In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been discreetly offering discounts on admission and hotel accommodations over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow visitors to enjoy Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, access to Magic Kingdom still requires a separate ticket purchase.
These reduced ticket prices, valid until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of visiting the Florida resort by offering discounts on its budget hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on the booking period. This reduction translates to discounts of up to 27% compared to normal rates, as per a Bloomberg analysis.
Furthermore, new dining packages have been introduced this summer to help visitors save on food expenses, reducing costs by 20% to 30%. The meal plan allows guests to purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also reportedly expanding quick meal options, offering cheaper food for children, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Industry experts attribute the rising food costs within the parks as a key factor in the decline of customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged Disney’s cost-reduction efforts, he warned that this trend may not genuinely indicate a commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he stated.