Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. This offer, valid through September 24, marks a significant reduction from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
To further decrease overall trip costs, Disney has also lowered rates for its most affordable hotel accommodations. Staying at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could cost as little as $100 per night, depending on booking times, reflecting discounts of up to 27% from standard rates, as per a Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, new dining packages have been introduced this summer, which provide discounts of 20% to 30% on meals. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks in the parks. Disney World is also expanding quick meal options and offering more affordable food for children, along with flexible dining policies.
Experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a key factor contributing to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% since Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts in cost reduction, he warned that these changes may not genuinely indicate a commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”