Walt Disney World is responding to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by implementing price reductions on admission and hotel stays over recent months.
In May, the company began offering discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, which allow access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must be bought separately. This discount marks a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass, and the reduced prices will be available until September 24.
Additionally, Disney is looking to lower the overall expense of a visit to its Florida resort by reducing rates for its budget-friendly hotels. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could be as low as $100 per night, depending on the booking period, which represents a discount of up to 27% from regular prices, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks in the parks. Alongside this, Disney World is expanding quick meal options, introducing cheaper food for children, and implementing more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts on Disney report that the rise in food costs within the parks has contributed to a decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these actions may not fully indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”