NEWS: Entertainment Tax Increase Could Impact Tickets or Parking in Anaheim

Natalie Rubalcava, an Anaheim Councilmember, is pushing the city to explore a potential entertainment tax on tickets or parking to offset a $60 million budget deficit, according to KTLA5. Could this news affect our trips to Disneyland?

Rubalcava believes revenue from such a tax could support affordable housing and other community programs. Here’s what we know about the proposal so far.

Mike Lyster, an Anaheim spokesperson,  told KTLA that the proposal is still in the early stages and that the city is far from any finalized plans. He stated, “Now, what something could look like, we don’t know, but it could be a percentage of a ticket to a venue such as a theme park, arena, stadium, or it could also be a percentage of parking that somebody may pay to go to one of those venues.” At this time, Anaheim Councilmembers are still considering several options.

The key concern at this time is the rising costs for residents. Regarding the potential tax, Lyster stated, “I don’t think anyone enters this discussion lightly. We know that for anyone out there today, it is a challenge with high prices for many things. So, I think the proposal and the person proposing it certainly doesn’t take it lightly,” per KTLA.

At this time, it seems as though Anaheim Councilmembers are not interested in a sales tax.

If there is a decision for the council to move forward, members could vote to place the initiative on the November 2026 ballot, which would require approval from at least five of the seven councilmembers.

On the other hand, if councilmembers do not move forward with the proposal, another option would be for “outside groups, such as labor unions, to collect thousands of valid signatures from Anaheim voters to qualify a measure for the ballot,” according to KTLA.

If the proposal moves forward, an entertainment tax on tickets “to a venue such as a theme park” would likely include Disneyland Resort. This could mean tickets to Disneyland Resort may see a price increase, but again, the plan is still in early stages of development at this time.

This also isn’t the first time a proposed tax increase has been debated. In 2022, the city of Anaheim considered a 2% tax on admissions for entertainment and sporting event facilities with a capacity of over 15,000 people.

We’ll be keeping an eye on the news. For news and updates surrounding theme parks, make sure to stay tuned to AllEars.

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