On October 1, 1971, when Walt Disney World Resort opened in Orlando, Florida, the price of one general admission ticket was $3.50 per person. Adjusted for inflation, a ticket today would cost about $21.
The next year, Disney hiked its price by 25 cents to $3.75, according to a new analysis from GoBankingRates. The personal finance website calculated how Disney World admission fees have changed from 1971 to 2019 using data from AllEars.net, along with the Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator to determine the yearly rates adjusted for inflation.
Prices remained flat at $6 per ticket from 1975 to 1977, but continued to increase in the years following as Disney added more attractions to the theme park, according to the analysis. (GoBankingRates only used data from the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. The admission prices calculated between 1971 to 1981 include sales tax, except for the years after 1981.)
Today, more than 40 million people visit Disney World every year — with ticket prices ranging from $109 to $159 per person depending on the date it's purchased for.
In February, Disneyland in Anaheim, California announced it has raised one of its one-day passes above $200 for the first time. A solo "hopper" ticket, which allows guests to visit both Disneyland and the Disney California Adventure Park in one day, cost between $159 and $209, according to a Disney spokesperson.
However in March, Disneyland and Disney World closed after the World Health Organization declared Covid-19 a pandemic. On July 11, Walt Disney World is set to open to a limited number of guests. According to the Disney World website, a standard ticket is now $109 per person.
Here's how much admission prices cost on average (taking into account both peak and off-peak prices) at Disney World the year you were born:
1971: $3.50
- Price increase from previous year: N/A
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $21.92
1972: $3.75
- Price increase from previous year: 25 cents
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $23.26
1973: $4.50
- Price increase from previous year: 75 cents
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $26.44
1974: $5.25
- Price increase from previous year: 75 cents
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $27.44
1975: $6
- Price increase from previous year: 75 cents
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $27.99
1976: $6
- Price increase from previous year: None
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $27.64
1977: $6
- Price increase from previous year: None
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $26.27
1978: $6.50
- Price increase from previous year: 50 cents
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $25.54
1979: $7
- Price increase from previous year: 50 cents
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $25.40
1980: $8
- Price increase from previous year: $1
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $23.97
1981: $9.50
- Price increase from previous year: $1.50
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $26.05
1982: $15
- Price increase from previous year: $5.50
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $39.25
1983: $17
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $43.11
1984: $18
- Price increase from previous year: $1
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $44.46
1985: $21.50
- Price increase from previous year: $3.50
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $50.52
1986: $26
- Price increase from previous year: $4.50
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $60.27
1987: $28
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $62.15
1988: $28
- Price increase from previous year: None
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $61.99
1989: $29
- Price increase from previous year: $1
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $60
1990: $31
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $62.03
1991: $33
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $62.71
1992: $34
- Price increase from previous year: $1
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $62.12
1993: $35
- Price increase from previous year: $1
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $62.17
1994: $36
- Price increase from previous year: $1
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $62.64
1995: $37
- Price increase from previous year: $1
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $62.81
1996: $38.50
- Price increase from previous year: $1.50
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $63.66
1997: $39.75
- Price increase from previous year: $1.25
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $63.64
1998: $42
- Price increase from previous year: $2.25
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $66.20
1999: $44
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $67.81
2000: $46
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $69.80
2001: $48
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $70.22
2002: $50
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $70.76
2003: $52
- Price increase from previous year: $2
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $72.51
2004: $54.75
- Price increase from previous year: $2.75
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $74.83
2005: $59.75
- Price increase from previous year: $5
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $80.25
2006: $67
- Price increase from previous year: $7.25
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $84.17
2007: $71
- Price increase from previous year: $4
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $87.47
2008: $75
- Price increase from previous year: $4
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $87.69
2009: $79
- Price increase from previous year: $4
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $93.75
2010: $82
- Price increase from previous year: $3
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $96.21
2011: $85
- Price increase from previous year: $3
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $96.46
2012: $89
- Price increase from previous year: $4
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $99.34
2013: $95
- Price increase from previous year: $6
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $104.21
2014: $99
- Price increase from previous year: $4
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $108.01
2015: $105
- Price increase from previous year: $6
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $114.58
2016: $110
- Price increase from previous year: $5
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $118.83
2017: $115
- Price increase from previous year: $5
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $120.92
2018: $119
- Price increase from previous year: $4
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: $122.42
2019: $125
- Price increase from previous year: $6
- Cost adjusted for 2019 inflation: N/A
A Disney spokesperson confirmed to CNBC Make It that GoBankingRates' prices are "generally accurate," but added that they did not release or endorse the report.
Updated: This story has been updated to include 2020 Disneyland and Disney World prices.
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