Walt Disney World has quietly reduced the cost of admission and hotel stays amidst mounting customer dissatisfaction and declining park attendance over the past several months.
In May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing customers to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, though tickets to Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. These lower ticket prices, lasting through September 24, significantly decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Disney is also reducing the overall cost of a trip to the Florida resort complex by offering discounts on its more affordable hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could cost as little as $100, depending on the booking time. These price reductions can be as much as 27% off the normal rates, according to Bloomberg.
Additionally, the parks have introduced new dining packages this summer, which cut the cost of dining at Disney by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for some meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is reportedly also offering more quick meal options, cheaper food for kids, and more flexible restaurant policies.
Disney experts attribute increased costs of eating inside the parks as one of several factors contributing to a decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, a site surveying thousands of Disney customers annually, informed Bloomberg that customer satisfaction ratings dropped from 90% to 60% when Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
Testa praised Disney’s cost-cutting strategies but cautioned that this trend might not indicate a true commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction. “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he told Bloomberg.