Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices over recent months amid rising customer dissatisfaction and declining park attendance.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets for Magic Kingdom are sold separately. These lower ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is striving to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by lowering rates for its budget hotel options. Guests can stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as little as $100 per night, depending on booking dates. These reductions can represent discounts of up to 27% from regular prices, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also launched new dining packages this summer that cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, applicable for a range of meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly offering more quick-service meal options, lower-priced children’s food, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the increased cost of dining at the parks as a key factor driving down customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals in many of its popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he expressed concern that this trend may not signify a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He remarked, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”