GOING UP : Tooth Fairy Must Leave More for Pass to Magic Kingdom

Children saving for a day at Disneyland now have a better reason to negotiate a bigger allowance, and grown-ups might want to start setting aside a little extra, too.

Beginning today, the Anaheim amusement park is increasing the general price of admission to $21.50, from $20 for adults and to $16.50 from $15 for children--the second price boost in less than a year.

By comparison, the Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia charges $17 for adults and $8.50 for children; admission at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park is $16.95 for adults and $12.95 for children and Sea World in San Diego charges $17.95 for grown-ups and $11.95 for children.

In June, 1982, when Disneyland first instituted its one-price-covers-all “passport” admission, ticket prices were $12 for adults and $9 for children.

Since then, passport prices for adults have been raised eight times for a total increase of 79%. The children’s admission price has increased 83% in the same period.

Before the passport program, visitors bought books of ride tickets at various prices or a separate general admission ticket plus individual ride tickets inside the gates. The admission-only charge in 1982 was $8.

Disneyland spokesman Bob Roth said the newest increase is to pay for new attractions. The last two major attractions at Disneyland--Captain Eo in September, 1986, and Star Tours in January-- are high-tech extravaganzas that cost more than $47 million to develop and build. Another multimillion-dollar attraction, a water ride called Splash Mountain, is to open in January, 1989.

From the opening of Big Thunder Mountain in September, 1979, through 1984, Disneyland did not open any major new rides, although it renovated Fantasyland.

During that period, the park saw its annual attendance slip from 11.5 million visitors to 9.8 million. Attendance rebounded in 1985 to almost 12 million, industry sources said, primarily in response to the park’s marketing for its yearlong 30th anniversary celebration. Disneyland also opened its Videopolis dance arena that year.

Roth said Thursday that Disneyland’s management realizes that “the key to our attendance over the long haul is to add new things to the park.” He said attendance is at an all-time high and is expected to expand even more next year.

A new park policy prohibits release of attendance figures, Roth said, but amusement industry observers have pegged the park’s attendance at about 12 million a year since 1985.

Although price increases have the potential of discouraging attendance, Roth said there is “no indication of price resistance yet.”

He said the park follows the philosophy of its creator, the late Walt Disney, who faced sharp criticism when he decided to charge an entry fee. He said Disney was not concerned how people felt about paying for admission as long as they felt they had gotten their money’s worth by the end of the day.

That first general admission fee in 1955 was $1.

Times staff writers John O’Dell and Mary Ann Galante contributed to this report. RECENT PRICE HIKES AT DISNEYLAND June 1982: Implemented single-ticket “passport” program and set general admission prices at $12 for adults and $9 for children.

Oct. 1983: Adult ticket price raised to $13. Fantasyland renovation completed May 23, 1986.

May 1984: Adult ticket price hiked to $14.

Jan. 1985: Tickets boosted $1, to $15 for adults and $10 for children. Park launches year-long 3Oth anniversary celebration.

May 1985: Adult tickets increased to $16.50, children’s tickets to $10.50. Videopolis dance arena opens June 22, 1985.

March 1986: Prices bumped to $17.95 for adults, $12.95 for children.

Oct. 1986: Adult tickets raised to $19, children’s to $14.25. Captain Eo attraction opened Sept. 19, 1986.

Jan. 1987: Disney officials boost prices to $20 for adults and $15 for children. Star Tours attraction opens Jan. 9.

Sept. 1987: In the latest round of price hikes, adult tickets as of this morning are $21.50, children’s general admission is $16.50.

THE COST OF A DAY AT THE PARK

Theme park Current prices Previous pr Adults Children Seniors Adults Children Disneyland* $21.50 $16.50 $17.25 $20.00 $15.00 Sea World $17.95 $11.95 $12.95 $16.95 $11.95 Magic Mountain $17.00 $8.50 $10.00 $15.95 $ 7.95 Knott’s Berry Farm $16.95 $12.95 $12.95 $15.95 $11.95 Universal Studios $15.95 $11.95 $11.50 $14.95 $10.95

Theme park ice Seniors Disneyland* $16.00 Sea World $12.95 Magic Mountain $ 8.50 Knott’s Berry Farm $11.95 Universal Studios $11.00