Amid growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel rates over the last few months.
In May, the company introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom still need to be purchased separately. This pricing represents a significant drop from the peak cost of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In an effort to lower the overall trip expenses to the Florida resort, Disney is also cutting prices on its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, based on booking timing. These discounts amount to a reduction of up to 27% from regular rates.
Additionally, this summer, Disney parks have rolled out new dining packages that cut meal costs by 20% to 30%, as per a Bloomberg report. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks across the parks. Disney World is also introducing more quick meal choices, lower-priced children’s food, and more flexible dining options.
Experts attribute the rising food costs inside the parks as one of the reasons for dropping customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% following Disney’s shift from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many favored restaurants.
While Testa acknowledges the benefits of Disney’s cost-reduction moves, he warns that these strategies may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest experience. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to trade some positive customer ratings for increased revenue.