Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance. Over the past few months, the company started offering discounted three-day ticket packages. These packages allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets to Magic Kingdom remain sold separately.
The reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is seeking to lower the overall cost of trips to the Florida resort by cutting prices on its budget hotel options. Nights at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, translating to discounts of up to 27% on standard rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also introduced dining packages that reduce meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. To further enhance affordability, Disney World is offering additional quick meal options, lower-priced food for children, and more flexible dining policies.
Industry experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a key factor influencing customer satisfaction declines. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he cautioned that these moves may not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or improving customer experiences. He indicated that Disney has often prioritized revenue over sustaining positive customer feedback.