Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing admission and hotel stay discounts in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to access Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These lower ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant reduction from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of visiting the Florida resort by cutting prices on its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could be as low as $100, depending on booking dates. This represents discounts of up to 27% off regular rates.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, which offer meal savings of 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day dining passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also expanding quick meal options, offering more affordable food for children, and enacting flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rising food costs inside the parks as a key factor in declining customer satisfaction levels. According to Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, satisfaction rates dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from à la carte dining to fixed price meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he warned that these initiatives may not signal a genuine commitment to improving affordability or guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” Testa stated.