Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for visitors, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets to Magic Kingdom remain available separately. This pricing represents a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass and will be effective through September 24.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall expense of visiting the Florida resort by reducing prices on its most affordable hotel rooms. For example, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may be priced as low as $100, based on booking times. These reductions can reach as much as 27% off standard rates.
The parks have also launched new dining packages this summer, offering meal options that reduce food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable at various dining locations around the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is providing more quick meal choices, lower-priced kids’ meals, and more adaptable restaurant rules.
Experts attribute rising food costs within the parks as a key factor in dwindling customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% after Disney shifted from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s cost-cutting initiatives, he warned that these efforts might not demonstrate a genuine commitment to enhancing affordability or guest experiences. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”