Walt Disney World has recently started lowering admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, enabling guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, although Magic Kingdom tickets must be purchased separately. This promotional price lasts until September 24 and marks a significant reduction from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also lowering hotel rates. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now start as low as $100, depending on the booking time. Bloomberg reports that these price reductions could be as much as 27% off regular rates.
This summer, new dining packages have also been introduced to help reduce costs for visitors. These packages offer meals at a discount of 20% to 30%, providing all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult that can be used for various meals and snacks in the parks. Disney is also rolling out more affordable quick meal options and flexible dining policies to better cater to families.
Experts attribute the growing dissatisfaction to the rising prices of dining in the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a dramatic drop in customer satisfaction ratings, from 90% to 60%, linked to Disney’s shift from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledges the value of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warns that these actions may not signify a genuine commitment to providing affordability or enhancing guest experiences, as the company has historically focused on maintaining revenue at the expense of customer ratings.