Disney raises prices at its theme parks

Disney is raising prices for its Genie+ service, which allows visitors to the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and California to avoid waiting in lines for hours on popular attractions. The cost of the service will now vary depending on park occupancy. 

Along with the Genie+ changes introduced, Disneyland Resort has introduced other changes, including higher prices for admission tickets and additional services, including valet service.

The Genie+ program launched in the fall of 2021, becoming a replacement for the free FastPass system. Genie+ for a day at Walt Disney World was originally $15 per person, excluding taxes, and at Disneyland it was $20 per person, excluding taxes.

During October at Walt Disney World, Genie+ will cost $15 to $22, the cost will depend on the number of visitors on a particular day. The cost may be reviewed at the end of the month, a Disney World spokesman said, with the price likely to be higher on holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Disney World visitors cannot purchase Genie+ in advance because the price of the service will be known the day they visit the park.

At Disneyland, visitors can purchase Genie+ in advance for $25 per person. According to the company, prices for Genie+ on the day of the visit will be set based on demand, however, they did not disclose the price range of the service. 

Since its launch, Genie+ has become one of the most profitable services for Disney's parks, experiences and products division. It has helped the company's U.S. parks reach record profits. Disney previously reported that about half of its parks visitors paid for the service, and most of them said in post-visit surveys that they would do it again.

At Disneyland Resort, the revamped Genie+ was part of a broader package of pricing adjustments. Multi-day tickets to Disneyland went up at least 9 percent. Two-day tickets went up most significantly, from $255 per adult to $285, a nearly 12% increase.

The cost of day tickets to Disneyland varies depending on the fare. As a result of the changes, Disney has added a seventh price tier. The cheapest ticket is still $104, as it has been since 2019. And the most expensive ticket is now $179, up about 9 percent.

Some extras have also gone up at Disneyland. For example, valet service at the hotel will now cost a guest $65, up from $50, and privileged parking is now $50, up $5.

Disney World has also raised food and beverage prices at all theme parks.