Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by discreetly lowering the prices of both admission tickets and hotel accommodations over recent months.
Beginning in May, Disney started offering discounted three-day ticket packages for popular attractions, such as Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, priced at $89 per day. However, visitors still need to purchase separate tickets to Magic Kingdom, which continues to carry its own price point.
These new ticket prices show a significant decrease from previous highs; for context, a daily Park Hopper pass once reached a peak of $254. The price adjustments are set to remain effective until September 24.
To further enhance affordability, Disney is also slashing the cost of its budget hotel options. A stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start as low as $100 per night, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to average rates, as highlighted in an analysis by Bloomberg.
Additionally, Disney has introduced new dining packages aiming to reduce the overall expense of meals inside the parks. These packages offer all-day meal passes priced at $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. The changes extend to providing more affordable and flexible dining options, which experts have noted are crucial in addressing declining guest satisfaction due to rising food costs.
Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, commented on the situation, noting that customer satisfaction ratings have dwindled from 90% to 60% as Disney moved from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at popular restaurants. While Testa acknowledged the positive aspects of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that the changes may not signal a genuine commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction, suggesting a long-standing trend of prioritizing revenue over customer approval.
Despite the challenges Disney is facing, these initiatives indicate the company may be realigning its focus towards enhancing guest experience and making its attractions more accessible, which is a hopeful sign for future improvements in customer satisfaction.
Summary: Walt Disney World is implementing price reductions on tickets and hotel stays to combat declining attendance and customer dissatisfaction. They are offering discounted ticket packages and hotel rates, along with new dining options aimed at making meals more affordable in the parks. While there are concerns about the motives behind these changes, they represent a potential shift towards improved guest experience.