In response to rising customer dissatisfaction and falling attendance at its parks, Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in recent months.
Since May, Disney has rolled out discounted three-day ticket packages that allow access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately. This pricing reflects a significant drop from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by offering discounts on its lowest-priced hotel options. Guests can find rates as low as $100 per night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort, depending on their booking dates, representing discounts of up to 27%, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also introduced new dining packages that lower meal costs by 20% to 30%, according to the same report. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, which are valid for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is reportedly also expanding quick meal options, offering more affordable food for children, and implementing more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rise in costs for in-park dining as a key factor contributing to declining 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 at many of its popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that this trend may not indicate a genuine commitment to improving affordability or guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he remarked.