① The Burden of Disneyland’s Price Hikes
Disneyland is the world’s first and most famous theme park. Anyone who has seen Disney animation, regardless of age or gender, has probably wanted to visit Disneyland at least once.
Walt Disney, the founder of The Walt Disney Company, described Disneyland as follows:
“The happiest place on earth. Disneyland will never be completed. As long as there is imagination, it will continue to grow.”
Disney animations are constantly producing the theme of this place, and as long as Disney’s stories continue, Disneyland will continue to evolve.
The animated characters that come to life here not only lead children but also adults back to their childhood. Especially for little girls who love Disney princess characters, visiting here is often a dream come true.
Disneyland is a place that children around the world want to go to, but it’s also a place that they can’t visit frequently.
The price of Disneyland tickets, which increases every year, imposes a burden on parents.
However, when visiting Disneyland, the cost of admission is not the only consideration. Given the size of Disneyland, it is recommended that those with children plan to stay for at least 5-6 days, so hotel costs must also be considered.
In the case of a family of four traveling to Disneyland (Disney World) in Orlando, USA, for 6 days, considering both admission and hotel costs, the expenses can reach up to $40,000.
The basic ticket price for admission alone is $3,600, and the VIP ticket that allows you to ride attractions without waiting in line costs $6,300 for the whole family to use for just one day.
In addition, if the entire family wants to avoid waiting in line, they have to pay $1,000 to use the Lightning Pass, and additional costs are incurred for various programs, such as princess experiences inside Disneyland.
The highest cost is for hotel accommodation. For high-priced hotel rooms inside the Disney theme park, you must pay $26,400 for a week’s stay.
Of course, $40,000 is the maximum cost you must pay when all these are included. Even if you cut costs by staying at a hotel outside Disney and buying basic tickets, the minimum cost is still $5,000.
② Disney, a Company Only Concerned About Money?
In 2022, Disney raised the prices of major services, such as admission tickets, for the first time in a year, causing consumer complaints.
The Washington Post (WP) reported that “Disney park visitors are complaining that Disney is a ‘money-focused company'”.
Disneyland sets different rates for each day based on visitor demand. The price of a one-day ticket has increased by more than 9%, and the 2-5 day tickets have increased by 9-12%, changing the highest price of a one-day ticket in 2022 to $179.
The price of a two-day ticket has risen by 11.76% to $285, and the five-day ticket has exceeded $400.
LAT pointed out that Disneyland’s price increase was greater than the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in August last year (8.3%) amid the worst inflation in the US in 40 years.
In response, Len Testa, the head of the theme park specialist site TouringPlans, pointed out that Disney has been targeting the top 1-20% of households as its main customers for years, abandoning the American middle class.
Visiting Disneyland has now become a luxury trip. Recently, Walt Disney sparked controversy by launching another luxury travel product. The product is the ‘Disney Global Travel Package,’ which allows you to travel to Disney parks worldwide on a private jet.
The price of this product, which can be reserved in advance by customers who have used Disney three or more times, is approximately $125,000. Some fans have complained that the price is too high due to high costs and fees.
On the other hand, Tom Bricker, the founder of the Disney Tourist Blog, said, “There is now a high demand for such high-priced niche products.”
Furthermore, Pisaturo, a travel agency selling Disney’s adventure products, said, “There are many affluent customers who can afford travel costs. If you add it all up, the price is not outrageous.”
The price is staggering, but the benefits are also enormous. During the 24-day tour, you fly directly to each destination on a Boeing 757 from Iceland Air.
The destinations you head to on a private jet include Disney facilities in California, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Paris, and Florida, as well as major tourist spots such as the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids.
③ Rising Again with Inflation
Despite many complaints from visitors, Disney has once again raised the price of admission tickets this year. Disney’s price increase comes when the number of visitors is rapidly declining.
A year after raising the ticket price by up to 9% on October 1 last year, they raised it again. As a result, the price of the most expensive one-day ticket at Disneyland has increased from $179 to $194, a $15 increase.
The prices of 2-5 day tickets have all increased by $25-$65, and the most expensive annual pass for Disney World has gone up by $50 to $1,449.
In response to Disneyland’s rising prices and inflation, netizens reacted with comments like, “Raising it again? It’s already expensive” and “Are they making up for the decrease in visitors by raising the admission fee?”
By. Kim Min Jae
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