Walt Disney World has been reducing admission and hotel prices over the past few months in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and declining park attendance.
Beginning in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages that allow guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for as low as $89 per day, though Magic Kingdom tickets are still sold separately. These lower ticket rates are available until September 24 and signify a significant drop from the previous high price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to lowering ticket prices, Disney is also making efforts to lower the overall cost of a trip to its Florida resort by offering discounts on its most affordable hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, depending on the booking date, representing discounts up to 27% based on a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks also introduced new dining packages, which reduce food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for various meals and snacks at the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is reportedly offering more quick meal choices, cheaper kid’s meals, and more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts indicate that rising food prices within the parks have contributed to the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings dropped from 90% to 60% at the same time Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa lauded Disney’s new cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes might not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest experiences. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”