Walt Disney World has recently been lowering the prices for admission and hotel stays amidst growing customer dissatisfaction and a dip in park attendance.
In May, the company introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, covering entries to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom; however, tickets for Magic Kingdom still need to be purchased separately. This price reduction, valid until September 24, marks a significant fall from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
To further ease travel expenses for visitors to the Florida resort, Disney is also reducing the rates of its budget hotel options. Guests can find rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort starting as low as $100 based on their booking dates. This represents up to a 27% cut from standard rates, as reported by an analysis from Bloomberg.
Additionally, the parks are rolling out new dining packages this summer, which provide discounts of 20% to 30% on food costs. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also enhancing its offerings for quick meals, making children’s food more affordable, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts point to rising food prices within the parks as a key factor contributing to the decreasing customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these changes may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improved guest experience. He mentioned, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”