Facing growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance, Walt Disney World has quietly been offering discounts on admission and hotel stays over the past several months.
In May, Disney started selling discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, allowing customers to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. However, tickets to Magic Kingdom still need to be purchased separately.
These lower ticket prices, available through September 24, are a significant decrease from the $254 daily rate for a Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is lowering the cost of its budget-friendly hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on when guests book their stay. These discounts represent up to a 27% reduction from regular rates, according to Bloomberg.
The parks have also introduced new dining packages this summer, reducing 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 offering more quick meal options, cheaper food for kids, and flexible restaurant policies.
Experts point to the rising cost of park dining as one reason for decreased customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted 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.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he cautioned that these moves might not necessarily reflect a genuine commitment to affordability or improved guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice some positive ratings for increased revenue,” he told Bloomberg.