Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been implementing admission and hotel stay discounts over the past few months.
In May, Disney started offering special three-day ticket packages that allow visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets for Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, significantly lower the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Alongside cheaper tickets, Disney is working to lower travel expenses to its Florida resort by offering discounted rates at its budget hotels. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could be as low as $100, depending on booking times. These reductions can reach up to 27% off regular rates, as reported by Bloomberg.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that reduce meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney has reportedly introduced more quick meal options, affordable children’s meals, and flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the escalating food prices in the parks among the factors contributing to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at many favorite restaurants.
While Testa praised Disney’s efforts to reduce costs, he expressed caution, suggesting these strategies may not truly indicate a dedication to affordability or customer satisfaction. “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he shared.