Sean23
Mouseketeer
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- Dec 31, 1999
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Starting Monday, SeaWorld Orlando will again be the priciest park in town.
That's when the price of a single-day admission will climb $2 to $51.95 for adults and $42.95 for children ages 3-9, before taxes.
Officials with Disney World and Universal Orlando wouldn't say whether they'll raise prices, too, but that's generally how it works.
Orlando's parks usually raise prices around the first of the year, often led by Disney World. But this is the third year SeaWorld has been first.
Last year, when the economy was in the doldrums and many people were vacationing close to home, was the first in many that the parks didn't raise prices all at once. Universal waited until March, and Disney didn't match it until September.
None of Central Florida's parks wants to be seen as worth less than its competitors, said Abraham Pizam, dean of the Rosen School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida.
"If SeaWorld is more expensive than Disney, Disney may say that's not proper," he said.
SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said the increase is needed because of rising operating and labor costs.
People who purchase their tickets online still will get a 10 percent discount. SeaWorld gives single-day ticket buyers a second day free if they return within a week.
And SeaWorld on Monday is bringing back its Fun Card, which allows Florida residents who buy a single-day admission at regular price before May 31 to return as often as they want through the end of the year.
Park officials say such promotions have helped it weather the downturn in travel. Amusement Business, a trade magazine, estimates attendance at SeaWorld fell only slightly to 5 million people in 2002, while it fell at Disney's four parks and at Universal Studios. Halloween Horror Nights helped boost attendance at Universal's Islands of Adventure by about 10 percent, the magazine said.
SeaWorld's latest price increase comes at a crucial time for Central Florida's No. 1 industry. Domestic travel is expected to reach pre-recession levels in the coming year, but international travel remains sluggish.
"I'm not sure it's the right time to do it," Pizam said, but tourists typically shrug off price increases. Compared with the price of a plane ticket, a hotel and a rental car, a $2 increase seems small, he said.
Todd Pack can be reached at 407-420-5407 or tpack@orlandosentinel.com.
Copyright © 2003, Orlando Sentinel
That's when the price of a single-day admission will climb $2 to $51.95 for adults and $42.95 for children ages 3-9, before taxes.
Officials with Disney World and Universal Orlando wouldn't say whether they'll raise prices, too, but that's generally how it works.
Orlando's parks usually raise prices around the first of the year, often led by Disney World. But this is the third year SeaWorld has been first.
Last year, when the economy was in the doldrums and many people were vacationing close to home, was the first in many that the parks didn't raise prices all at once. Universal waited until March, and Disney didn't match it until September.
None of Central Florida's parks wants to be seen as worth less than its competitors, said Abraham Pizam, dean of the Rosen School of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida.
"If SeaWorld is more expensive than Disney, Disney may say that's not proper," he said.
SeaWorld spokesman Nick Gollattscheck said the increase is needed because of rising operating and labor costs.
People who purchase their tickets online still will get a 10 percent discount. SeaWorld gives single-day ticket buyers a second day free if they return within a week.
And SeaWorld on Monday is bringing back its Fun Card, which allows Florida residents who buy a single-day admission at regular price before May 31 to return as often as they want through the end of the year.
Park officials say such promotions have helped it weather the downturn in travel. Amusement Business, a trade magazine, estimates attendance at SeaWorld fell only slightly to 5 million people in 2002, while it fell at Disney's four parks and at Universal Studios. Halloween Horror Nights helped boost attendance at Universal's Islands of Adventure by about 10 percent, the magazine said.
SeaWorld's latest price increase comes at a crucial time for Central Florida's No. 1 industry. Domestic travel is expected to reach pre-recession levels in the coming year, but international travel remains sluggish.
"I'm not sure it's the right time to do it," Pizam said, but tourists typically shrug off price increases. Compared with the price of a plane ticket, a hotel and a rental car, a $2 increase seems small, he said.
Todd Pack can be reached at 407-420-5407 or tpack@orlandosentinel.com.
Copyright © 2003, Orlando Sentinel
