Walt Disney World has recently implemented various discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, with separate ticket purchases required for Magic Kingdom. This pricing marks a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass and the discounts will remain available until September 24.
In addition to reduced ticket prices, Disney is also lowering the costs of its most affordable hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start as low as $100, depending on booking dates, resulting in discounts of up to 27% compared to standard rates, as reported by Bloomberg.
This summer, Disney parks have also rolled out new dining packages that lower meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes at $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is introducing more quick meal options, offering cheaper children’s food, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Industry experts attribute some of the decline in customer satisfaction to increasing food prices within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many of their popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the positive aspects of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that this trend may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction, noting that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive ratings for revenue.