From the St. Petersburg Times
Parks share a theme: higher prices
Published December 15, 2005
It will get a little more expensive to go to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld beginning Jan. 2, but the theme parks have announced ticket deals that could take some of the sting out of the increase.
The parks will renew their Fun Card promotion, which allows Florida residents who buy a single-day admission to return as many times as they want throughout the year at no additional cost.
To attract Central Florida vacationers, the parks also have unveiled an any time program that allows those who buy a single-day ticket to return as often as they want within a week at no additional cost.
Tickets bought at one park do not apply to the other, and taxes are not included in the price.
For most of the past seven years, attendance at Busch Gardens has been flat, largely because of the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando. The Tampa theme park tried to counter with new shows and attractions, including the opening in May of SheiKra, the first so-called dive coaster in North America.
It worked, Busch Gardens officials said, without being specific on 2005 attendance figures.
Admission to Busch Gardens will increase $2 to $57.95 for adults and $47.95 for children.
Single-day admission prices to SeaWorld will increase by $2.20 to $61.95. Tickets for ages 3 to 9 will increase $1.95 to $49.95.
The increase makes SeaWorld more expensive than rival Walt Disney World. And it's the first to crack the $60 barrier.
A spokesman for Walt Disney World said no determination had been made on 2006 ticket prices. Disney charges $59.75 for adults and $48 for children, not including taxes.
Parks share a theme: higher prices
SeaWorld becomes the first park to crack the $60 price. Adults will pay $57.95 at Busch Gardens.
By TOM ZUCCO, Times Staff Writer
Published December 15, 2005
It will get a little more expensive to go to Busch Gardens and SeaWorld beginning Jan. 2, but the theme parks have announced ticket deals that could take some of the sting out of the increase.
The parks will renew their Fun Card promotion, which allows Florida residents who buy a single-day admission to return as many times as they want throughout the year at no additional cost.
To attract Central Florida vacationers, the parks also have unveiled an any time program that allows those who buy a single-day ticket to return as often as they want within a week at no additional cost.
Tickets bought at one park do not apply to the other, and taxes are not included in the price.
For most of the past seven years, attendance at Busch Gardens has been flat, largely because of the opening of Disney's Animal Kingdom in Orlando. The Tampa theme park tried to counter with new shows and attractions, including the opening in May of SheiKra, the first so-called dive coaster in North America.
It worked, Busch Gardens officials said, without being specific on 2005 attendance figures.
Admission to Busch Gardens will increase $2 to $57.95 for adults and $47.95 for children.
Single-day admission prices to SeaWorld will increase by $2.20 to $61.95. Tickets for ages 3 to 9 will increase $1.95 to $49.95.
The increase makes SeaWorld more expensive than rival Walt Disney World. And it's the first to crack the $60 barrier.
A spokesman for Walt Disney World said no determination had been made on 2006 ticket prices. Disney charges $59.75 for adults and $48 for children, not including taxes.
