Facing growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, with tickets to Magic Kingdom still required separately. This price cut, which will be available until September 24, marks a significant drop from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is lowering the overall cost of trips to the Florida resort by offering discounts on its most affordable hotel options. Rooms at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be priced as low as $100, depending on booking dates, reflecting discounts of up to 27% from regular rates.
The parks have also launched new dining packages this summer aimed at decreasing food costs by 20% to 30%. The dining plan offers all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks at the parks. Additionally, Disney World is reportedly enhancing dining options with quicker meal choices, lower-priced food for kids, and more adaptable restaurant policies.
Experts indicate that rising food costs within the parks have contributed to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he cautioned that these measures may not signify a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction. He noted, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”