Walt Disney World has been quietly reducing admission ticket prices and hotel rates in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that enable visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for as low as $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. This reduction marks a significant drop from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass, with these lower ticket prices available until September 24.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also working to lower the overall cost of visiting the Florida resort by offering reduced rates for its budget accommodations. A stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, based on booking dates, representing up to a 27% discount compared to standard prices.
This summer, new dining packages have been introduced, leading to savings of 20% to 30% on food within the parks. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for select meals and snacks. Disney is also providing more quick meal choices, affordable kid’s food, and flexible dining options.
Industry experts have pointed to rising food costs as a contributing factor to declining visitor satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meal options in many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the positive impact of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these changes may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or customer satisfaction, noting that Disney has historically balanced revenue against maintaining favorable reviews.