Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission and hotel prices over the past few months in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for as low as $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be bought separately.
These reduced ticket prices, valid through September 24, mark a significant drop from the previously high price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lowering ticket prices, Disney is also cutting costs for visitors by offering discounts on its budget hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can drop to as low as $100, depending on the booking date. These discounts can reach up to 27% off regular rates, according to Bloomberg.
This summer, Disney has also launched new dining packages that reduce meal costs by 20% to 30%. The dining plan allows families to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks in the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is enhancing quick meal offerings, providing more affordable food for children, and introducing flexible restaurant policies.
Experts highlight the increasing cost of meals within the parks as a key reason for falling customer satisfaction levels. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings dropped from 90% to 60% during Disney’s shift from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these measures may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or customer satisfaction. He mentioned that Disney has a history of prioritizing revenue over positive customer ratings.