In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and decreasing attendance at its parks, Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing the prices of admission and hotel stays in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages allowing visitors to access Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom still require a separate purchase.
The new ticket prices, effective until September 24, represent a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lower ticket prices, Disney is reducing hotel costs by offering discounted rates at its budget accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, marking a potential 27% discount from typical rates according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also providing more quick-service meal options, affordable children’s food, and flexible dining policies.
Industry experts cite rising food prices within the parks as a key factor in declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction rates dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular locations.
While Testa commended Disney’s recent cost-saving measures, he warned that this may not indicate a genuine commitment to making experiences more affordable or improving guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he remarked.