Walt Disney World has been reducing the prices for admission and hotel stays in response to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance.
Since May, Disney has offered discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom still require a separate purchase. This pricing strategy is a significant reduction from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also lowering the cost of its budget hotel accommodations, with rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort starting as low as $100 per night, depending on booking time. These discounts can represent up to a 27% reduction from regular rates, as noted by a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have introduced new dining packages, offering meals at 20% to 30% less than regular prices. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, applicable to selected meals and snacks within the parks. Reports indicate that Disney World is also providing more quick meal options and affordable food for kids, along with more lenient restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rising costs of in-park dining as a factor contributing to a decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported a drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction measures, he warned that these actions may not indicate a genuine dedication to affordability or customer satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive customer feedback for increased revenue.