- Joined
- Jan 3, 2001
- Messages
- 9,109
SeaWorld raises price for admisson. The Orlando theme park is also bringing back its Fun Card for Florida residents in 2006.
SeaWorld Orlando raised its one-day ticket prices on Wednesday, becoming the first of the big-three theme parks in Orlando to raise prices for 2006.
SeaWorld's sister park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, also raised the cost of its one-day admission, effective Jan. 2.
But both parks sweetened the deal by offering visitors the option of exchanging the one-day tickets for a "personalized pass." That will allow customers to return to the park where they purchased the ticket as many times as they want during the next six days.
For Florida residents the deal is even better, as the two parks are bringing back their Fun Card, which allows state residents who buy a single-day admission to revisit the park all through the year, with no blackout dates.
"This is all about flexibility. We're recognizing the needs of our visitors," said Joe Couceiro, vice president of marketing for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
A one-day admission to SeaWorld will rise from $59.75 to $61.95 for adults and from $48 to $49.95 for children. Tax is extra. Busch Gardens' tickets are rising from $55.95 to $57.95 for adults and from $45.95 to $47.95 for children, ages 3 to 9.
The 3.7 percent increase is less than half the nearly 11 percent admission increase that SeaWorld imposed last January. And the introduction of the "SeaWorld Anytime" and "Busch Gardens Anytime" options makes the one-day admission more valuable for out-of-state visitors.
By purchasing a one-day admission, the ticket holder can exchange it at the gate for a pass that allows the person unlimited visits to that park for up to six consecutive additional days. That option is expected to appeal to residents from other states who want to tailor their vacation around individual needs, Couceiro said.
The Fun Card, for in-state residents, has been an option at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens in the past, allowing months of repeat visits for free, but it had not been offered the past two years.
Couceiro said SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are not sweetening the ticket deals because of any shortage of guests or revenue.
"We're coming off a record profit year at SeaWorld and a tremendous year for Busch Gardens," Couceiro said.
For some families who visit the parks multiple times, Couceiro said, incremental spending could go up for food and merchandise.
"Of course, we want to drive an increase in park spending. But this is more about meeting the needs of our guests, providing more value, simplicity and flexibility," he said.
Every ticket, he said, now provides the option of extra visits.
Discovery Cove, SeaWorld's sister park in Orlando, also is raising prices, effective Jan. 1, from $259 to $279 a day. The new Discovery Cove admission deal includes snacks, beverage, breakfast and lunch.
Walt Disney World last raised its one-day ticket price in December 2004, by a record amount, to $59.75 plus tax. But Disney also began offering a multiday discount that allows visitors to choose from a ticket menu with more than 30 options, with longer visits costing less on a per-day basis.
Disney spokesman Rick Sylvain said the company does not comment on pricing by competitors and had "nothing to announce at this time" about Disney prices.
Universal Orlando also raised its one-day ticket by a record amount in December 2004, to $59.75 plus tax. Universal added the Revenge of the Mummy indoor roller coaster ride, to add value to the visit.
Universal spokesman Tom Schroder also would not comment further on Wednesday.
SeaWorld Orlando raised its one-day ticket prices on Wednesday, becoming the first of the big-three theme parks in Orlando to raise prices for 2006.
SeaWorld's sister park, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, also raised the cost of its one-day admission, effective Jan. 2.
But both parks sweetened the deal by offering visitors the option of exchanging the one-day tickets for a "personalized pass." That will allow customers to return to the park where they purchased the ticket as many times as they want during the next six days.
For Florida residents the deal is even better, as the two parks are bringing back their Fun Card, which allows state residents who buy a single-day admission to revisit the park all through the year, with no blackout dates.
"This is all about flexibility. We're recognizing the needs of our visitors," said Joe Couceiro, vice president of marketing for SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
A one-day admission to SeaWorld will rise from $59.75 to $61.95 for adults and from $48 to $49.95 for children. Tax is extra. Busch Gardens' tickets are rising from $55.95 to $57.95 for adults and from $45.95 to $47.95 for children, ages 3 to 9.
The 3.7 percent increase is less than half the nearly 11 percent admission increase that SeaWorld imposed last January. And the introduction of the "SeaWorld Anytime" and "Busch Gardens Anytime" options makes the one-day admission more valuable for out-of-state visitors.
By purchasing a one-day admission, the ticket holder can exchange it at the gate for a pass that allows the person unlimited visits to that park for up to six consecutive additional days. That option is expected to appeal to residents from other states who want to tailor their vacation around individual needs, Couceiro said.
The Fun Card, for in-state residents, has been an option at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens in the past, allowing months of repeat visits for free, but it had not been offered the past two years.
Couceiro said SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are not sweetening the ticket deals because of any shortage of guests or revenue.
"We're coming off a record profit year at SeaWorld and a tremendous year for Busch Gardens," Couceiro said.
For some families who visit the parks multiple times, Couceiro said, incremental spending could go up for food and merchandise.
"Of course, we want to drive an increase in park spending. But this is more about meeting the needs of our guests, providing more value, simplicity and flexibility," he said.
Every ticket, he said, now provides the option of extra visits.
Discovery Cove, SeaWorld's sister park in Orlando, also is raising prices, effective Jan. 1, from $259 to $279 a day. The new Discovery Cove admission deal includes snacks, beverage, breakfast and lunch.
Walt Disney World last raised its one-day ticket price in December 2004, by a record amount, to $59.75 plus tax. But Disney also began offering a multiday discount that allows visitors to choose from a ticket menu with more than 30 options, with longer visits costing less on a per-day basis.
Disney spokesman Rick Sylvain said the company does not comment on pricing by competitors and had "nothing to announce at this time" about Disney prices.
Universal Orlando also raised its one-day ticket by a record amount in December 2004, to $59.75 plus tax. Universal added the Revenge of the Mummy indoor roller coaster ride, to add value to the visit.
Universal spokesman Tom Schroder also would not comment further on Wednesday.
