With the recession pretty much in the rearview mirror for the country's theme parks, the days of flash sales and deep discounts are long gone. In the last month, the price of single-day, single-park tickets to Universal and Disney theme parks both broke the $90 mark, inching ever closer to $100.
In late May, the Universal Orlando Resort increased its single-day, single-park ticket prices from $89 to $92 (it's now $86 for ages 3 to 9). Two weeks later, Walt Disney World followed suit, increasing its single-day ticket price for the Magic Kingdom Park from $89 to $95 ($89 for ages 3 to 9), and for all its other Orlando parks to $90 ($84 for ages 3 to 9).
At the Disneyland Resort in California, the price of a one-day, one-park pass increased to $92 ($86 for ages 3 to 9), up from $87.
The prices of multiday and multipark passes have all increased as well, though it remains true that the per-day ticket price drops with the addition of more days being purchased.
Universal took the price increases a step further with the introduction of a $299 VIP Experience pass for Universal Studios Hollywood, which will enable VIP pass holders to skip the lines for all rides and attractions; they'll also receive exclusive back-lot access, VIP breakfast and lunch, valet parking, preferential show seats and a personal tour guide, among other perks.
There is somewhat limited availability of the VIP passes.
For larger groups, Universal Studios can accommodate a group of about 250 VIP pass holders at one time, depending on the season and the back-lot filming schedule.
Otherwise, VIP groups will be escorted around the park in trolleys than range from 16 passengers up to a maximum of 27.
Universal did not say how many VIP passes it can and will sell each day.
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