Walt Disney World has been stealthily reducing the prices of admission and hotel accommodations in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and decreasing park attendance.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to enjoy Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be bought separately.
This price reduction, valid until September 24, represents a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is working to lessen the overall expenses for visitors at the Florida resort by lowering rates for its most affordable hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may start at $100, contingent upon the booking date. These reductions can amount to as much as 27% off standard prices, as noted in a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, which aim to cut dining costs by 20% to 30%. These meal plans enable families to purchase all-day dining passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable at select eateries and snack locations throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is reportedly increasing quick meal choices, offering less expensive meals for children, and making restaurant policies more flexible.
Experts point to the escalating costs of dining within the parks as a contributing factor to the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many favored establishments.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting initiatives, he warned that these measures might not necessarily signify a genuine dedication to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off some positive ratings in exchange for increased revenue.