Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel costs in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and declining attendance at its parks. Over the past few months, the company has introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets to the Magic Kingdom must be bought separately. This offer, lasting until September 24, marks a significant drop from the previous high price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also working to lower the overall cost of trips to the Florida resort. They are offering hotel stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100 a night, depending on booking dates. These reductions represent discounts of up to 27% off regular rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that cut meal prices by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is reportedly enhancing meal options, including cheaper food for kids and more flexible dining policies to improve guest experiences.
Experts discussing the increased dining costs attribute them as a factor in lowered customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants. While Testa acknowledged the positive aspects of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these adjustments may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving customer satisfaction, explaining that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive ratings for revenue.