Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices as it faces growing customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance.
Starting in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages for visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, while tickets to Magic Kingdom still require a separate purchase. This price reduction brings daily Park Hopper passes down significantly from their peak price of $254.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of visiting its Florida resort by providing discounts on its lowest-priced hotel options. A stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, representing up to a 27% discount on typical rates.
The parks have also introduced new dining packages this summer, offering meal plans that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. There are also more quick meal choices, children’s meals at reduced prices, and improved flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts have pointed to higher food costs within the parks as a significant factor behind the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a decline in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% coinciding with the shift from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa has commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these reductions may not genuinely indicate a dedication to affordability or customer satisfaction, emphasizing that Disney has sometimes sacrificed positive ratings for increased revenue.