Universal Raises Ticket Prices

[wdwfan22]

Universal Orlando joined Sea World Florida Friday by raising single-day ticket prices by $2.


The cost of admission for an adult went from $55.33 to $57.46 at each of its two parks, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. The cost of admission for a child went from $45.75 to $47.88.

In addition, the cost of a two-day, two-park admission increased from $103.26 to $106.45 for adults and $91.54 to $94.74 for children.

 

[WDWspider]

That is ridiculous. Parks better start finding some alternatives to ticket increases.

If they continue at this rate, then I am going to stop going completely.

 

[Legacy]

And in two months Disney will increase too.

Ah... gotta love the ticket cycle.

 

[WDWspider]

Disney is an exception... although high... much more worth it.

Maybe when the all new Cypress Gardens reopens with their aggressive low admission price it might hit Universal and Sea World where it hurts most.

 

[Legacy]

It will hurt SeaWorld definantly... Universal, not so much.

Uni's biggest customers are the local high schoolers who, no matter how big of a coaster Cypress Gardens gets, will always keep going back. I may go to the Gardens once or twice once it reopens, but I will always head out to Universal.

 

[WDWspider]

You get the added bonus of Season Passes though. All of the parks look better at those prices. Gardens will have to have time to re-establish itself too. Unless they do some heavy advertising in the beginning.

 

[DisneyFan 2000]

This is insane! The hotels are already over priced! Why do they have to raise ticket prices?

 

[Disneynutcase]

Does anyone know--are there any special discounts available for one day passes? Out my way in So Cal, several local parks either give discounts to locals (via verified zipcode) or have discount tie-ins with supermarkets or fast food chains.

Anything like that happening around Orlando?

 

[Legacy]

The local discounts are rare in Florida. The only consistant one is Taco Bell for Halloween Horror Nights.

 

[Michael72688]

I dont think the opening of Cypress Gardens will hurt anyone at all. The parks are going to raise ticket prices every year, you gotta get used to it.

 

[InsideOtherPark]

New rides + New Shows = Higher Prices

 

[Disneynutcase]

Man, this seriously stinks. My family has been considering doing at day at USF or IOA when we do WDW next and were expecting the entry prices to be more in the $45.00-$50.00 range.

As it stands, my family of four will cost over $225 just to get in for one day.

I understand Universal's desire to make money and that they are and will be living off the frenzy for both Spiderman and the upcoming Mummy ride...

But all they're doing is motivating me (and probably many others)to add an extra day onto our Park Hopper Plus passes--much cheaper in the long run.

Then again, I live about 15 minutes from Universal Hollywood, and since 9/11, they've had tremendous low cost entry promotions such as kids free w/ adult admission, adults pay at kid prices, and currently, buy a day and get a one year pass.

I don't even think that these have been local promotions.

Here's hoping that the price hikes bite them in the butt (even though it's probably doubtful).

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by Michael72688
I dont think the opening of Cypress Gardens will hurt anyone at all.

Of course it will. Cypress is going to be the first cheap competitor out there. The price point will definitely be swaying quite a few, especially the ride buff or the parents who want to see the old Cypress Gardens reborn.

If you have 6 days to do things and have a 5 day hopper. You are more likely to go to a coaster park for $20 then another Major park for $60. So, it will make a difference (that's a given). Now how much of a difference will depend on how good the rides are, and how much marketing they do. They plan to sell special passes at Wild Adventure allowing access to Cypress gardens as well and vice versa. That won't impact much, but it is another vantage point for them.

Originally posted by InsideOtherPark
New rides + New Shows = Higher Prices

One more time... I understand that, although removing old rides and making new is hardly justification, but just increase in internal areas. You don't have to increase tickets each year. Please explain Island of Adventure increases each year too. It's almost the same park as when it opened.

 

[Michael72688]

WDWSpider, what does Cypress Gardens have, if you've done it once, you really dont ever have to go again, and personally I really hope it does not reopen!

and Disneynutcase, sorry to tell ya, sadly you cant touch a theme park ticket in Orlando for less then $50, except maybe at the Holy land

 

[MKCustodial]

Originally posted by Michael72688
WDWSpider, what does Cypress Gardens have, if you've done it once, you really dont ever have to go again, and personally I really hope it does not reopen!

I know sompe people who say the same thing about WDw. Just because you don't like something and don't feel like going back, it doesn't mean everybody feels the same.

I agree with Spidey, it's obvious a 20 bucks ticket will be more appealing to non-fans than a 60 bucks one.

We all understand there are increasing costs of electricity, gas, phone, water, food, personnel and so on, and the obvious answer to that is repassing it to tickets. What Spidey pondered was that they should find another alternative, otherwise this will be pretty ridiculous in about 10 years or so.

Think about this: does your paycheck gets a hefty increase every year?

 

[TURKEY]

Originally posted by Michael72688
WDWSpider, what does Cypress Gardens have, if you've done it once, you really dont ever have to go again, and personally I really hope it does not reopen!

and Disneynutcase, sorry to tell ya, sadly you cant touch a theme park ticket in Orlando for less then $50, except maybe at the Holy land

Right now, Cypress Gardens has nothing. If the guy that has Wild Adventures gets control and can add the multiple coasters and other thrill rides he wants to, then it's going to become one of the top 3 thrill parks in Florida.

If the prices are still 20-30 dollars, then it's going to draw people away just because it's cheaper and newer and will probally have newer technology than any other park.

 

[WDWspider]

Originally posted by Michael72688
WDWSpider, what does Cypress Gardens have, if you've done it once, you really dont ever have to go again, and personally I really hope it does not reopen!

It is reopening, but unlike it's ever been before, and yet with all the things it is famous for as well.

From Screamscape:

" Cypress Gardens - (12/22/03) The future of Cypress Gardens looks good to me, with an aggressive line of capital projects planned for the park, including $35-40 million for the first phase and then at least $3-5 million each year beyond that. The plans call for adding at least five or six roller coasters and a new plan to get all new guests to come to the park. From the sounds of things, they plan on cutting back the cost of admission to the park by quite a bit to make it attractive to the locals who shun the incredibly high pieces of Disney and the rest of the Orlando area parks. Cypress was charging $34.95 on the day it closed and he feels that price was “too much”. They are also looking at driving annual pass sales sky high by making them good at both Cypress Gardens and his Wild Adventures park in South Georgia."

 

[Disneynutcase]

Okay WDWSpider, you got me intrigued. What's the time table for Cypress Garden's reopening? Wouldn't happen to be by June of 2005, would it?

In other words, I may be the first to defect, using my day away from WDW that would normally have me going to Universal for Cypress Gardens.

I've never been, and if they are putting in legit rides, it could be a decent affordable alternative.

 

[Legacy]

I agree that the Gardens reopening is going to send the locals (as well as many others) away from the non-Disney parks, but I am looking at the teenage market that really doesn't go to Disney in the first place. The only way Cypress will pull people away from the Hulk, Spiderman and Duelling Dragons (and maybe Mummy) is if they can bring in a ride that beats them... not by a little, but by a whole lot.

Half the kids I went to high school with had annual passes to Uni anyway.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Just a thought here.... With Disneys published Prices of $52 for a single day park admission and $208 for a 4 day PH, maybe... just maybe they wont raise prices.

After all, whats better than a marketing campaign that shows youre both better AND more affordable then the competition? Just a thought...