Walt Disney World has been implementing discounts on admission prices and hotel stays in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance over recent months.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom are still sold separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is working to lower the overall expense of visiting its Florida resort by reducing the cost of its basic hotel options. Guests may find a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100, depending on the booking date. This represents discounts of up to 27% from regular rates, as noted in a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also introduced new dining packages, which offer a 20% to 30% reduction in dining costs. The dining plan allows families to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. In addition, Disney World is reportedly providing more quick meal options, kid-friendly food at lower prices, and flexible restaurant policies.
Experts point to rising food costs within the parks as one of the reasons behind the dip in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, indicated that satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% after Disney shifted from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular eateries.
While Testa acknowledged the positive aspects of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these actions might not indicate a genuine 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 stated.