Disney World quietly slashes prices amid public outcry over 'insurmountable' fees - here's how much you'll pay now

Disney has quietly introduced discounted tickets and reduced hotel prices at some parks in a bid to lure back customers who have complained about rocketing costs.

In May, Disney World began to offer cheaper prices for a one-day park hopper ticket, which had reached a high of $254. 

Until September 24, Disney fans can buy $89-a-day access with three-day tickets for the resort in Orlando, Florida, Bloomberg reported. 

The caveat is that guests can only access particular areas, and tickets for the Magic Kingdom theme park have to be purchased separately. 

It comes after customers complained that the parks have gone from 'the happiest place on earth' to a source of mounting costs and customer service frustrations.

'I think Disney has lost our family for good,' Lindsey Robertson, a mother of two in Dallas, told Bloomberg. 

'We've had back-to-back negative experiences with staff, the stand-by lines are out of control, and the cost has become insurmountable.'

The cost of a high-end trip to the Florida parks has now soared to around $40,000 for a family of four, the outlet reported. 

Meanwhile, the number of four or five star reviews on Yelp fell from almost 52 percent in 2019 to 33 percent in 2022. 

In 2023, more than 40 percent of reviewers gave the theme parks just one or two stars. 

As complaints mount, Disney is also offering cheaper nightly rates at some of its value resorts such as its All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resorts, which start at around $100. 

On Google Hotels, rooms at the hotel were listing for $125 in mid-January - a 27 percent discount compared to the standard fare - according to Bloomberg. 

However these reduced prices are offered only on the least busy days of the year, typically in January and February, with prices ranging from $200 to $300 per night otherwise. 

More affordable accommodations are coming soon, however, with the expansion of Disney's timeshare arm, Disney Vacation Club - with two new properties expected by the end of 2024. 

Disney has also been receptive to gripes about the high costs of its theme park restaurants and concession snack stands.

This summer it reintroduced dining plans, which trim 20 percent to 30 percent from food expenses for the average family. 

Visitors can buy a set number of meal credits for around $30 per child and $95 per adult per day. The credits can then be redeemed for meals or snacks at quick-service restaurants and even character dining experiences.

It has also rolled out more affordable quick-serving dining options and less pricey meals for kids.

Len Testa, co-author of 'The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World' and the president of TouringPlans.com, a company that compiles park data and surveys hundreds of thousands of Disney guests annually, says he has seen the needle move slightly for customer satisfaction as a result of the changes. 

But he remains skeptical that Disney is doing enough to make the parks affordable for families. 

'Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,' he told Bloomberg, pointing to the persistence of fixed-price menus as a prime example.