Amid rising customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing ticket and hotel prices over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney launched discounted three-day ticket packages allowing guests to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, with separate purchases required for Magic Kingdom tickets. These reduced prices will be available until September 24, marking a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
To further lessen the financial burden for visitors, Disney is cutting prices on its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start as low as $100, depending on the booking date, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to standard rates, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, this summer the parks have introduced new dining packages offering savings of 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for kids and $95 for adults, valid for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also expanding quick meal offerings, introducing cheaper kids’ menu items, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction partly to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney patrons each year, noted a significant drop in customer satisfaction from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these measures may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off high customer ratings for increased revenue.