Walt Disney World has been implementing discounts on admission and hotel bookings amid increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance.
Since May, Disney has introduced special offers for three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom need to be purchased separately. This price reduction is significant, bringing a daily Park Hopper pass down from a peak price of $254.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall expense of visiting the Florida resort by reducing the rates of its budget accommodations. For example, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could start at around $100, based on booking times. These discounts can reach up to 27%, as reported by Bloomberg.
The parks have also launched new dining packages this summer, offering meal plans that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used at designated dining spots throughout the parks. Reports indicate that Disney World is seeking to provide more quick meal choices, lower-priced kids’ meals, and more flexible dining policies.
Industry experts point to the rising costs of meals inside the parks as a key reason behind the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, shared that visitor satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% since Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular venues.
While Testa commended Disney’s initiatives to cut costs, he warned that this approach might not genuinely signify a dedication to affordability or improving guest experiences, noting that Disney has historically prioritized revenue over maintaining positive customer feedback.