Walt Disney World is responding to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance by implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays. Over recent months, discounted three-day ticket packages have been introduced, allowing visitors to enjoy Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at a rate of $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, show a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. In conjunction with this, Disney is aiming to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by lowering the prices of its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100 per night, marking discounts of up to 27% from standard rates.
Additionally, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer, cutting meal costs 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. Disney World is also improving quick meal options, providing less expensive children’s food, and modifying restaurant policies to be more flexible.
Experts attribute the rise in food costs within the parks as a significant contributor to decreasing customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, mentioned that satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as the company shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these changes may not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive guest feedback for increased revenue.