Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been gradually lowering admission and hotel prices over recent months.
Starting in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets for Magic Kingdom remain separate.
These reduced ticket prices, effective until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is working to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by lowering the rates for its budget hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, or Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates. This reduction can constitute as much as a 27% discount on regular prices, according to Bloomberg.
This summer, the parks have also launched new dining packages, which lower meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, usable for various meals and snacks in the parks. Additionally, Disney is reportedly offering more quick meal options, lower-priced food for children, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the rising food costs within the parks as a contributing factor to the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa supports Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he warns that these strategies may not signify a genuine commitment to affordability or enhanced guest satisfaction. He remarked, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”