Walt Disney World has been discreetly lowering the prices for admission and hotel accommodations in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance over the past few months.
In May, Disney commenced offering discounted three-day ticket packages, enabling guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom still require a separate purchase.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the record $254 cost associated with a daily Park Hopper pass.
Moreover, Disney is also working to lessen the overall expense of visiting the Florida resort by cutting rates on its most affordable hotel options. A stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates. These reductions represent discounts of up to 27% compared to regular prices, as analyzed by Bloomberg.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, which provide a cost reduction of 20% to 30% on food prices, according to the same Bloomberg report. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for selected meals and snacks across the parks. Disney World is reportedly adding more quick meal selections, affordable kids’ food, and relaxed restaurant policies.
Disney insiders highlight the rising costs of dining within the parks as a key factor contributing to the decline in customer satisfaction.
Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of thousands of Disney visitors, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many of its most popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these moves may not signify a genuine dedication to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he commented.