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SeaWorld raises prices for single-day admission
By Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 1, 2004
Bolstered by a strong year-end rebound in tourism, its largest park expansion and more additions on the way, SeaWorld Orlando announced Wednesday that it is boosting ticket prices by $2.
The increase, effective Friday, makes SeaWorld once again the priciest attraction in Orlando. Single-day admission for the marine-oriented park rises to $53.95 plus tax for adults and $44.95 plus tax for children.
SeaWorld last raised its prices $2 in January a year ago, but the park has since added its five-acre Waterfront dining, shopping and entertainment section, the largest expansion in the park's history.
More additions will be announced soon, said company representative Becca Bides. She said she could not elaborate until formal announcements are made in the coming weeks.
Customers who buy the SeaWorld discount Fun Card also have an extra incentive this year in that the unlimited-admission pass can be purchased on a monthly payment plan with no interest charge, Bides said.
"This makes it even easier," Bides said, and while the card is aimed primarily at Florida residents it is available to anyone. "It's very popular with Canadians," Bides said, as well as with regular winter visitors known as snowbirds.
The $59.99 Fun Card, $49.95 for children, allows unlimited visits, Bides said. "And there are no blackout dates," she said. The annual cards must be purchased by March 31, but this year for the first time they can be bought for $5.99 a month for 10 months.
Representatives of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando would not say if they would match the increase any time soon, but the three parks historically have adjusted prices about the same time.
With the economy expected to continue to rebound and jobs finally being created, price increases now might be easier for consumers to accept.
"We don't talk about our pricing strategy," Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Shroder said. Universal last raised its prices by $2 in January 2003 to $51.95 for adults and $42.95 for children, plus tax.
Shroder said attendance this past week has been "strong for us" and Universal is "ending [the year] on a strong note. We're very pleased with attendance."
Disney did not raise its prices last January when Universal and SeaWorld boosted theirs, holding the line at a time when it was unclear just how well the industry would rebound from the 2001 recession and terrorist scares. But Disney enacted a $2 increase on June 1, raising daily prices at its four theme parks to $52 for adults and $42 for children, plus tax.
Disney has since added the Mission: Space simulator ride at Epcot and opened the first phase of its massive Pop Century Resort, the single largest hotel expansion since the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971.
Company spokesman Rick Sylvain said Wednesday that Disney had nothing to announce following the SeaWorld price increase. "Our pricing decisions are made independently of what others do in the market," Sylvain said.
By Jerry W. Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted January 1, 2004
Bolstered by a strong year-end rebound in tourism, its largest park expansion and more additions on the way, SeaWorld Orlando announced Wednesday that it is boosting ticket prices by $2.
The increase, effective Friday, makes SeaWorld once again the priciest attraction in Orlando. Single-day admission for the marine-oriented park rises to $53.95 plus tax for adults and $44.95 plus tax for children.
SeaWorld last raised its prices $2 in January a year ago, but the park has since added its five-acre Waterfront dining, shopping and entertainment section, the largest expansion in the park's history.
More additions will be announced soon, said company representative Becca Bides. She said she could not elaborate until formal announcements are made in the coming weeks.
Customers who buy the SeaWorld discount Fun Card also have an extra incentive this year in that the unlimited-admission pass can be purchased on a monthly payment plan with no interest charge, Bides said.
"This makes it even easier," Bides said, and while the card is aimed primarily at Florida residents it is available to anyone. "It's very popular with Canadians," Bides said, as well as with regular winter visitors known as snowbirds.
The $59.99 Fun Card, $49.95 for children, allows unlimited visits, Bides said. "And there are no blackout dates," she said. The annual cards must be purchased by March 31, but this year for the first time they can be bought for $5.99 a month for 10 months.
Representatives of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando would not say if they would match the increase any time soon, but the three parks historically have adjusted prices about the same time.
With the economy expected to continue to rebound and jobs finally being created, price increases now might be easier for consumers to accept.
"We don't talk about our pricing strategy," Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Shroder said. Universal last raised its prices by $2 in January 2003 to $51.95 for adults and $42.95 for children, plus tax.
Shroder said attendance this past week has been "strong for us" and Universal is "ending [the year] on a strong note. We're very pleased with attendance."
Disney did not raise its prices last January when Universal and SeaWorld boosted theirs, holding the line at a time when it was unclear just how well the industry would rebound from the 2001 recession and terrorist scares. But Disney enacted a $2 increase on June 1, raising daily prices at its four theme parks to $52 for adults and $42 for children, plus tax.
Disney has since added the Mission: Space simulator ride at Epcot and opened the first phase of its massive Pop Century Resort, the single largest hotel expansion since the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971.
Company spokesman Rick Sylvain said Wednesday that Disney had nothing to announce following the SeaWorld price increase. "Our pricing decisions are made independently of what others do in the market," Sylvain said.
