Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering ticket and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance.
Starting in May, the resort introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets for Magic Kingdom are sold separately. These reduced prices, available until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is aiming to make the overall trip more affordable by cutting rates on its budget hotel accommodations. Rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start as low as $100, depending on the booking date, representing discounts of up to 27% from regular rates.
Furthermore, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer that offer discounts of 20% to 30% on food costs. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be applied towards various meals and snacks within the parks. Disney World is also providing more quick meal options, kid-friendly cheaper food, and more lenient restaurant policies.
Industry experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a key factor in the decline of customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many popular dining venues.
While Testa acknowledged the effectiveness of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that this shift might not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or customer satisfaction, highlighting that the company has historically been willing to trade positive customer feedback for increased revenue.