Faced with rising customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been discreetly reducing admission and hotel prices in recent months.
Beginning 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 remain priced separately.
These reduced ticket prices, valid until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of trips to its Florida resort by reducing prices for its most affordable hotel options. For example, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may cost as little as $100, depending on the timing of guests’ bookings. This represents discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
Moreover, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer, cutting meal costs by 20% to 30%. The dining plan offers all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also adding more quick-service meal options, lowering prices for children’s food, and providing more flexible restaurant policies.
Industry experts point to rising food costs within the parks as a key factor in declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney visitors annually, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plunged from 90% to 60% as the company transitioned from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
Testa acknowledged the benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures but warned that this strategy might not indicate a genuine commitment to providing affordable experiences or enhancing guest satisfaction. He highlighted that Disney has historically balanced positive ratings with revenue generation.