Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages allowing visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, with separate purchases required for Magic Kingdom tickets. These reduced prices, valid until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previously high price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is aiming to lower the overall cost of a trip to its Florida resort by slashing rates for its budget hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort is available for as low as $100, depending on booking timing, with price reductions reaching up to 27% from normal rates.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks across the parks. Disney is further enhancing the dining experience by offering more quick-service meal options, affordable meals for kids, and flexible dining policies.
Industry experts attribute the rising food costs within the parks as a contributing factor to the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many top restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to reduce costs, he cautioned that these adjustments may not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or enhancing guest experiences. “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he stated.