LAKELAND, Fla. — Walt Disney World and Universal Studios both raised ticket prices last week, hard on the heels of price hikes at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens.
Disney and Universal, which are both in Orlando, added $2 to the price of an adult ticket and $1 to a child's ticket, joining SeaWorld in Orlando and Tampa's Busch Gardens in breaking the $50-a-ticket barrier.
Adult ticket prices at Universal Studios and Disney are now $50.88, including sales tax. Tickets for children 3 to 9 years old are $40.28 with tax. Children under 3 are admitted free.
SeaWorld and Busch Gardens led the advance last week. Both Anheuser-Busch parks raised prices by 5 percent.
An adult SeaWorld ticket now costs $50.83, and a child's ticket $41.29, including tax. A Busch Gardens adult ticket is $51.18, and a child's ticket $41.57, including tax.
Universal Orlando spokesman Jim Canfield said price increases were necessary because the attractions must constantly add new features to keep up with the competition.
"When visitors come to Universal Studios, they want to see something fresh," he said.
Disney spokesman Rick Sylvain said Disney visitors still received "an incredible entertainment value."
He said introduction of Fast Pass in 1998 made a big difference because it allowed visitors to book a time at an attraction like Space Mountain, avoiding long waits in line.
Theme parks had a record year in 2000. The four Florida Disney parks attracted more than 43 million visitors, the sixth record year in a row, according to Amusement Business magazine.
The three Universal parks in Orlando drew about 20 million. SeaWorld and Busch Gardens each had record attendance, with SeaWorld drawing 5.2 million and Busch Gardens 5 million.