Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission prices and hotel stays in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and declining park attendance over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available through September 24, mark a significant reduction from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lowering ticket prices, Disney is also working to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by offering discounts on its least expensive hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could be booked for as low as $100, depending on the timing of the reservation. According to a Bloomberg analysis, these reductions can represent discounts of up to 27% from standard rates.
Moreover, new dining packages introduced this summer aim to decrease food costs within the parks by 20% to 30%. The dining plan allows families to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also expanding quick meal options, offering cheaper food for children, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts note that the rising costs of food within the parks have been a significant contributor to the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of thousands of Disney customers, reported a decline in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% coinciding with Disney’s shift from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting strategies, he warned that such measures may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He pointed out that Disney has historically been willing to compromise a certain amount of positive feedback for increased revenue.