Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by quietly reducing admission and hotel prices over the last few months.
In May, the resort began offering discounted three-day ticket packages, which allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices will remain available until September 24, marking a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of vacations at its Florida resort by offering discounts on its more affordable hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on the booking date. This represents a discount of up to 27% off regular rates, as noted in a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also introduced new dining packages this summer, cutting food costs by 20% to 30%. The new meal plan allows families to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly enhancing quick meal options, lowering prices for children’s food, and offering more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute the increased costs of dining within the parks as a key factor contributing to declining customer satisfaction.
Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney guests each year, revealed that satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at numerous popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes may not necessarily reflect a genuine commitment to affordability or guest contentment. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”