In 2024, Disney fans can look forward to the return of the theme park's all-day Park Hopper pass.
The special pass will once again be available January 9, allowing guests to visit more than one theme park without any line for entry all day.
The Park Hopper has been a more affordable option for Disney fans looking to visit the theme park and peruse the many different parks on the grounds without buying a separate ticket for each park for several different days.
Walt Disney World includes four parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, but typically guests must visit each park on a different day. But with the Park Hopper pass, you can bypass that inconvenience and switch parks an unlimited number of times on the same day.
At the moment, Disney World only permits those with the Park Hopper pass to use it after 2 p.m., but this will no longer be a rule with the updated pass. Disney World initially implemented the time restriction when parks reopened amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"Guests with Park Hopper benefits will now have more flexibility to explore the Disney World theme parks the way they want and enjoy even more during their visits," Disney said in a blog post. "If a visit falls on a day when park reservations are required, the ticket holder must scan into the reserved park before freely park hopping."
Also on January 9, park visitors will be able to purchase date-based tickets without pre-selecting which theme park they want to enter.
The same day also marks the return of Disney's dining plan, which is a special food deal for those staying within the Walt Disney World hotel.
Yearly pass-holders can also start to visit the park on its "good-to-go" days without any reservations.
There are some negatives, however, from Disney's recent announcement.
The theme park on Wednesday increased its standard parking price from $25 to $30. All annual pass-holders will also see a price hike from $30 to $50, depending on which individual pass they hold.
General single-day tickets are also rising. While the lowest-tier single-day ticket at Disneyland will remain $104, popular days will see price hikes of 8 percent, to $194. Disney World will retain its $109 low-tier single-day price.
And five-day tickets at Disneyland grew nearly 16 percent, to $480.
Disney's add-on services will also cost more. The Genie+ service, which allows visitors to gain access to shorter lines, moved up to $30, reflecting a $5 increase.
And the Park Hopper ticket has grown 25 percent, to $75.
The high-tier Disney Incredi-Pass increased $50, to $1,499.
The jumps in price occur as Disney has invested $60 billion into its parks and cruises for the next 10 years, which roughly doubles the figure of the previous decade.
"We are constantly adding new, innovative attractions and entertainment to our parks and, with our broad array of pricing options, the value of a theme park visit is reflected in the unique experiences that only Disney can offer," a company spokesperson said in a statement.
Fan Reactions
Reflecting the nationwide inflation, Disney has consistently upped ticket prices at its theme parks over the years.
The backlash has been swift, and the new hikes are unlikely to produce a different outcome.
Two years ago, when Disney increased its prices once more, fans stormed the internet, calling the park a "rip off."
"I love Disney World. It's by far my favorite vacation spot and usually an incredible experience," one previous visitor wrote on Reddit. "Don't go. It is not even close to being worth the money right now. I'd go further and say it's a blatant rip off right now."
While fans have been quick to criticize the decisions, the theme parks have maintained steady demand even at a price premium.
"If it was any cheaper to go right now, the parks would be at maximum capacity every day. It would be absolutely miserable for everyone," one Disney fan wrote on Reddit. "It sucks that a lot of people can't afford to go, but until Disney expands the parks or at least adds more attractions to soak up the crowd, there is no way they could lower the price."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Suzanne Blake is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on consumer and social trends, spanning ... Read more
