Walt Disney World has been lowering admission and hotel prices over recent months amid rising customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance.
Starting in May, Disney offered discounted three-day ticket packages for visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at a rate of $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom remain sold separately. This price reduction, which is available until September 24, marks a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also aiming to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by slashing rates for its budget hotel options. Guests can stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as little as $100 per night, depending on the booking date. These discounts can represent savings of up to 27% compared to regular rates.
Furthermore, the parks have introduced new dining packages that offer discounts on food, reducing expenses by 20% to 30%, as per a Bloomberg analysis. Families can purchase meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for select meals and snacks within the parks. Disney World is also providing more quick-service meal options and affordable kid’s meals, along with more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts in Disney operations point to the rising cost of dining inside the parks as a major contributor to customer dissatisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported 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 acknowledged the benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes might not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to compromise on positive feedback in exchange for increased revenue.