Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing price reductions for admission and hotel stays due to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance.
In May, Disney started offering discounted three-day ticket packages that enable visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available through September 24, show a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lowering ticket prices, Disney is working to decrease the overall cost of visiting the resort by offering discounts on its most affordable hotel options. Rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort may drop to as low as $100 per night, influenced by the timing of the booking. According to an analysis by Bloomberg, these reductions can amount to a 27% discount from typical rates.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that cut food prices by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for a variety of meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is introducing more quick-service meal options, affordable children’s meals, and more flexible dining policies.
Industry experts highlight the rising cost of dining inside the parks as a key factor contributing to declining customer satisfaction.
Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of Disney visitors, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many of their top restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these measures might not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he shared.