Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering admission and accommodation prices amid growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance over the past few months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom still need to be bought separately. These reduced prices, valid until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also working to make visits to the Florida resort more affordable by offering lower rates on its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100 a night, depending on the booking date. This marks a potential discount of up to 27% off regular prices, as revealed by a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that cut the cost of meals 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. Reports indicate that Disney World is also introducing more quick meal options, offering cheaper kid-friendly food, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the increase in food prices within the parks as a key reason for the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney guests each year, noted a drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many of its popular restaurants.
While Testa has commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he has also warned that these changes may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest experiences. He pointed out that Disney has historically been willing to compromise on guest ratings in exchange for increased revenue.