Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in 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 remain sold separately. These lower rates, valid until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In parallel, Disney is working to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by slashing rates for its budget hotel options. Guests can book a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100, depending on the booking date. These price reductions can reach up to 27% off the usual rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, new dining packages have been rolled out this summer, which could reduce dining costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks within the parks. Disney World is also expanding quick meal choices, providing more affordable food options for children, and offering greater flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rise in dissatisfaction, in part, to the increased pricing of meals within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals in many popular venues.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s cost-cutting measures positively, he warned that these adjustments might not indicate a genuine commitment to enhancing affordability or customer satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been prepared to trade off a portion of positive feedback for revenue gains.