Disney Confirms “Airline-Style” Ticket Pricing is Coming to U.S. Parks
Disney’s Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston has confirmed that the company is working on a new dynamic ticket pricing system for Walt Disney World and Disneyland—one that will work a lot like airline tickets. Johnston shared this news while speaking at the Wells Fargo Technology, Media, and Telecom Summit, confirming earlier reports from February 2025.
What Is Dynamic Ticket Pricing?
Right now, Disney charges more for tickets on busier days, like holidays or weekends. That’s already a basic form of dynamic pricing. But the new model would take it much further—making ticket prices change more often, possibly by the hour, depending on how many people are buying tickets.
This system is already being tested at Disneyland Paris, where ticket prices go up or down based on season and demand. There, a ticket price is only guaranteed for one hour after you start the purchase. For example, a ticket that costs $108 today for December 23rd could rise to $120 tomorrow—or even later the same day—if sales spike.
Why Disney Is Doing This
During his presentation, Johnston explained that Disney constantly looks for ways to increase revenue—or “yield,” as he called it. This includes higher prices on popular days, food and merchandise price increases, and services like Lightning Lane, which lets guests skip lines for a fee.
Now, with dynamic pricing, Disney could adjust ticket prices automatically as demand changes. Johnston said the system is performing very well in Paris, and that Disney is working to optimize it before bringing it to U.S. parks.
“We’re doing it in Paris right now… it’s off to a very good start,” Johnston said. “We’re really going to make sure we optimize it before we bring it into the domestic park.”
How It Might Work in the U.S.
When this system launches at Disney World and Disneyland, ticket prices will start based on the current seasonal calendar—for example, higher in summer and around holidays. After that, the price for each date will adjust automatically as more people buy tickets.
That means if you plan to visit Magic Kingdom on March 20, and the ticket is listed at $199, the price could increase as that date gets closer or if more guests book the same day. In the past, ticket prices stayed the same once released, but this new model means the cost could change overnight—or even by the hour.
The only way to lock in a price will be to buy tickets early.
When Will It Happen?
Johnston said guests likely won’t see this change in 2025, but it could appear in the following years—possibly as early as October 2026. He didn’t say “if” Disney will do it, but rather “when.”
While he admitted the system is similar to airline pricing, Johnston said Disney wants to roll it out carefully to avoid upsetting guests. So far, Disneyland Paris has not seen negative feedback, which could be a good sign for fans in the U.S.
If Disney goes through with this plan, it would be one of the biggest changes ever to how theme park tickets are sold—encouraging guests to book earlier and pay closer attention to price shifts, just like when booking a flight.
