Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering ticket and hotel prices over the past several months in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance.
In May, the park began offering reduced three-day ticket packages that allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets to Magic Kingdom must be bought separately. These discounts are available until September 24 and represent a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket reductions, Disney is also trying to make stays at its Florida resort more affordable by lowering the rates at its most budget-friendly hotels. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may cost as low as $100, based on booking timing. These discounts could reach up to 27% off standard prices, according to an analysis by Bloomberg.
This summer, Disney parks have introduced new dining packages aimed at cutting food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Reportedly, Disney has also increased quick meal options, offered more affordable food for kids, and introduced flexible restaurant policies.
Experts point to the high prices of dining within the parks as a key factor in declining customer satisfaction levels. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, mentioned that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meal options at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction efforts, he warned that these changes might not necessarily signal a genuine commitment to enhancing affordability or guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically balanced positive customer ratings against revenue generation.