Amid rising customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been discreetly lowering ticket and hotel prices in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom remain priced separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, represent a notable drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by slashing rates for its budget hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on the booking period. Such reductions can reach up to 27% off standard rates, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can opt for all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, which are valid for selected meals and snacks across the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is reportedly offering more quick meal options, less expensive children’s food, and greater flexibility with restaurant policies.
Experts note that the escalating costs of dining within the parks have contributed to the decline in guest satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, stated that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals in many popular eateries.
While Testa acknowledged the positive impact of Disney’s cost-reduction efforts, he warned that this trend may not genuinely represent a commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He remarked, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”