http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...l081007,0,4778680.story?coll=orl_tab01_layout
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that all ticket prices for Florida residents and tickets available over the Internet were being raised.
Universal Orlando raised its ticket prices this morning, matching the new price that cross-town rival Walt Disney World announced a week ago, with a $71 basic, single-day, single-park adult ticket replacing the old $67 pass.
Universal also increased prices on a variety of two-park and multi-day packages, and on some tickets available only to Florida residents and only over the Internet, but not as much as the basic ticket. The result is a stronger pricing push to get Universal visitors to buy package deals, and to buy tickets over the Internet, rather than to buy basic, one-day, one-park tickets at the gate.
<!-- END topix links --><!-- END rail -->Children's tickets went up comparable amounts. The base ticket for a child age 3-9 is now $60, up from $56.
"We've worked very hard to preserve value for Floridians, people who want multiple-day experiences and for those who buy online," said spokesman Tom Schroder.
In particular, he noted that the company did not increase the price of its EarlyBird Exclusive deal, which provides a seven-day, two-park pass over the Internet for $85.95.
On Sunday, Disney World raised its base ticket prices to $71 for adults and $60 for children, citing a need to establish its new price structures in time for the travel industry's 2008 publications.
Schroder said the increases at Universal were made to adjust prices to "market levels," but he would not identify those market levels as marks set by Disney World.
Analysts, however, already were making that distinction last week when Disney first announced its increases, saying that Disney World was in the position to set the industry standard.
Traditionally, Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld Orlando all have raised their prices to the same levels at about the same time. SeaWorld broke with that trend last year when the other two parks raised prices in August and SeaWorld waited until December. SeaWorld officials are not commenting on current price strategies.
Universal's increased prices went into effect this morning with no advance notice for the public. Schroder said there were no reports of upset customers showing up at the gates to discover the costlier tickets.
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that all ticket prices for Florida residents and tickets available over the Internet were being raised.
Universal Orlando raised its ticket prices this morning, matching the new price that cross-town rival Walt Disney World announced a week ago, with a $71 basic, single-day, single-park adult ticket replacing the old $67 pass.
Universal also increased prices on a variety of two-park and multi-day packages, and on some tickets available only to Florida residents and only over the Internet, but not as much as the basic ticket. The result is a stronger pricing push to get Universal visitors to buy package deals, and to buy tickets over the Internet, rather than to buy basic, one-day, one-park tickets at the gate.
<!-- END topix links --><!-- END rail -->Children's tickets went up comparable amounts. The base ticket for a child age 3-9 is now $60, up from $56.
"We've worked very hard to preserve value for Floridians, people who want multiple-day experiences and for those who buy online," said spokesman Tom Schroder.
In particular, he noted that the company did not increase the price of its EarlyBird Exclusive deal, which provides a seven-day, two-park pass over the Internet for $85.95.
On Sunday, Disney World raised its base ticket prices to $71 for adults and $60 for children, citing a need to establish its new price structures in time for the travel industry's 2008 publications.
Schroder said the increases at Universal were made to adjust prices to "market levels," but he would not identify those market levels as marks set by Disney World.
Analysts, however, already were making that distinction last week when Disney first announced its increases, saying that Disney World was in the position to set the industry standard.
Traditionally, Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld Orlando all have raised their prices to the same levels at about the same time. SeaWorld broke with that trend last year when the other two parks raised prices in August and SeaWorld waited until December. SeaWorld officials are not commenting on current price strategies.
Universal's increased prices went into effect this morning with no advance notice for the public. Schroder said there were no reports of upset customers showing up at the gates to discover the costlier tickets.
Wouldn't that just be my luck? :lol: 
