Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance over recent months.
In May, the company introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for as low as $89 per day, although Magic Kingdom tickets must still be purchased separately.
These new ticket prices, available until September 24, are significantly lower than the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost for visitors by offering discounts on its budget hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now start at around $100, depending on booking times. This represents discounts of up to 27% compared to standard rates, as reported by Bloomberg.
This summer, the parks also launched new dining packages designed to reduce food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks within the parks. Moreover, Disney World has introduced more quick meal options, reduced prices for children’s food, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction to rising costs associated with dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, indicated that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s cost-reduction measures, he warned that these changes may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to trade off some customer satisfaction for revenue generation.