Walt Disney World has recently implemented significant discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance.
Since May, Disney has been offering discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, which includes access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, although tickets for the Magic Kingdom must be bought separately. This represents a substantial reduction from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. These lower ticket prices are available until September 24.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by lowering rates for its budget accommodations. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, reflecting potential savings of up to 27% off regular prices.
To further enhance affordability, the parks have introduced new dining packages that decrease food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, allowing them to redeem meals and snacks at select locations throughout the parks. Additionally, there are now more quick meal options, lower-priced food for children, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction, which has plummeted from 90% to 60%, partly to the rising cost of dining in the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that the move away from a la carte dining to fixed price meals in many popular restaurants has contributed to this drop in ratings. While he praised Disney’s recent cost-cutting efforts, he expressed concerns that these measures might not signify a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction.