Walt Disney World has recently begun offering discounted admission and hotel rates in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance. This initiative, which started in May, includes three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, although tickets for Magic Kingdom remain separate.
These reduced ticket prices are a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass and will remain in effect until September 24.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also lowering the costs of its budget hotel options, with rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort starting as low as $100, depending on booking dates. This represents as much as a 27% reduction from standard prices, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also introduced new dining packages this summer aimed at making meals more affordable, resulting in a 20% to 30% reduction in dining costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks across the parks. Moreover, Disney World is offering more quick meal options, lower-priced kids’ food, and increased flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the drop in customer satisfaction to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney moved away from a la carte dining to fixed pricing at popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s strategies to cut costs, he warned that these changes might not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. He expressed concerns that Disney may prioritize revenue over maintaining positive customer experiences.