In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission and hotel accommodations over the past few months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, though tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. These lower ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In tandem with the reduced ticket prices, Disney is also working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by lowering the cost of its most budget-friendly hotel options. A stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100 per night, depending on booking dates. These discounts can reach up to 27% off standard rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer, offering discounts of 20% to 30% on meal costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks in the parks. Reports indicate that Disney World is also enhancing quick meal options, providing cheaper food for children, and offering more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the declining customer satisfaction partly to rising food costs within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% coinciding with Disney’s shift from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals in many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s strategies to cut costs, he warned that these moves may not fully reflect a genuine commitment to affordability or improved guest experience. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to accept a decline in positive guest feedback in exchange for increased revenue.