Walt Disney World has recently begun to cut admission and hotel prices as a response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance. Starting in May, the resort offered discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, while tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be bought separately.
These reduced ticket prices are in effect until September 24 and mark a significant drop from the previous all-time high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. In addition, Disney is looking to lower the overall cost of a trip by slashing the price of its budget hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, reflecting a potential discount of up to 27% based on standard pricing, according to Bloomberg.
The theme parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer aimed at lowering food expenses by 20% to 30%. Families can acquire all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for select meals and snacks within the parks. Additionally, Disney World is reportedly providing more quick meal options, affordable children’s meals, and updated restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute part of the drop in customer satisfaction to the increased dining costs at the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% following Disney’s shift from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many favored restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s initiatives to reduce costs, he warned that these moves might not genuinely demonstrate a commitment to guest satisfaction or affordability. He emphasized that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive guest feedback for increased revenue.