Walt Disney World has been implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance. Over the past few months, the theme park has quietly reduced prices to encourage visitors.
Starting in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to access Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom remain priced separately.
These new rates represent a significant reduction from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. The discounts on tickets will continue until September 24.
In addition to lowering ticket prices, Disney is also making efforts to cut the overall cost of visits by offering reduced rates for hotel accommodations. For instance, a night’s stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may start at just $100, depending on booking dates, which could be a reduction of up to 27% based on standard pricing, according to Bloomberg’s analysis.
This summer, Disney has also launched new dining packages that provide meals at a 20% to 30% discount. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for various meals and snacks in the parks. Furthermore, Disney is expanding quick meal options, offering lower-priced children’s meals, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts in the theme park industry point to the rising costs of dining within the parks as a major contributor to declining customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed pricing at popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction initiatives, he expressed concern that these measures may not signal a genuine commitment to affordability or improved guest satisfaction. He remarked that the company has historically opted to prioritize revenue over customer ratings.