Amid growing customer dissatisfaction and falling attendance at its parks, Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets to the Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices will be available until September 24 and mark a significant decrease from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall expense of a visit to the Florida resort by offering discounts on its most affordable hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, representing discounts of up to 27% according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly expanding quick meal options, introducing more affordable food for kids, and relaxing restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rising food costs within the parks as a significant factor contributing to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa praised Disney’s cost-reduction strategies, he warned that these moves may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive ratings for revenue.