Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has quietly been lowering ticket and hotel prices over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day, although separate tickets for the Magic Kingdom are still required.
These reduced ticket rates, valid until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is making efforts to cut the total expenditure for guests traveling to the resort by lowering the prices for its most affordable hotel accommodations. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on the booking date. According to an analysis by Bloomberg, these discounts can be as steep as 27% off the usual rates.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that reduce meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can opt for all-day meal passes at $30 per child and $95 per adult, which are redeemable for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is reportedly making more quick dining options available, offering cheaper meals for children, and adopting more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts on Disney note that rising food costs within the parks are among the reasons for the decline in customer satisfaction.
Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney visitors yearly, shared with Bloomberg that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals in several popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these actions may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to forgo a certain number of positive customer ratings for increased revenue.