Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although separate tickets for Magic Kingdom are still required. This pricing, available until September 24, marks a significant reduction from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lower ticket prices, Disney aims to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by offering discounts on its budget hotel options. Nights at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be booked for as low as $100, depending on the timing of the reservation. These discounts can amount to as much as 27%, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, with costs reduced by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is reportedly increasing the availability of quick meal options, offering more affordable food choices for kids, and adopting more flexible policies for dining.
Disney experts point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a contributing factor to the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from à la carte dining to fixed price meals at many of its popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the company’s cost-cutting measures, he expressed concern that this trend might not signify a genuine commitment to enhancing affordability or guest satisfaction. He commented that Disney has previously been willing to compromise on customer ratings to boost revenue.