Walt Disney World has been facing growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, prompting the company to implement a series of price discounts for admission and hotel stays in recent months.
In May, Disney initiated discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, while tickets to Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, valid until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previous record high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is aiming to lessen the overall cost of a vacation at its Florida resort by offering discounts on its least expensive hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, depending on the booking date. This represents a reduction of up to 27% from the usual rates, according to Bloomberg’s analysis.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, which cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is also introducing more quick meal selections, affordable kids’ menu options, and adapting restaurant policies for greater flexibility.
Experts attribute part of the decline in customer satisfaction to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported a drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa has commended Disney’s cost-saving measures, he has also expressed concern that these changes may not genuinely reflect a commitment to customer affordability or satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” Testa stated.