Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and lower park attendance over recent months.
Since May, Disney has offered discounted three-day ticket packages for guests wishing to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. These packages are priced at $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom still need to be bought separately. This price drop marks a significant decrease from the previous all-time high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass, and these lower rates will be available until September 24.
Additionally, Disney is working to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by cutting prices on its budget hotel accommodations. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start as low as $100, depending on booking dates, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks also introduced new dining packages that lower meal costs by 20% to 30%. Guests can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, Disney World has reportedly expanded quick meal options, introduced more affordable food for kids, and made dining reservations more flexible.
Industry experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a significant contributor to the decrease in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
Although Testa commended Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes may not genuinely reflect a commitment to keeping prices affordable or enhancing guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to compromise on positive guest feedback in exchange for higher revenue.