Walt Disney World has been implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance.
Beginning in May, Disney rolled out discounted three-day ticket packages for visitors to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, priced at $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom remain sold separately. This price is significantly lower compared to the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. These discounted rates will be available until September 24.
In tandem with admission discounts, Disney is also lowering the cost of its most affordable hotel options. Nightly rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can drop to around $100, based on booking times, reflecting discounts of up to 27% according to Bloomberg’s analysis.
Additionally, Disney has introduced new dining packages aimed at reducing food costs for guests. These packages provide all-day meal passes at $30 for children and $95 for adults, offering a 20% to 30% reduction in dining expenses. Disney World is reportedly enhancing meal choices, including more affordable options for children and flexible dining policies.
Experts note that rising food prices within the parks have contributed to the overall decline in guest satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, mentioned that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-priced meals at many popular eateries. While Testa commended Disney’s attempts to cut costs, he also warned that these measures might not truly indicate a dedication to affordability or improving guest experiences.