Amid growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been subtly reducing the prices for admission and hotel accommodations over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at a rate of $89 per day, while tickets for Magic Kingdom must be bought separately. These reduced prices, which are available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous all-time high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
To further alleviate the overall expense of visiting the Florida resort, Disney is also cutting prices on its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could start as low as $100, depending on booking dates, reflecting as much as a 27% discount on standard rates, according to Bloomberg.
Additionally, the parks have launched new dining packages this summer aimed at lowering food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, applicable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly adding more quick meal choices, providing cheaper food options for children, and implementing more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as one of the reasons behind the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a decrease in customer approval ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular establishments.
While Testa acknowledged the effectiveness of Disney’s cost-reduction strategies, he cautioned that they may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. He remarked, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”