Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has quietly reduced admission and hotel prices in recent months.
In May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to enjoy Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom need to be purchased separately. This pricing structure is a significant reduction from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is working to lower the total cost of trips to its Florida resort by cutting prices for its budget hotel accommodations. For example, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on the booking date, reflecting discounts of up to 27% from regular rates, according to analysis from Bloomberg.
This summer, the parks have also introduced new dining packages aimed at lowering food costs by 20% to 30%. The dining plan offers families all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is now offering more quick meal options, children’s food at lower prices, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the rising food costs within the parks as a key factor contributing to the decrease in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the potential benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these changes may not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or guest contentment. He noted, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”