In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been reducing admission and hotel prices in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately. This reduction marks a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass, with the lower rates available until September 24.
Alongside ticket discounts, Disney is also addressing overall trip expenses by lowering rates for its least expensive hotel accommodations. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may be priced as low as $100 based on booking dates, reflecting discounts of up to 27% on standard rates, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.
Additionally, this summer, the parks have rolled out new dining packages that reduce food costs by 20% to 30%. This plan allows families to purchase all-day meal passes at $30 for children and $95 for adults, which can be used for selected meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also expanding quick meal options, offering more affordable children’s meals, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the rising food costs within the parks to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these efforts might not truly signify a commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction, stating that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive customer ratings for increased revenue.