Walt Disney World has recently been implementing price reductions on both admission tickets and hotel accommodations amid growing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets to Magic Kingdom are sold separately. This promotional pricing, available until September 24, marks a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, the company is working to lower overall trip costs to its Florida resort by slashing prices on its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100 per night, depending on booking dates, representing discounts of up to 27% off regular rates.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer that cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Moreover, Disney World is offering more quick dining options, lower-priced children’s meals, and enhanced flexibility in restaurant policies.
Disney experts note that the rising cost of in-park dining has contributed to decreased customer satisfaction levels. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as the company shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals in many of its popular restaurants.
Although Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction strategies, he warned that these changes may not necessarily indicate a real dedication to affordability or improving guest experience, suggesting that the company has historically prioritized revenue over positive customer ratings.