In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been implementing discount strategies for admissions and hotel stays in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney rolled out discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom still need to be bought separately. These reduced ticket prices are valid until September 24 and represent a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by lowering the prices of its least expensive hotel rooms. Guests can now find rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100 per night, depending on booking dates, marking discounts of up to 27% on regular rates, as per a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also introduced new dining packages that provide discounts of 20% to 30% on meals within the parks. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, applicable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, reports indicate that Disney World is offering more quick meal options, lower-priced food items for children, and flexible dining policies.
Industry experts attribute the recent decline in customer satisfaction to rising dining costs within the parks. Len Testa, the president of TouringPlans.com, has indicated that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% during the period when Disney transitioned from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants.
While Testa appreciates Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warns that these actions may not genuinely reflect a commitment to making the experience more affordable or improving guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to trade off customer ratings for higher revenue.