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Disneyland, Walt Disney World to raise prices; heres what to expect
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Disney also announced the Star Wars: Galaxy Edge Park, which is an immersive Star Wars experience where people can interact with Star Wars characters in Star Wars-themed environments - photo by Herb Scribner
Walt Disney World and Disneyland experienced a price hike over the weekend.

Ticket prices for adults and children to visit the Magic Kingdom at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland rose $4 to $119 and $113, respectively.

But thats not all. Ticket prices during peak visitation times will rise to $129 for adults and $123 for children, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Meanwhile, prices on days with little visitation will cost $109 for adults and $103 for children.

Parking prices also jumped to $22. Preferred parking climbed to $45, the Sentinel reported.

Ticket prices to Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will also see a jump.

That means a family of four visiting the park on an expensive day will have to pay roughly $520 for one day at the park.

We know how important making memories at Disney theme parks is to families and we will continue to evolve our pricing in a way that gives families a range of options to meet their budget and helps better spread attendance throughout the year so they can make the most of every visit, Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said in a statement to the Sentinel.

Disneylands annual pass prices will also increase, according to USA Today. The Signature Plus annual passport jumped $100 to $1,149. The cheapest pass climbed to $369, a $30 increase.

We will be reshaping our Annual Pass program to better manage the guest experience throughout the year, which will help all Disneyland Resort guests have a great visit, particularly as we look forward to the opening of Star Wars: Galaxys Edge in 2019, said spokeswoman Suzi Brown in a statement to USA Today.

Along with the increased prices, Disney announced two major additions to the Walt Disney World Resort at the D23 Expo in Japan this week.

The parks will soon add a Toy Story Land, where guests will walk around large-scale toy models of Buzz Lightyear and Woody, making visitors feel as though they are the size of the toys, according to ComingSoon.net.

Disney also announced the Star Wars: Galaxy Edge Park, which is an immersive Star Wars experience where people can interact with Star Wars characters in Star Wars-themed environments, according to ComingSoon.net.

There will even be a Star Wars-themed hotel.
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New Medicare cards are in the mail and scammers are on the prowl
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has begun mailing new Medicare Health Insurance ID cards. The program no longer uses Social Security numbers to identify people. - photo by Lois M Collins
The federal government is beginning to send out new ID cards to the 58 million Americans who benefit from Medicare. But since many of the people who will receive them don't know they're coming or why, scammers are already gearing up to take advantage.

An AARP survey shows as many as three-fourths of Americans 65 and older have no idea the cards are coming, so some individuals may be duped with claims that they're supposed to pay a fee or provide personal information that will be used, instead, to defraud them.

The new cards are the first reissue in years, and the most striking part of the redesign is that the cards no longer carry the beneficiary's Social Security number. Congress mandated the removal of that number as an identifier for Medicare beneficiaries by next April. Instead, the card has a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier number, an 11-digit combination of numbers and letters.

The new Medicare cards are now being mailed out in batches, starting with the Eastern seaboard and moving west. Most Medicare beneficiaries will receive their cards over the next six months, as long as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has their correct mailing address. Once the cards are in hand, people can share the new identification number with their health care providers. During a transition period, either card is valid.

The old cards, which used Social Security numbers as the personal identification number, should be destroyed.

AARP recently launched an education campaign to warn consumers about scams related to the new Medicare cards.

The membership organization's "Fraud Watch" consultant, Frank Abagnale reformed con man, scammer and the subject of the movie and book "Catch Me If You Can" tells senior citizens the only time they need to carry the actual Medicare card is to health care appointments. Otherwise, it should be left in a safe place. If they want to carry one in their wallet or purse, he says, make a copy and black out the first seven numbers.

Since the cards were announced, scammers have already:

  • Called seniors and asked for their bank account information so that money on their old card could be returned. There is no money on the old card and CMS never asks for personal information over the phone.
  • Offered to send the new card after Medicare beneficiaries pay a $25 fee to cover expenses related to the card. The card is free.
  • Said the card will be mailed out as soon as the older person verifies his or her Social Security number, mailing address and other personal information. CMS already knows the beneficiary's Social Security number and it's no longer being used in conjunction with health care.
AARP and the Federal Trade Commission will hold a free online seminar about the cards and the fraud attempts they have spawned on Thursday, April 19, at 7 p.m. EDT. Register at: www.aarp.org/FraudWebinar. CMS also offers a "frequently asked questions" guide to the new cards.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network says consumers can sign up for its Watchdog Alert emails that deliver breaking scam information, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to speak with volunteers trained in fraud counseling. Abagnale also hosts a weekly podcast for AARP, called The Perfect Scam.
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