Amid rising customer dissatisfaction and declining attendance at its parks, Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in recent months.
In May, Disney started offering discounted three-day ticket packages for guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, which are available until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lower ticket prices, Disney is working to cut overall trip expenses by lowering rates for its most affordable hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on the booking date. This reduction represents discounts of up to 27% compared to standard rates, as analyzed by Bloomberg.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, offering 20% to 30% savings on food costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable at select dining locations throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly enhancing its quick meal options, offering cheaper children’s food, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the increased dining costs within the parks to a decrease in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to reduce costs, he cautioned that these actions may not truly indicate a commitment to affordability or improved guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically balanced positive customer ratings with revenue generation.