In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering the prices of admission and hotel stays in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while separate tickets are still required for Magic Kingdom.
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 efforts to lower the total cost of a visit to its Florida resort by reducing the rates for its most affordable hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, based on when guests make their reservations. This price reduction can reach up to 27% off standard rates, according to analysis from Bloomberg.
Furthermore, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer, which offer savings of 20% to 30% on food expenditures at Disney. The new dining plan lets families buy all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, valid for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also providing more quick meal options, lower-cost food for children, and greater flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts note that the increasing cost of dining within the parks is among several factors driving down customer satisfaction.
Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney guests each year, mentioned that customer satisfaction ratings have dipped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction efforts, he warned that this trend might not genuinely indicate a 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 stated.