Walt Disney World is facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, prompting the company to implement discounted admission and hotel rates over the past few months.
In May, Disney introduced three-day ticket packages, priced at $89 per day, allowing visitors access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, while tickets for Magic Kingdom are sold separately. This price reduction marks a significant drop from the previously high daily rate of $254 for a Park Hopper pass, and the lower ticket prices will be available until September 24.
Additionally, Disney is aiming to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by reducing the rates of its most economical hotel rooms. Guests can book stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort for as low as $100 a night, translating to discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates, as noted in a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks are also rolling out new dining packages this summer that decrease the cost of meals by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks across the parks. Disney is reportedly expanding quick meal options, offering cheaper children’s food, and adopting more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute rising food costs within the parks as a key factor affecting customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney customers each year, shared that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commends Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warns that these moves might not genuinely reflect a commitment to guest satisfaction or affordability. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to sacrifice some customer ratings for increased revenue.