In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been gradually reducing admission and hotel prices in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to enjoy Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although access to Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, valid until September 24, signify a significant decrease from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of trips to the Florida resort by offering discounts on its budget hotel options. A stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can drop to as low as $100 per night, depending on booking dates, leading to discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates, as highlighted by a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also unveiled new dining packages, which offer meal costs reduced by 20% to 30%. The dining plan allows families to buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks around the parks. Furthermore, Disney is providing more quick meal options and cheaper food items for children while also implementing more flexible restaurant policies.
According to Disney experts, the high expense of dining within the parks is among the key factors contributing to declining customer satisfaction.
Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney customers each year, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% coinciding with Disney’s shift from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction measures, he warned that these changes might not truly indicate a commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he remarked.