Walt Disney World has been implementing admission and hotel discounts as customer dissatisfaction and decreasing attendance levels grow.
In May, the resort began offering three-day ticket packages priced at $89 per day, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom, while tickets for Magic Kingdom remain separate. This price reduction is significant compared to the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is reducing the cost of its budget accommodations, with stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort beginning at $100, depending on booking dates. These adjustments can represent discounts of up to 27%, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
New dining packages introduced this summer aim to lower food costs in the parks by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, which are redeemable at various locations within the parks. The resort is also increasing quick meal options, offering more affordable kids’ meals, and adapting restaurant policies to be more flexible.
Industry experts point to rising food prices within the parks as a significant factor in the decline of customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commends Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warns that these changes may not genuinely reflect an intention to enhance affordability or improve guest satisfaction, suggesting that the company has historically prioritized revenue over positive customer ratings.