Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been reducing ticket and hotel rates in recent months.
In May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom remain separate.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, signify a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to tickets, Disney is also lowering the prices of its cheapest hotel options. Rates for stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100 per night, depending on booking dates. This reduction represents discounts of up to 27% from standard rates, as reported by Bloomberg.
The parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer that cut food costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, valid for various meals and snacks within the parks. Additionally, Disney World is introducing more quick meal choices, affordable food for children, and flexible dining policies.
Industry experts point to the rising expense of dining in the parks as a key factor contributing to diminished customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings fell from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many of its popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-reduction efforts, he expressed concern that these measures may not truly reflect a commitment to affordability or customer satisfaction. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”