MickeyBlog News for October 15th, 2023
Walt Disney World gave fans one of our most requested amenities, but it came at a price. I’ll explain in MickeyBlog News.
The Good News Regarding Park Hopping
Disney
So much changed in March 2020 that Disney fans still haven’t completely reconciled all of it.
For example, we lost Minnie Vans for more than a year, and the Disney Dining Plan still hasn’t officially returned yet. We finally get it back in January.
Disney also restored the option to Park Hop at Walt Disney World.
You Park Hop when you leave one Walt Disney World theme park and enter another one.
Crowds heading into EPCOT!
Until March 2020, guests who purchased the Park Hopper option could move around Disney theme parks at will.
As long as the park was open, you could visit there as early or as late as you wanted.
Photo: WHO
Then, the pandemic arrived, and Disney officials needed accurate attendance estimates at the various parks to protect guests.
The concept of social distancing didn’t mesh well with free-range park guests.
Social Distancing floor markers
When Walt Disney World reopened, Park Hopping wasn’t even an option. Eventually, Disney brought it back in a limited form, though.
People with valid theme park admission could Park Hop starting at 2 p.m. each day, which remains true now.
Photo: Disney
However, fans clamored for the return of pure Park Hopping, the kind that didn’t start at a set time each day.
I’m happy to report that Disney has heard your requests and will restore Park Hopping on January 9th, 2024.
Starting on that date, guests can move around Walt Disney World theme parks whenever they want…with two conditions.
First, you still must possess admission tickets or annual passes that include the Park Hopper amenity.
Animal Kingdom
Second, you must possess either time-dated theme park tickets (which are the standard ones Disney sales) or a Park Pass for your visitation date.
Then, you must enter the place where you have a Park Pass before you can Park Hop. It’s that simple!
The Bad News Regarding Pricing
Obviously, the return of Park Hopping is massive and indescribably welcome to tourists like me who use it almost compulsively.
Alas, Disney used the cover of this announcement to introduce its annual batch of ticket price increases. So, that’s the bad news this week.
(Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort)
We’ll start at Disneyland Resort since critics tend to fixate on ticket prices.
Walt Disney World thankfully left its admission ticket pricing alone, but Disneyland fans weren’t so lucky.
Photo: Travel and Leisure
On the bright side, Disney held firm to CEO Bob Iger’s philosophy that Disneyland should remain affordable to guests.
The cheapest daily admission tickets remain at the same price as last year.
Photo: Disney Parks
Others increased by four to nine percent, depending on the tier of ticket purchased.
That wasn’t the only price hike, either. Disney increased the cost of Disney Genie+ by a minimum of $5.
Photo: Park Savers
Guests who purchase in advance will pay $30 plus tax now as opposed to $25 previously.
Also, guests who wait until the date of the visit to buy could possibly pay more, depending on attendance on that date.
Credit: Disney
The price of Magic Key annual passes also increased. Here are the new prices:
- Imagine Magic Key: $499, up $50
- Enchant Magic Key: $849, up $150
- Believe Magic Key: $1,249, up $150
- Inspire Magic Key: $1649, up $50
Oh, and parking costs $5 more now, too. It increased from $30 to $35 for standard parking.
More Price Increases
Photo: Wikipedia
At Walt Disney World, management took a different approach.
Rather than increasing the cost of admission, Disney raised the price of lots of other stuff.
Photo: touring plans.com
For example, the cost of Memory Maker had been $169 for early purchases or $199 on the visitation date.
Now, buying Memory Maker early will cost $185, while it’s $210 on the visitation date.
Photo: Center Watch
Walt Disney World also increased the price of standard parking by $5, making it $30.
To be fair to Disney, that only now matches the price of other theme parks in the area. So, Disney deserves some slack there.
Oswald Magnet
Annual passes also saw a price increase, which I’ll explain in a moment.
- Disney Pixie Dust Pass: $439, up $40
- Disney Pirate Pass: $799, up $50
- Disney Sorcerer Pass: $999, up $30
- Disney Incredi-Pass: $1,449, up $50
I didn’t count them when I mentioned Walt Disney World maintaining the current price of admission.
That’s because Disney took a clever approach here, which I’ll explore in a later article.
Disney only raised the price on items that aren’t essential to a park visit.
Photo: Disney
Effectively, Disney has provided guests with comprehensive control of our vacation budgets.
Do you want Memory Maker or a round of Mini Golf? You’ll pay more.
How about prix fixe or character meals? It’s the same deal there.
Photo: Disney
Popular park snacks just got marginally more expensive as well, and your coffee fix will cost you a few cents more, too.
Walt Disney World has taken an incremental approach to its annual price increases, and I happen to like it.
Disney News and Notes
Since Disney started decorating for Halloween in July, I guess this next news item shouldn’t surprise anyone.
Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios have both started to decorate for the holiday season…and I don’t mean Halloween!
Credit: Disney
Speaking of the holidays, Jollywood Nights is starting to sell out its dates.
If you’re interested in experiencing the event during its first year, you should act quickly.
Along those lines, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party previously sold out.
Halloween in Magic Kingdom
Then, a MickeyBlogger noticed reservations available for the final date.
I won’t mislead you by saying that your odds are good here, but if you do want to attend this party, keep checking just in case!
Narcoossee’s
At Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Narcoossee’s just reopened after refurbishment.
Meanwhile, at Disneyland, we finally solved the mystery of the Magic Happens Parade. Yes, it’s about to end, but it WILL come back!
Photo: Disney
Also, Downtown Disney just announced four new dining options coming soon.
In non-park news, I want to highlight this story just because it encapsulates everything we love about Disney.
Facebook/Hong Kong Disneyland
Finally, October 16th is the big date. The Walt Disney Company officially turns 100 on Monday!
Happy birthday to our favorite company!
Photo: MickeyBlog
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Feature Photo: Disney
