Walt Disney World has been implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance. Over the past few months, the company has quietly reduced prices to attract more visitors.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately. These lower prices are available until September 24 and mark a significant reduction from the previous peak cost of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Disney is also aiming to make trips to the Florida resort more economical by cutting the prices of its basic hotel offerings. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, depending on booking dates. This represents discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates, according to Bloomberg.
Additionally, new dining packages have been introduced this summer, offering families meal passes at reduced prices, which are purportedly 20% to 30% lower than previous dining costs. The meal plans are priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults and can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney has also expanded quick meal options and introduced cheaper food for children, alongside more flexible dining policies.
Experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a key factor behind the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to set-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledges the positive effects of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warns that these efforts may not reflect a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction, noting that the company has historically prioritized revenue over customer ratings.