Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission prices and hotel stays in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance over recent months.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets to Magic Kingdom are still sold separately.
These reduced ticket prices, effective until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is also working to lower the overall cost of visits by offering deals on its most affordable hotel options. For instance, a stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start as low as $100, depending on the booking date. These reductions can represent discounts of up to 27%, according to a Bloomberg report.
Furthermore, Disney has rolled out new dining packages this summer that aim to cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Alongside these changes, Disney World is reportedly adding more quick meal options, offering cheaper food for kids, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the rising cost of meals within the parks to the notable decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, explained that ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the merits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these efforts may not signify a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he shared with Bloomberg.