In response to growing customer discontent and a downturn in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been discreetly reducing admission and hotel prices over recent months.
Since May, Disney has been offering discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, while tickets for the Magic Kingdom remain separate. These lower ticket rates will be available until September 24, marking a substantial drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Furthermore, to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable, Disney is also cutting prices for its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start as low as $100, depending on booking dates, translating to discounts of up to 27% from normal pricing, according to Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, this summer the parks have rolled out new dining packages that offer savings of 20% to 30% on food costs within the parks. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, usable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. More quick meal choices and flexible restaurant policies have also been introduced, along with lowered prices on children’s meals.
Experts highlight the rising food costs as a key reason behind the dip in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, revealed that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the merits of Disney’s cost-reduction strategies, he warned that these moves might not genuinely signify a commitment to lowering expenses or enhancing guest satisfaction. He noted, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”