Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing ticket and hotel prices in response to growing customer unhappiness and declining park attendance. This trend began in May when Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although visits to Magic Kingdom still require separate tickets.
These new ticket prices are a significant reduction from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. The current discounts are available until September 24.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of a vacation at its Florida resort by offering substantial discounts on its most affordable hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort may start as low as $100, depending on the booking period. This marks discounts of up to 27% from regular rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that cut dining costs by 20% to 30%, allowing families to buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult. These can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also expanding quick meal options, providing cheaper food for kids, and introducing more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rising food costs inside the parks to a drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant decrease in customer satisfaction ratings, from 90% to 60%, coinciding with the shift from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the positive nature of Disney’s cost-reducing measures, he warned that such actions might not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He commented that Disney has historically been willing to trade off some customer ratings for increased revenue.