Walt Disney World has been quietly slashing admission and hotel prices in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and declining attendance at its parks.
In May, the company introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at a cost of $89 per day, with separate purchases required for entry to the Magic Kingdom. This price represents a significant reduction from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is reducing the overall cost of stays at its Florida resort by offering discounts on its least expensive accommodations. Rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resorts may be available for as low as $100, depending on the booking date, reflecting potential savings of up to 27% from standard rates, as analyzed by Bloomberg.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, promising savings of 20% to 30% on food consumption within the parks. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for select meals and snacks. Reports indicate that Disney World is introducing more quick-service meal options, reducing prices on children’s food, and adopting more flexible dining policies.
Disney experts point to the rising cost of dining within the parks as a contributing factor to the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While praising the cost-cutting measures taken by Disney, Testa warned that these changes may not indicate a genuine dedication to affordability or enhancing guest experiences. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off certain positive ratings for increased revenue.