I think Disney very much wants families with small kids to vacation at WDW, including those who think it may not be worth it because their kids are too young to go on many of the rides. The reporting around the concern about pricing has suggested that internally some have flagged a long-term issue if younger kids today aren't going and forming an emotional connection to the parks.
Honestly, none of this is for me (sadly, I am not a cool kid), but it seems like a smart marketing move. While I don't think it is a direct response to Epic Universe, it is also not a bad counter-programming move considering all the height restrictions on the attractions over there that would really discourage families with younger kids from visiting.