Theme park news: the latest price increases are at Disney World and Disneyland

I hope you are ready for it Long updates from Disney theme parksbecause this week’s news roundup contains important stories you’ll definitely want to read if you’re heading to the park soon. As Disney fans would expect, October is once again the month of rising prices, and our top stories contain all the details regarding the latest wave of price increases. Besides, there are a lot of them exciting news about some updates coming to Disney parks in 2026including lots of news surrounding Disney’s Audio-Animatronics. Whether you’re a travel lover, a foodie, or just love planning trips, there’s news this week for you!

Disney theme parks are raising ticket prices and Annual Passes

October 1 marks the start of the Walt Disney Company’s fiscal year, and fans have become accustomed to expecting price increases around this time as a result. This year was no exception, and would-be vacation planners woke up Wednesday morning to the cost of their upcoming Disney vacation a little more than the day before.

Effective October 8, Price increases are taking effect at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort. This includes price increases for single-day and multi-day passes as well as Annual Passes. Other expenses, such as parking And Lightning Pathprice increases too.

Notably, Disney World’s peak 1-day pass for holiday dates in 2026 is $209 per day, marking the first time a 1-day pass has topped $200. Disney World Annual Pass increases by $20 to $80depending on the permissions:

• Pixie Dust: $489 (was $469)
• Pirates: $869 (was $829)
• Wizard: $1,099 (was $1,079)
• Incredi-Pass: $1,629 (was $1,549)

Standard parking at Disney World has increased from $30 to $35 And peak price for Lightning Lane Multi Pass now costs $45 per day, up from the previous maximum of $39.

At the Disneyland Resort, single day tickets increase between 3-4% depending on the day you visit. Disneyland’s cheapest 1-day ticket remains the same at $104 but peak season tickets are now $224 per day (up from $206). According to reporter Scott Gustin, the number of $104 days available reached 46 days from September to April, up from 26 days last year.

Disneyland’s Inspire Key increases in price to $1,899meaning it could cross the $2,000 threshold in 2026. Believe Key is now $1,474. The prices of Enchant and Imagine Keys remain unchanged. Like Disney World, additional items saw price increases this week, including parking at Disneyland Resort which increases the price from $35 to $40.

PLANNING A 2026 DISNEY VACATION? START HERE.

California resident discount announced at Disneyland Resort

While Disney’s latest price increases may increase the cost of a vacation, there are always ways to save. In addition to the previously announced $250 per night discount offer on 4-night, 4-day Walt Disney World vacation packages, a series of new promotions have also been announced this week, offering discounts at the Disneyland Resort.

Starting December 3, 2025, California Residents can purchase a 3 Day Park Hopper Pass for $83 per day for a total of $249. Although tickets are available to purchase starting December 3, however tickets will be valid for use from January 1 to May 21, 2026.

READ ABOUT THE NEW WALT DISNEY AUDIO-ANIMATRONICS DEBUTING AT DISNEYLAND THIS YEAR.

A new Gordon Ramsay Gastropub is coming to Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort

Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort has undergone major changes recently. If you haven’t been to Disneyland in a few years, the shopping and dining areas will look very different on your next visit! One of the many changes still happening at Downtown Disney is The new Earl of Sandwich located at a two-story facility.

We learned about it this week Sitting above the Earl of Sandwich is Gordon Ramsay in Carnabywhich is all new British themed gastropub from the creators of Earl of Sandwich featuring world famous Chef Gordon Ramsay. The menu will feature British favorites and the famous Gordon Ramsay dishes include beef Wellington, fish and chips and sticky toffee pudding.

Disney culinary news: new menu items and restaurant closures

If you’re like me, then you’re just as excited about food-related Disney news as you are about new rides or land-related Disney news! There have been some interesting culinary updates popping up at the park over the past week that I wanted to make sure I included in this roundup.

One of the most iconic Disney theme park snacks is Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar. The classic snack shines, and You can now purchase Hand-Dipped Mickey Bars at Walt Disney World.

