Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by subtly lowering admission and hotel rates in recent months.
In May, the resort introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets to Magic Kingdom must still be bought separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, represent a significant decline from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney aims to lower the overall cost of visiting the Florida resort by slashing the prices of its budget hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, based on the timing of bookings. This price reduction can yield discounts of up to 27% compared to typical rates.
The parks have also launched new dining packages this summer, offering a 20% to 30% discount on dining costs, according to a Bloomberg analysis. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, usable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Reports also suggest that Disney World is expanding quick meal options, providing more affordable food for kids, and adopting more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts highlight that the increasing costs of dining in the parks have contributed to declining customer satisfaction ratings. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price menus at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these changes might not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest experiences. He noted, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”