Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance by implementing various discounts on admission and hotel stays in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney has been offering reduced prices on three-day ticket packages, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, entry to the Magic Kingdom still requires a separate ticket purchase.
These promotional ticket prices continue until September 24 and mark a significant drop from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is making efforts to lower the overall expenses for visitors by reducing rates at its budget hotels. For instance, guests can stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as low as $100 per night, depending on booking dates. This represents discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates.
During the summer, new dining packages have also been introduced, offering meal deals that cut dining costs by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for various meals and snacks in the parks. Disney has reportedly increased the availability of quick meal options, introduced more affordable children’s food, and adopted more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction in part to rising dining costs within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledges the effectiveness of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warns that these efforts may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to guest satisfaction or affordability. He points out that Disney has historically prioritized revenue over maintaining high customer ratings.