Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission prices and hotel accommodations in response to rising customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance over recent months.
As of May, Disney started offering three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to access Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. These discounted tickets, available until September 24, represent a significant reduction from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is working to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by lowering rates for its basic hotel options. Stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start at $100 per night, depending on booking dates. This marks discounts of up to 27% compared to regular prices, as per Bloomberg analysis.
Moreover, new summer dining packages have been introduced, offering 20% to 30% off meals at the parks. Families can buy all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, which can be used for various meals and snacks. The resort is also providing more quick meal options, affordable children’s food, and enhanced restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute the rise in dining costs within the parks as a factor contributing to falling customer satisfaction rates. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% coinciding with Disney’s shift from à la carte dining to Fixed price meals at many of their top restaurants.
While Testa has praised Disney’s cost-reduction initiatives, he warns that these strategies may not genuinely reflect a commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He suggested that Disney has historically been willing to compromise on customer ratings to increase revenue.