In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and decreasing attendance at its parks, Walt Disney World has been gradually reducing ticket and hotel prices over the last few months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets to Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately. These lower prices, effective until September 24, significantly drop from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, the company is lowering the cost of its least expensive hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could start at just $100, depending on the booking time. These reductions can represent discounts of up to 27% based on a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, Disney has also rolled out new dining packages that cut meal expenses by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is enhancing dining options by providing more quick service meals, introducing lower-priced children’s food, and implementing more flexible restaurant policies.
Industry experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction partly to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to set-price meals at many popular eateries.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction measures, he warned that these changes might not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to providing affordable experiences or ensuring guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off certain customer ratings in exchange for increased revenue.