New Anaheim Tax Could Increase Disneyland Ticket and Parking Costs

At a meeting yesterday, an Anaheim Councilmember proposed a new tax for Anaheim's entertainment destinations that could impact tickets and parking at Disneyland. This news comes as we are expecting Disneyland price increases to hit soon.

Keep reading for everything we know so far about this entertainment proposed tax. There has been some other significant news for Anaheim this week, including potential upcoming ART shuttle changes that may bring new Uber & Lyft fees, a proposed gondola system that the city is considering to connect Anaheim's two major tourist hubs, and a new hotel within walking distance of Disneyland about to begin construction.

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Proposed Tax on Disneyland Tickets and Parking

Anaheim Councilmember Natalie Rubalcava recently proposed that the City Council begin discussions about a tax for tickets and parking at Anaheim's entertainment destinations, which would include the Disneyland Resort, to support the city's general fund.

According to a report by the Orange County Register, Rubalcava said, “We cannot continue to just depend on (the city’s hotel tax). I think it’s kind of time at this point for us as a elected body to review this.” Rubalcava proposed that an initiative be placed on the November 2026 ballot for residents to decide whether or not to tax the city's entertainment destinations.

The City Council formerly had extended a 30-year gate ban that started in the 1990s, but this was revoked at Disney's request in 2018, citing the agreements then as a source of friction in the community. A few years ago, in 2022, the council voted against a proposal to ask voters if they would support a 2% gate tax on Anaheim's major attractions, such as Disneyland, Angel Stadium, and the Honda Center. According to the Orange County Register, “projections then said a gate tax could bring in $55 million to $80 million annually.”

Interestingly, this wasn't in the DisneylandForward agreement, which the Anaheim City Council approved last year. DisneylandForward is the multi-year resort development plan that will allow for the integration of new theme park experiences, hotels, restaurants, and more on Disney's property. While Disneyland tickets are not taxed, on the other coast at Disney World, there is a 6.5% tax when purchasing tickets through the Disney World website and a 6% tourism tax for all Orlando area hotels on top of the county sales tax.

This news comes as we are expecting Disneyland ticket prices increase soon. During the last decade, the highest-priced Disneyland 1 Park Per Day ticket has increased in cost by $110, a 114.58% increase, as the resort continues to expand and demand for its experiences remains high. Between 2017 and 2024, the cost of general parking rose $15, a 75% increase. Though Disney has kept their lowest-priced base ticket at a fixed price since 2019, and offers various ticket and hotel specials throughout the year in an effort to provide affordable options, we expect that the prospect of a tax on parking and entertainment at the resort would undoubtedly cause a strong reaction from potential visitors who worry about the affordability of a Disney vacation. 

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As mentioned by the Orange County Register, “the city is already set to free up more than $120 million annually in its budget starting in 2027 when it pays off bonds it took out to expand the resort area back in the 1990s before Disney California Adventure opened. There have been no decisions how to use that money in the future, but the city has other debts and officials have pointed to refilling Anaheim’s reserves.”

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