Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance over recent months.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to enjoy Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets to Magic Kingdom still require a separate purchase. These reduced prices, valid until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous highest price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall trip cost by offering discounts on its budget hotel accommodations. Rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can drop to as low as $100 per night, depending on the booking date, equating to discounts of up to 27% from standard rates.
This summer, the parks introduced new dining packages that also aim to make eating at Disney more affordable, with discounts between 20% and 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney has also increased the availability of quick meal options and made food pricing more family-friendly, alongside adjusting restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rising costs of in-park dining to declining customer satisfaction levels. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% around the same time Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s cost-reducing measures, he expressed concern that these changes may not signify a genuine commitment to improving affordability or guest contentment. He commented that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive customer ratings for increased revenue.