Ka-ching. It’s becoming increasingly more expensive to savor the magic of a Disney theme park, as a recent rise in ticket prices at the Disneyland Resort has struck many guests with frustration and anger. Although it is normal to witness changes each year, the most recent list of ticket prices shows quite significant upsurges. Here I’ll focus on the fiscal value of what you’re receiving for spending time at The Happiest Place on Earth.
Say you want to go to either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure for just one day. If you’re any adult, that will now cost you $87. Previously it was set at $80. Let’s consider that you take said ticket to Disneyland on a day when the park is open for 16 hours, and you stayed the entire day there. You would be paying $5 an hour, mind you the park would likely contain heavy crowds. Now let’s say you choose to “park hop” between both parks for that same day. For the past decade or so, the Park Hopper plans have been very popular, especially for those who might want to head to Disneyland during the morning and California Adventure in mid-afternoon when the original park feels packed. Well, that one-day park hopper ticket will now cost you a whopping $125, up from $105. Suddenly your money is not worth as much, as you would be spending $7.81 an hour over a 16-hour period. But really, who is in the park from opening to closing over such a long day?
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