Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly slashing admission and hotel prices in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages that allow access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while separate tickets for Magic Kingdom are still required.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is trying to lower the overall trip cost for visitors by offering discounts on its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be booked for as little as $100, depending on the timing of the reservation, reflecting discounts of up to 27% according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also introduced new dining packages that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks in the parks. Additionally, Disney is reportedly expanding quick meal options, offering cheaper children’s meals, and adapting restaurant policies for greater flexibility.
Experts attribute the increased costs of dining in the parks as a key factor in growing customer dissatisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s effort to cut costs, he warned that these changes might not necessarily signify a genuine dedication to affordability or improving guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he stated.