Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel rates in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance. Since May, the park has been offering discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, which allow visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, although tickets for Magic Kingdom remain sold separately.
These new ticket prices are significantly lower, down from a record high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass, and will be available until September 24. Additionally, Disney is lowering the rates for its budget hotel options, with stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort starting at $100 per night, representing discounts of up to 27% according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also introduced 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, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. The resort is enhancing its quick meal options, providing cheaper food for kids, and modifying restaurant policies to be more flexible.
Experts suggest that the high costs of dining in the parks have contributed to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% when Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants. While he commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these measures may not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction, indicating that Disney has historically prioritized revenue over positive customer feedback.