Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing the prices of admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and declining park attendance. In May, the resort began offering three-day ticket packages for visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom are still sold separately.
These new ticket prices, available until September 24, represent a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost for visitors by slashing prices for its most affordable hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, a reduction of up to 27% from regular rates.
This summer, Disney has also introduced new dining packages that offer reductions in meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks within the parks. Additionally, the resort is providing more quick-service meal options, less expensive children’s food, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, observed a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these measures may not indicate a genuine dedication to affordability or improving guest experiences. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to sacrifice positive ratings for higher revenue.