Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom are still sold separately. These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also lowering the prices of its budget hotel accommodations. Guests can book rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as little as $100 a night, depending on the timing of their booking. This price reduction represents as much as a 27% discount compared to regular rates, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.
New dining packages have also been introduced this summer, offering reductions of 20% to 30% on food costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which are redeemable for various meals and snacks in the parks. Additionally, Disney World is providing more quick meal options, affordable meals for kids, and more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rising costs of dining inside the parks as a significant contributor to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the merit of Disney’s cost-saving measures, he warned that these actions may not represent a genuine commitment to affordability or customer satisfaction, suggesting that the company has historically been willing to trade some positive ratings for increased revenue.