Amid growing dissatisfaction among visitors and a decline in attendance, Walt Disney World has implemented a series of discounts on admission and hotel stays in recent months. Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for entry to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, priced at $89 per day, while still requiring a separate purchase for Magic Kingdom tickets.
These reduced ticket prices, effective until September 24, show a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. To further alleviate travel costs, Disney is also slashing prices on its budget hotel accommodations. Rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be booked for as low as $100 per night, depending on the timing of the reservation, translating to discounts of up to 27% off standard rates.
Additionally, Disney has rolled out new dining packages this summer, offering savings of 20% to 30% on dining costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, usable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. The resort is reportedly enhancing quick dining options, lowering children’s meal prices, and adopting more lenient restaurant policies.
Experts note that rising food costs within the parks have contributed to diminishing customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of Disney patrons, revealed a drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meal offerings at many popular venues.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he expressed skepticism regarding whether these measures genuinely reflect a commitment to making visits more affordable or improving guest satisfaction, stating that Disney has often traded off positive guest feedback for revenue optimization.