Walt Disney World has been implementing significant discounts on admission and hotel rates in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance over the last few months.
In May, the company started offering discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets for Magic Kingdom remain sold separately. This new pricing marks a significant drop from the previous high of $254 per day for a Park Hopper pass. These reduced prices will be available until September 24.
Additionally, Disney is working to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by cutting rates on its budget hotel options. Guests can book a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100, which represents discounts of up to 27% based on typical rates, according to Bloomberg.
To further enhance affordability, new dining packages have been introduced this summer, allowing families to keep meal costs down by 20% to 30%. The dining plan offers all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is also providing more quick meal options, lower-cost food for children, and greater flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts point to the rising cost of dining in the parks as a key factor behind the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, highlighted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these actions might not genuinely signify a commitment to affordability or enhanced guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has previously been willing to compromise positive ratings in favor of increased revenue.