Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket options, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for an average of $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom still require a separate purchase. These ticket prices, available until September 24, represent a significant reduction from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of visiting by offering discounts on its most affordable hotel accommodations. For example, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort might be priced as low as $100, depending on the booking date, reflecting a possible 27% discount from standard rates.
Moreover, this summer, Disney parks have launched new dining packages that cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal plans for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is also providing more quick meal choices, lower-priced children’s food, and added flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rising dining costs within the parks as a key factor contributing to the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these actions may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction, stating that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive customer ratings for revenue.