Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by implementing discounts on admission prices and hotel stays over recent months.
In May, the resort launched discounted three-day ticket packages that allow visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for the Magic Kingdom still must be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previously record-high cost of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Simultaneously, Disney is working to lower the overall expense of visits to its Florida resort by rolling back prices at its most affordable hotels. Depending on booking dates, stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could start as low as $100 per night, reflecting discounts of up to 27% off regular rates, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, the parks have introduced new dining packages this summer, with prices reduced by 20% to 30%. The dining plan allows families to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, applicable for various meals and snacks within the parks. Disney is also offering more quick-service meals, less expensive food for kids, and adjusted restaurant policies for added flexibility.
Experts attribute the surge in dining costs inside the parks as a key factor in diminishing customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney guests each year, noted a decline in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from individual pricing to fixed-price meals at many popular dining locations.
While Testa commended Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes may not genuinely indicate a commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he expressed.