In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering the prices of admission and hotel stays over recent months.
Beginning in May, Disney rolled out discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, which are available until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by offering discounts on its budget hotel accommodations. Prices at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can fall to as low as $100 a night depending on booking times, reflecting discounts of up to 27% from regular rates, according to Bloomberg.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that cut food costs by 20% to 30%, as reported by Bloomberg. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks within the parks. Furthermore, Disney is introducing more quick-service meal options, affordable children’s food, and flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute rising food costs within the parks to the decreased customer satisfaction reported by visitors. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney customers every year, noted a significant drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from à la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the potential benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that this trend may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improved guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive ratings for revenue generation.