Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices amid increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance over the past few months.
In May, the company began offering discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, enabling visitors to access Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, although tickets for Magic Kingdom are sold separately. These reduced prices are valid until September 24 and mark a significant drop from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of visiting its Florida resort by offering discounts on its most affordable hotel options. Guests can book a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort for as little as $100, depending on their booking date, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to typical rates, according to Bloomberg’s analysis.
The parks are also introducing new dining packages this summer, which provide diners with 20% to 30% savings. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is reportedly increasing quick meal options, offering less expensive kids’ food, and implementing more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute rising food prices within the parks as a significant factor in the decline of customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, highlighted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these changes may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He noted, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”