Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for visitors, offering access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at a rate of $89 per day. However, tickets to the Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These lower ticket prices, which are valid until September 24, represent a significant reduction from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also trying to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by lowering prices for its budget hotel options. Guests can book a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100, depending on their booking time. This represents discounts of up to 27% from standard rates, as per a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have launched new dining packages this summer as well, aiming to cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable at various dining locations throughout the parks. Disney is also rolling out more quick meal options, kid-friendly food at lower prices, and enhanced flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a significant reason for declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to set-price meals at many of their sought-after restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these changes might not genuinely indicate a commitment to affordability or improved guest satisfaction. He highlighted that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive customer ratings for increased revenue.