Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering admission and hotel prices in recent months due to increasing customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance.
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 Magic Kingdom tickets remain sold separately. These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also making attempts to lower the overall cost of a trip to the Florida resort by offering cheaper hotel rates. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start at as low as $100, depending on booking dates, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to standard rates.
The parks have also introduced new dining packages this summer, which offer meal costs reduced by 20% to 30%. For $30 per child and $95 per adult, families can purchase all-day meal passes to redeem for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly adding more quick meal options and affordable food for children, along with more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute a decline in customer satisfaction partly to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of thousands of Disney customers, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many of its popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes might not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest experiences. He remarked, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”