Walt Disney World is addressing rising customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for guests, allowing visits to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom at a price of $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom still need to be purchased separately. These reduced prices, available through September 24, represent a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, the company is working to lower the total expense of trips to the Florida resort by offering discounts on its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now cost as little as $100 per night, depending on the booking date. These discounted rates reflect reductions of up to 27% compared to the regular prices, as analyzed by Bloomberg.
Furthermore, new dining packages introduced this summer aim to lower food costs within the parks by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for selected meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also providing more quick-service meal options, affordable kid-friendly food items, and flexible dining policies.
Experts discuss how the rising food prices in the parks have contributed to diminished customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% when Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular venues.
While Testa has commended Disney’s cost-reduction efforts, he warns that this might not indicate a genuine commitment to making experiences more affordable or improving guest satisfaction. He remarked, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”