Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing the price of admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance. Over the past few months, the theme park has introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must be bought separately.
These new ticket prices, effective until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also lowering costs 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, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to normal rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, Disney has also rolled out new dining packages that offer 20% to 30% off food prices within the parks. Families can now buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, usable for certain meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, Disney is reportedly enhancing quick meal options, offering more affordable food for children, and implementing more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts suggest that the rising costs of dining within the parks have contributed to diminishing customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney customers each year, noted that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledges the positive aspects of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warns that these changes may not signify a genuine commitment to making trips more affordable or improving guest satisfaction. He stated that Disney has historically balanced positive customer feedback against revenue goals.