Walt Disney World has been implementing significant discounts on admission and hotel rates amid growing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance.
Since May, Disney has rolled out discounted three-day ticket packages priced at $89 per day, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. These discounted prices, available through September 24, mark a notable reduction from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is cutting the prices of its budget hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort may start as low as $100, depending on booking dates, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages that lower meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult that can be used for various meals and snacks in the parks. Furthermore, Disney World is introducing more quick-service meal options and affordable children’s food, along with more flexible dining policies.
Experts in Disney customer experience point to rising food prices within the parks as a factor contributing to a drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a decline in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged and praised Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he expressed caution that this might not indicate a genuine dedication to affordability or improving guest experiences, suggesting that Disney has historically balanced customer ratings against revenue generation.