run you $89.00 – a mere 2,543% increase over 1971!! Yikes! How in “The World” did Disney let that happen? So, I consulted one of my favorite sources – AllEars.net – and their comprehensive history of WDW ticket increases. I think we’re being “nickel-and-dimed” to death, my friends! Take a look. If you’re a numbers “buff”, it is an interesting read. If not, I chewed through some of the data:
- Disney has increased the price of their one-day admission 44 times since October 1, 1971.
- They have averaged just over one price increase per year.
- Admission to Magic Kingdom increased by $0.25 only four months after the park opened.
- That sounds small, but it was a 7% increase.
- The smallest increase in their 41 years was that same $0.25 jump.
- Their largest single increase was $5.00 in January of 2005.
- That was a 9% increase from $54.75 to $59.75.
- The only years not to see the price get raised were 1976, 1977, and 1988.
- The last increase, in June of 2012, was a 4.7% increase.
- At that rate, a one-day admission will reach $93 in 2013, $98 in 2014, and breach the dreaded $100 barrier to hit $102 in 2015!
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Growing up on the west coast, I do remember admission ticket prices that were very reasonable, but there was a major difference back then. The cost of admission was just that -the cost of admission. You then had to buy ride ticket coupon books to get on different attractions ranging from the cheapest ones (“A Tickets”) up to the best rides/attractions (“E Tickets”). They still use the A-E description today when they describe the level of rides.