Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing ticket and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and declining park attendance. Starting in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages, costing $89 per day, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, while tickets for Magic Kingdom remain separate.
These lower prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also lowering the price of its most affordable hotel accommodations. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100 per night, leading to potential discounts of up to 27% from standard rates, as reported by Bloomberg.
Moreover, new dining packages introduced this summer have also helped to lower food costs in the parks by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also offering more quick meal options, cheaper food for children, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts note that the increased cost of dining within the parks has contributed to a drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, pointed out that satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% after Disney shifted from a la carte dining options to fixed-priced meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the effectiveness of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes might not signify a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest experience. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to sacrifice positive customer ratings for increased revenue.