Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing ticket and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance. Over the past several months, Disney has introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, offering access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom still require a separate purchase.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. Additionally, Disney aims to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by cutting the rates of its budget hotel accommodations. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can drop to as low as $100, offering discounts of up to 27% based on a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages which promise to lessen food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is introducing more quick-service meal options, affordable children’s food items, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts highlight that rising dining costs within the parks have contributed to the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that customer satisfaction ratings have fallen from 90% to 60%, coinciding with the shift from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa has applauded Disney’s recent cost-saving measures, he warned that these changes may not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction, suggesting that Disney has historically prioritized revenue over guest experience.