Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing ticket prices and hotel rates in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance. Over the past few months, the resort has introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, admission to Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These discounted prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. In addition to lowering ticket costs, Disney is also making efforts to make stays at its Florida resort more affordable by slashing rates for its budget hotels. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may be as low as $100, representing a discount of up to 27% off normal rates.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that can reduce meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal plans for $30 per child and $95 per adult, usable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney is introducing more quick meal options and flexible restaurant policies to enhance the guest experience.
Industry experts point to the rising cost of dining in the parks as a key factor behind declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant drop in satisfaction ratings, from 90% to 60%, after Disney shifted from an a la carte dining model to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants. While he has acknowledged the effectiveness of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he also warned that this shift may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improved customer satisfaction, suggesting that Disney historically balances positive ratings with revenue generation.