Walt Disney World has been implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and declining attendance at its parks.
Beginning in May, Disney started offering discounted three-day ticket packages for $89 per day, which allows guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom remain available for separate purchase. These lower prices, valid until September 24, mark a significant drop from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is seeking to lower overall trip costs by reducing rates at its budget hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, reflecting discounts of up to 27% from standard rates, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, which aim to lower food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is reportedly adding more quick meal options, cheaper children’s food, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction partly to rising food costs within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant downturn in satisfaction ratings, which dropped from 90% to 60% when Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many of its popular restaurants. While Testa acknowledged the positive aspects of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these actions might not signify a genuine commitment to making visits more affordable or enhancing guest satisfaction.