Check Out These WDW Ticket Prices: What it Cost to Visit the World in 1983

It doesn't take a genius to know a visit to Walt Disney World is one very, very, expensive vacation. Recently, I came across tickets from our 1983 visit, just one year after the opening of the then amazing EPCOT Center. 

Let's take a look at the prices in 1983, compare them to the effects of inflation and then to what the Walt Disney Company is currently charging for the same items. 

1983 Prices:

One Day Magic Kingdom-  $15.00

Day Parking-  $1.00

One Day Transportation-   $2.00

 Discovery Island Excursion-   $3.00

Price with Inflation to 2019:

One Day Magic Kingdom-  $38.57

Day Parking-  $2.57

One Day Transportation-   $5.14

 Discovery Island Excursion-   $7.71

Current 2019 Prices:

One Day Magic Kingdom-  $109.00

Day Parking-  $25.00

One Day Transportation-   included

 Discovery Island Excursion-   no longer available

At these prices, unless guests are very well off and privileged or a Disney lifestyler, Walt Disney World is most likely now trip you plan and save for or even a once in a lifetime visit for all but a small number of guests.

When you compare inflated prices to what the company is currently charging, it makes you realize that those outrageous salaries for the company executives must come from somewhere!

Learning My A B C's at Disneyland

Here's some great images from the Summer 1975 Disneyland Guidebook. This is the freebie given out at the gate to everyone who entered the park. I collected these for years. Drove to the park to pick up each new edition, and I just loved to see what changed from quarter to quarter. (How I wish I had kept all of them!)

The explanation page provides some great detail as to what things cost in 1975. Not only were "E" tickets less than a buck, but the information shown really let you know which attractions were considered the premier ones as looks from the show building's exterior could be deceiving.

Not only did the guide explain what was considered an "E" , this ticketing system lent itself to some great and friendly discussion among family and friends as to what constituted the value Disney assigned it. (Ah, we have now discovered a root cause for the ongoing "What Makes An "E" Ticket?" debates.)


You can see that some middle grade attractions flucuated between letters. As things changed with increased technology (and as more coasters were added to the park), lesser sophisticated but still enjoyable attractions were given a lowered ranking.

The decision is go to an all inclusive park admission was a mixed blessing for me. While I thoroughly enjoyed the freedom to do as I pleased, the magic and fun of planning wisely how to spend my park "cash" disappeared forever.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)