Walt Disney World is responding to increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays. Over the past few months, the company has introduced reduced ticket prices, including a new three-day pass that allows access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom are still sold separately. This promotion is set to continue until September 24 and represents a significant reduction from the peak price of $254 for daily Park Hopper passes.
In addition to lowering ticket prices, Disney is attempting to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by cutting the rates of its least expensive hotel rooms. Guests can find nightly rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort starting at $100, depending on their booking dates. This reduction can bring discounts of up to 27% compared to standard pricing, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
Furthermore, the parks have launched new dining packages this summer that offer substantial savings on food costs. These packages allow families to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, applicable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also introducing more quick meal options and cheaper food items for kids, along with more flexible dining policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute the decline in customer satisfaction partly to the rising costs associated with dining inside the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% after Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants. While he acknowledged the potential benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these changes might not genuinely reflect a commitment to improving affordability or guest experience, suggesting that Disney has historically prioritized revenue over customer ratings.