Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices amid rising customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance. Over the past few months, Disney has rolled out discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for an average of $89 per day, though tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These new pricing rates, which are effective until September 24, represent a significant drop from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. Concurrently, Disney is lowering the cost of its budget hotel accommodations, with rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort potentially dropping to as low as $100 nightly, dependent on booking dates. According to Bloomberg, these reductions can amount to as much as a 27% discount off regular prices.
Additionally, Disney has introduced new dining packages this summer, which can lower food expenses within the parks by 20% to 30%. These packages offer all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, usable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. The resort is also providing an increased variety of quick meal options, more affordable children’s food, and more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction partly to the escalating costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% following Disney’s shift from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants. While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction strategies, he stressed that these measures might not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction, as the company has historically prioritized revenue over customer ratings.