Walt Disney World is responding to increasing customer dissatisfaction and declining attendance by implementing significant discounts on admission and hotel stays over recent months.
In May, the company began offering three-day ticket packages at $89 per day, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower overall trip costs by slashing prices for its most affordable hotel options. Rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could start as low as $100 a night depending on booking dates, representing discounts of up to 27% off regular rates based on a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also introduced new dining packages this summer aimed at decreasing food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be redeemed for meals and snacks at various locations within the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is reportedly enhancing options for quicker meals, introducing more affordable food choices for children, and adopting more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute rising food prices within the parks as one of the key factors causing decreased customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at popular eateries.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s cost-reduction measures, he expressed concern that these strategies may not genuinely signify a commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction, stating, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”