I was wondering how this expansion would affect ticketing in that with the current scheme, a guest either has a One Day-Single Park ticket, a One Day-2-Park ticket, or, like me, a Multi-Day-2-Park ticket (mine in the form of a Florida Resident Preferred Annual Pass, though it's physically still just a paper ticket). Though there are different flavors of each of these options, and assorted add-ons and or restrictions, the difference between a one park ticket and a 2 park ticket is significant (currently for non-Florida residents without any other discounts a one day, one park ticket is $92 and a one day, two park ticket is $128...kids get a $6 discount for either option) The cost point per person, per day is further reduced for adding multi-days and even a 3rd day free offer is current for US and Canadian residents.
So my initial assumption about how they might change ticketing with the opening of the Hogwart's Express was that they might eliminate one park options altogether and make all tickets 2-park for a compromise price point figuring the revenue would be made up with a vast increase in overall ticket sales after opening day (like the tremendous boost they got in revenue after the opening of the first Harry Potter attraction here back in 2010. Remember, I was there on that opening day as a witness to the madness.
But no. Instead, it looks like they're going to keep the existing scheme and offer in-park upgrades in order to ride the Express from one park to another.
You see, you wouldn't be able to just ride the Hogwart's Express ride, stay on it and come back to avoid paying for an additional park ticket, there'd be no way for them to control that. Also, you couldn't use it like one could use the monorail at WDW since the ride entrances and exits inside each park, not outside the main gates of both Epcot and Magic Kingdom like at Disney. It's not designed to be a transport option, it's an attraction in and of itself that just happens to actually transport you from one park to the other.
So all this got me thinking...
How much will it cost to ride this ride and how much would that be on a per unit of distance basis?
Here's my predicted cost break down:
The ride is expected to open in the summer of this year.
Let's assume that before the opening day (actually, you can likely count on it) tickets will raise about $3 (like they have in the last couple of years). For this example we'll use a one day, two park ticket price (remember, you can't do a single park ticket for this ride) which, by then, will be about $131.
Let's add no other frills, just the vanilla adult ticket for non Florida residents.
But we do need to add tax. 6.5% in the City of Orlando. And Universal is within the boundaries of the city...$139.52
According to maps and schematics available, the track from beginning to end will be about 800 meters (2624 feet) or roughly half a mile long.
Making the cost to ride about $279 a mile.
In comparison, the decidedly non-theme park Heathrow Express commuter rail connecting London with its major airport is touted as being one of the most expensive rail rides in the world at 1.17 pounds sterling per mile...about $1.93 US. Practically nothing compared to the similarly-named Hogwart's Express.