I can’t start my day without coffee (preferably iced), so I’m always looking for my new favorite caffeinated drink at Disney World. If you’re a cold drink lover, you’ll want to know the following NEW themed cold brew coffee:

• White Rabbit (available at Cheshire Cafe at Magic Kingdom): Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee, includes white chocolate sauce, raspberry cold foam, and topped with raspberry powder and a chocolate chunk.
• Lavender Honey Cold Drink (available at Golden Oak Outpost at Magic Kingdom): Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee with honey-lavender cold foam, honeycomb toffee, and a piece of sugar candy.
• Spectacular Epic Cold Drinks! (available at Epic Eats in Hollywood Studios): Vanilla-flavored Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee, complete with cookie butter cold foam and an edible Indiana Jones fedora decoration.
• Cool Crumbs (available at Kringla Bakeri Og Cafe in EPCOT): Skøl Bread-inspired Cold Brew made with coconut-flavored Joffrey Cold Brew Coffee, vanilla custard cold foam, and shredded coconut.
• Ube Cold Drink (available at Satu’li Canteen at Disney’s Animal Kingdom): Joffrey’s Cold Brew Coffee with ube sweet cream, also includes butterfly pea tea shake topping and freeze dried raspberries.

Disney also announced that the number of locations serving cold brew coffee along with cold foam is increasing. Visit the Disney Parks Blog for a complete list of locations.

While I love artisanal culinary travel as much as the next person, sometimes it’s best to keep things simple and enjoy a basket of delicious tender chicken. I find tender chicken to be a great vessel for whatever sauce I pair it with, which is why I was so intrigued to see it Disney World is launching 13 new sauces, available now. The new chicken strips are available at various locations at Walt Disney World, with a complete list of flavors available on the Disney Parks Blog.

We study it too Trilo-Bites and Dino-Bite Snacks will have their final day of operation on October 19 before permanent closure begins on October 20 as work continues on the new Tropical America land coming to Animal Kingdom in 2027. Don’t worry, your favorite snacks aren’t gone forever. Buffalo Chicken Chips will move to Eight Spoons Cafe on Discovery Island, Dole Whip Floats will move to Warung Outpost in Asia, and Hand-picked ice cream will return to the park in February.

Harambe Market at Animal Kingdom will be temporarily closed starting October 20 to update the facility to be able to serve burgers and chicken strips ahead of Restaurantosaurus’ closure, which will take place in February next year. That The revamped Harambe Market will reopen early next year (no reopening date announced at this time).

READ MORE ABOUT THE TROPICAL AMERICAN LANDS COMING TO WALT DISNEY’S WORLD IN 2027.

Fast news!

We have a longer series of flash news this week, many of which feature exciting updates regarding Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort attractions. 2026 already has a huge number of improvements and reopenings of rides featuring new Audio Animatronic figures, and this week brings even more animatronic news!

• Frozen Forever at EPCOT will receive a refresh soon major changes occurred in its Audio Animatronics. When repairs are complete, The animatronics no longer have the uncanny valley screen presence and will instead be similar to the animatronics seen in the Frozen attractions at Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. This marks yet another Walt Disney World attraction that will see upgrades early next year.

• It was announced this week that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets will open in summer 2026. A closing date for the original Aerosmith version of the ride has not been announced, but we do know that the OG Rock ‘n’ Roller Coater will remain open until at least the end of 2025. So, once the ride closes, it will only be a few months before the new version starring The Muppets opens.
• We also learned of the previously announced Animatronic Audio Scooter isn’t the only Muppet animatronic we’ll see on the new Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. No word yet on who else we’ll see – hopefully we get Statler and Waldorf near the ride’s launch.
• We got This week’s first look at the Clawhauser Audio-Animatronic figure coming to Zootopia: Better Zoogether! opens at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on November 7. We also know about preview date for attractions: Annual Passholder Preview will take place on November 5 and 6 with Virtual Queue available at 7am and 1pm daily. Disney Vacation Club Preview will take place November 1, 2 and 3, with registration opening on October 23 for eligible members.

• At Disneyland Resort, Rapunzel’s Tower from Tangled will be added to the Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland this winter. As motorists pass the tower during the day, they will hear an arrangement of “When Does My Life Begin?” and in the evening, they would listen to an arrangement of “I Saw the Light.”

Theme Park News: Latest Price Increases Coming to Disney World and Disneyland was first published in The World of Spark.

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