Walt Disney World has recently started reducing admission and hotel costs amid rising customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance.
Beginning in May, the company offered discounted three-day ticket packages allowing visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day; however, tickets for the Magic Kingdom still need to be purchased separately. These reduced ticket prices will be available until September 24 and mark a significant drop from the previous peak daily Park Hopper pass price of $254.
In an effort to make trips more affordable, Disney has also lowered rates for its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort could be priced as low as $100, depending on booking dates. This represents discounts of up to 27% off typical prices, according to a Bloomberg assessment.
Additionally, new dining packages have been introduced, offering discounts of 20% to 30% on meals within the parks. The dining plan allows families to buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used at various eateries throughout the parks. Disney has also increased quick meal offerings, lowered children’s food prices, and enhanced restaurant flexibility.
Experts in the Disney realm have pointed to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a key factor contributing to customer dissatisfaction. 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 options to fixed-price meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction strategies, he warned that these moves may not signal a genuine dedication to guest satisfaction or affordability, stating that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive customer ratings for increased revenue.