Walt Disney World has been discreetly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages for guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at a rate of $89 per day, with tickets to Magic Kingdom needing to be purchased separately. These reduced ticket prices will remain in effect until September 24 and mark a significant drop from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lowering ticket prices, Disney is also working to decrease the overall cost of trips to its Florida resort by offering discounts on its most economical hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may cost as low as $100 per night, depending on the timing of the booking, representing discounts of up to 27% from regular rates.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that can reduce food costs by 20% to 30%. These meal plans provide families with the option to buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is reportedly enhancing quick meal options, offering cheaper children’s food, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the rising cost of dining within the parks as a significant factor contributing to decreased customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have fallen dramatically from 90% to 60% as the company shifted from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the potential benefits of Disney’s cost-reduction measures, he expressed caution about whether this indicates a genuine commitment to making trips more affordable or improving guest satisfaction. He highlighted Disney’s historical willingness to trade off positive ratings for revenue generation.