Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages, enabling guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although separate purchases are required for tickets to the Magic Kingdom. This pricing strategy, valid until September 24, marks a significant drop from the previous all-time high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by lowering prices on its budget hotel accommodations. Guests can find rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100 per night, depending on the booking date. This represents a discount of up to 27% compared to standard rates.
The parks are also rolling out new dining packages this summer, offering meals at a 20% to 30% discount. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is reportedly introducing more quick service meal options, cheaper children’s food, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the effectiveness of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. He highlighted that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive customer ratings for increased revenue.