Brian_WDW74
Oh, I'm detecting nuttiness...
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Universal matches Disney World, raises ticket price to $71
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
12:12 PM EDT, August 10, 2007
Universal Orlando raised its ticket prices this morning, matching the new price that cross-town rival Walt Disney World announced a week ago, with a $71 basic, single-day, single-park adult ticket replacing the old $67 pass.
Universal also increased prices on a variety of two-park and multi-day packages, and on tickets available only to Florida residents and only over the Internet, but not as much as the basic ticket. The result is a stronger pricing push to get Universal visitors to buy package deals, and to buy tickets over the Internet, rather than to buy basic, one-day, one-park tickets at the gate.
Children's tickets went up comparable amounts. The base ticket for a child age 3-9 is now $60, up from $56.
"We've worked very hard to preserve value for Floridians, people who want multiple-day experiences and for those who buy online," said spokesman Tom Schroder.
Among the packages, a current promotional deal provides a two-day, two-park pass over the Internet starting at $85.95.
On Sunday, Disney World raised its base ticket prices to $71 for adults and $60 for children, citing a need to establish its new price structures in time for the travel industry's 2008 publications.
Schroder said the increases at Universal were made to adjust prices to "market levels," but he would not identify those market levels as marks set by Disney World.
Analysts, however, already were making that distinction last week when Disney first announced its increases, saying that Disney World was in the position to set the industry standard.
Traditionally, Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld Orlando all have raised their prices to the same levels at about the same time. SeaWorld broke with that trend last year when the other two parks raised prices in August and SeaWorld waited until December. SeaWorld officials are not commenting on current price strategies.
Universal's increased prices went into effect this morning with no advance notice for the public. Schroder said there were no reports of upset customers showing up at the gates to discover the costlier tickets.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
12:12 PM EDT, August 10, 2007
Universal Orlando raised its ticket prices this morning, matching the new price that cross-town rival Walt Disney World announced a week ago, with a $71 basic, single-day, single-park adult ticket replacing the old $67 pass.
Universal also increased prices on a variety of two-park and multi-day packages, and on tickets available only to Florida residents and only over the Internet, but not as much as the basic ticket. The result is a stronger pricing push to get Universal visitors to buy package deals, and to buy tickets over the Internet, rather than to buy basic, one-day, one-park tickets at the gate.
Children's tickets went up comparable amounts. The base ticket for a child age 3-9 is now $60, up from $56.
"We've worked very hard to preserve value for Floridians, people who want multiple-day experiences and for those who buy online," said spokesman Tom Schroder.
Among the packages, a current promotional deal provides a two-day, two-park pass over the Internet starting at $85.95.
On Sunday, Disney World raised its base ticket prices to $71 for adults and $60 for children, citing a need to establish its new price structures in time for the travel industry's 2008 publications.
Schroder said the increases at Universal were made to adjust prices to "market levels," but he would not identify those market levels as marks set by Disney World.
Analysts, however, already were making that distinction last week when Disney first announced its increases, saying that Disney World was in the position to set the industry standard.
Traditionally, Disney World, Universal and SeaWorld Orlando all have raised their prices to the same levels at about the same time. SeaWorld broke with that trend last year when the other two parks raised prices in August and SeaWorld waited until December. SeaWorld officials are not commenting on current price strategies.
Universal's increased prices went into effect this morning with no advance notice for the public. Schroder said there were no reports of upset customers showing up at the gates to discover the costlier tickets.
Scott Powers can be reached at spowers@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5441.
