Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing the prices of admission and hotel stays amid growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance.
Since May, Disney has 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 price cuts are significant compared to the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass, and will be available until September 24.
The company is also working to lessen the overall expense of trips to the Florida resort by offering discounts on its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start at around $100, representing discounts of up to 27% based on standard rates.
Additionally, new dining packages have been rolled out this summer, offering a 20% to 30% reduction on meal costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, allowing them to redeem meals and snacks across the parks. Disney is also providing more quick meal choices and cheaper food for kids, alongside flexible restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute the decline in customer satisfaction in part to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the value of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that this may not signify a genuine commitment to lowering expenses or enhancing guest satisfaction. He indicated that Disney has historically been willing to trade off some customer ratings for increased revenue.