Walt Disney World has been implementing discounts on admission fees and hotel bookings in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance. This trend has been noticeable over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket deals, allowing customers to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for a reduced price of $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately. These lower prices, valid through September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In an effort to make vacations more affordable, Disney has also lowered the rates for its most economical hotel options. Prices for a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can drop as low as $100, contingent on booking dates, reflecting discounts of up to 27% based on a Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer, aiming to cut dining expenses by 20% to 30%. These meal plans allow families to pay $30 per child and $95 per adult for all-day meal access, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also focusing on offering quicker meal options, kid-friendly cheaper food, and more adaptable restaurant policies.
Experts analyzing Disney’s strategies attribute some of the declines in customer satisfaction to the rising cost of meals within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as the company shifted from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many of its popular dining venues. While Testa acknowledged the positive aspects of Disney’s cost reduction strategies, he warned that these moves may not truly indicate a commitment to enhancing affordability or customer satisfaction.