From the Orlando Sentinal-
Universal Orlando announced Friday it was raising its ticket prices for the second time in less than three months -- an unprecedented move designed to keep pace with rival Walt Disney World and leverage a surging tourism market.
Effective today, a single-day adult admission at Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios theme parks will rise 80 cents to $54.75, before taxes.
Universal raised its ticket prices in January by $2, matching a similar increase earlier that month by SeaWorld Orlando. That brought both parks to $53.95.
Disney, which waited until last week to raise its prices, surpassed its two rivals instead of matching them, increasing its single-day adult admission $2.75 to $54.75.
With Friday's increase, Universal's price now matches Disney's. It's the first time Universal has raised prices twice in one year.
Susan Lomax, a Universal spokeswoman, said the openings of blockbuster rides such as Shrek 4-D, Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, and Revenge of the Mummy (which began "technical rehearsals" this week) justify the higher price.
"It's simply sound business strategy to adjust admission prices to keep pace with the marketplace, especially when so many of your rides dominate the marketplace," Lomax said
SeaWorld spokeswoman Jackie Wilson said the park has no plans to raise prices again this year.
Universal's price increase is another sign that Orlando's tourism market, battered in recent years by a slow economy and the September 2001 terrorist attacks, is on the rebound, said Abe Pizam, professor of tourism at the University of Central Florida.
"Things right now are obviously going well," Pizam said. "If you look at their parking lots every day, they are full."
Still, Pizam said, the price hikes could backfire if gas prices continue to rise. The extra costs, if viewed in combination, could prompt some potential vacationers to stay home and away from the theme parks.
"They may be sorry later on," he said.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...03,1,2207648.story?coll=orl-dp-weekend-2-main
Universal Orlando announced Friday it was raising its ticket prices for the second time in less than three months -- an unprecedented move designed to keep pace with rival Walt Disney World and leverage a surging tourism market.
Effective today, a single-day adult admission at Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios theme parks will rise 80 cents to $54.75, before taxes.
Universal raised its ticket prices in January by $2, matching a similar increase earlier that month by SeaWorld Orlando. That brought both parks to $53.95.
Disney, which waited until last week to raise its prices, surpassed its two rivals instead of matching them, increasing its single-day adult admission $2.75 to $54.75.
With Friday's increase, Universal's price now matches Disney's. It's the first time Universal has raised prices twice in one year.
Susan Lomax, a Universal spokeswoman, said the openings of blockbuster rides such as Shrek 4-D, Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast, and Revenge of the Mummy (which began "technical rehearsals" this week) justify the higher price.
"It's simply sound business strategy to adjust admission prices to keep pace with the marketplace, especially when so many of your rides dominate the marketplace," Lomax said
SeaWorld spokeswoman Jackie Wilson said the park has no plans to raise prices again this year.
Universal's price increase is another sign that Orlando's tourism market, battered in recent years by a slow economy and the September 2001 terrorist attacks, is on the rebound, said Abe Pizam, professor of tourism at the University of Central Florida.
"Things right now are obviously going well," Pizam said. "If you look at their parking lots every day, they are full."
Still, Pizam said, the price hikes could backfire if gas prices continue to rise. The extra costs, if viewed in combination, could prompt some potential vacationers to stay home and away from the theme parks.
"They may be sorry later on," he said.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/busi...03,1,2207648.story?coll=orl-dp-weekend-2-main
