In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been gradually reducing admission and hotel prices over the past few months.
Since May, Disney has been offering discounted three-day ticket packages allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although visits to Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. This reduction is a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass, and the discounted prices will remain available until September 24.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall costs associated with a trip to its Florida resort by cutting prices on its most affordable hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now start at just $100 per night, depending on the booking date, representing discounts of up to 27% based on Bloomberg’s analysis.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that reduce meal costs by 20% to 30%. The dining plan now offers all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World has also introduced more quick meal choices, lower-priced food for children, and flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction partially to the increasing costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, mentioned that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% after Disney switched from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s price-cutting measures, he cautioned that these changes may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has often been willing to compromise on customer ratings in exchange for revenue.