Disneyland may be "the happiest place on earth," but buying tickets for your family can be upsetting - especially after the park raised prices this week.
In an announcement, Disney revealed the average ticket price will go up by eight percent effective immediately, and the cheapest one-day ticket now cost you more than $100.
Disney orders their tickets in three categories based on whether the day of your visit is in the "peak" or in-demand season: One-day adult tickets jumped from $135 to $149, while the price of a one-day regular ticket (which includes restrictions on some days) rose from $117 to $129.
Even the "value" ticket, which includes a number of date restrictions, will now cost $104 instead of $97.
Park hopper ticket prices, which include entry to both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, are also going up, rising from $147 to $154.
Brace yourselves for these next ones: prices for the annual Select pass rose a staggering $30 from $369 to $399, and the already costly Premier pass combining Disneyland and Walt Disney World rose by almost $400, from $1,579 to $1,949.
So why the price gouging less than a year after the last price increase for Disneyland tickets? The park is set to open a new attraction called Stars Wars: The Galaxy's Edge, and the higher prices reflect an expected jump in demand.
In a statement, a park representative said the higher prices will help Disney "spread visitation, better manage demand and deliver a great experience."
Along with higher ticket prices, the cost of other basic amenities like parking also rose (it now costs $25 just to park your car, a $5 raise from last year).
Disney says the best deal among their new ticket prices is the three-day pass, which costs $300 for a single park each day or $355 with a park hopper bonus.
Families planning a trip to visit Mickey and Minnie sometime this year should also keep the opening of the Star Wars park in mind: travel experts predict devoted fans will gladly pay through the nose to visit it, so even with higher ticket prices you should expect crowds this summer.
If it's any consolation, the new 14-acre park set in a galaxy far, far away will feature some impressive attractions, including a full-size recreation of the movie's famous Mos Eisley cantina, the Millennium Falcon, and more.
Disney World's own version of the attraction (at their Hollywood Studios park) will open in fall 2019.
[H/T: CNN]
