Walt Disney World has been gradually lowering ticket and hotel prices amid increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance.
Beginning in May, Disney offered discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. These discounted ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previously high daily Park Hopper pass price of $254.
In addition to ticket reductions, Disney is also working to make trips more affordable by lowering rates for its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start at just $100 per night, depending on booking dates, translating to discounts as high as 27% in some cases, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have introduced new dining packages that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which cover certain meals and snacks within the parks. Disney is also providing more quick service meal options, cheaper children’s food, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts point to the rising costs of dining inside the parks as a contributing factor to declining guest satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-saving initiatives, he warned that these moves may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest experiences. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive ratings for increased revenue.