Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering admission and hotel prices amid increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance.
In May, the company started offering discounted three-day ticket packages allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom are still sold separately. These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is trying to lower the overall cost of visits to the Florida resort by slashing prices on its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort can now start at $100, depending on booking dates. This marks discounts of up to 27% off regular rates, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, offering 20% to 30% savings on meals. Families can purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly offering more quick meal choices, lower-priced options for kids, and more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rise in dining costs within the parks as one of the factors affecting customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant drop in customer approval ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants. While he commended Disney’s recent cost-cutting efforts, he warned that this might not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. Testa remarked that the company has historically been willing to trade positive customer ratings for revenue.