Walt Disney World has been implementing a range of discounts on admission prices and hotel stays due to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a downturn in park attendance.
Since May, Disney has been offering three-day ticket packages that allow entry to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must be bought separately. These reduced ticket prices are available until September 24 and mark a significant drop from the previous peak daily Park Hopper cost of $254.
In addition to lower ticket prices, Disney is working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by reducing rates for its budget hotel accommodations. Guests can find rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100, depending on the booking time. This discounts approach may offer up to 27% off regular prices, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, cutting dining costs by 20% to 30%. These meal plans allow families to buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney is introducing more quick service meal options, affordable kid-friendly food, and more flexible dining policies.
Disney experts point to the rising costs of dining at the parks as a significant factor in the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants. While Testa acknowledged the effectiveness of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that this may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction, suggesting that Disney has historically balanced positive ratings against revenue goals.