Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by implementing a series of discounts on admission fees and hotel stays over the past few months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for as low as $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately. This price represents a significant reduction from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of trips to the Florida resort by offering deals on its budget hotel options. Guests can find rates as low as $100 per night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort, which reflects a reduction of up to 27% according to a Bloomberg analysis.
The theme parks also rolled out new dining packages this summer that offer discounts of 20% to 30% on food expenses. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is enhancing its quick meal options, offering more affordable food for children, and introducing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the rising costs of dining within the parks as a key factor in decreasing customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from à la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several of their popular restaurants.
While Testa lauds Disney’s cost-saving measures, he warns that these strategies may not genuinely reflect a commitment to improving affordability or guest experiences. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”