Walt Disney World has been implementing gradual discounts on admission prices and hotel stays in response to growing customer discontent and dwindling park attendance over recent months.
In May, Disney started offering three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to experience Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although Magic Kingdom tickets are still sold separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, mark a significant drop from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Simultaneously, Disney is working to lower the overall cost of visiting the Florida resort by offering discounts on its most affordable hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates. These reductions can reach up to 27% off regular prices, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
Additionally, new dining packages introduced this summer aim to alleviate dining expenses by offering discounts of 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, usable at various restaurants and snack stands within the parks. Disney World is also providing more quick-service meal options, kid-friendly meals at lower prices, and more flexible dining policies.
Industry experts point to the rising cost of meals at the parks as a critical factor driving down customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of Disney guests, noted a drop in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as the company transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular venues.
While Testa commended Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that such strategies may not genuinely indicate a commitment to guest satisfaction or affordability. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to overlook some negative feedback for the sake of revenue.