Disneyland Adopts Surge Pricing With ‘Peak’ Days Reaching $119

Disney theme parks are adopting surge pricing similar to fare increases imposed by airlines and ride-hailing services, the Los Angeles Times reported. Beginning Sunday, “peak” days at Disneyland will cost $119. Regular admission will also be raised in 2016, going from $99 to $105.

The move was described as a way to better manage the large crowds that visit Disneyland every day. “In addition to expanding our parks, we are adopting seasonal pricing on our one-day ticket to help better spread visitation throughout the year. Multiday tickets, annual passes and visiting during nonpeak periods also provide our guests with options and savings,” Disney said in a statement. Adult ticket prices will fall into “peak,” “regular” and “value” tiers. The new pricing would affect theme parks in Orlando, Florida, and Anaheim, California, Bloomberg reported.

Other Disney theme parks will have similar increases. Magic Kingdom in Orlando will charge $124 on peak days. Epcot, Disney Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are being increased to $114.

Peak days will account for 26 percent of the calendar, regular days make up 44 percent of 2016 and 30 percent will be value days. Peak days will likely include holidays and busy summer weekends. Christmas and spring break also could be considered peak days. Value days would include weekdays and days when school is in session, Bloomberg reported. Value tickets are discounted to $95.

Disneyland is not the only theme park in California to have a tiered pricing system. Universal Studios Hollywood added peak and value days, but did not increase the base price of tickets. An adult ticket is $95 while a value ticket can be discounted by $20.

To ease dissatisfaction over the price hikes, Disney announced there will be new attractions scheduled to open throughout 2016. A “Broadway-style” production of “Frozen” is scheduled to open in the summer while a 14-acre “Star Wars” area is also planned to open in the near future.