Walt Disney World has been implementing admission and hotel discounts to address growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance. Over the past few months, the theme park has introduced discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, which allow access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, with Magic Kingdom tickets sold separately. These ticket prices are significantly lower than the previous high of $254 for a Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is aiming to make trips to the resort more affordable by reducing rates for its lowest-priced hotel options. Guests can now book a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100, reflecting discounts of up to 27% compared to regular prices, according to Bloomberg.
This summer, new dining packages have also been introduced, offering savings of 20% to 30% on meals within the parks. These meal passes are priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, allowing families to redeem them for various meals and snacks. Disney World is also enhancing meal options by providing quicker meal choices, more affordable children’s meals, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute the decline in visitor satisfaction, in part, to the increased costs associated with dining at the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meal options at many popular restaurants. While he commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these strategies might not necessarily signify a genuine effort for affordability or improved guest experience.