Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission prices and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and decreased park attendance.
Starting in May, Disney introduced reduced three-day ticket packages allowing customers to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while separate tickets for Magic Kingdom are still required. These lower prices will remain available until September 24, marking a significant drop from the previous high price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is making efforts to lower the overall expenses for visitors by cutting prices for its budget hotel accommodations. Nightly rates at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can start at $100, depending on the booking period, representing discounts of up to 27% compared to standard rates, according to a Bloomberg report.
This summer, the parks also launched new dining packages offering discounts of 20% to 30% on meals. Families can purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, valid for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is reportedly also enhancing dining options by providing quicker meal alternatives, more affordable children’s meals, and greater flexibility in restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute rising food costs within the parks as a contributing factor to the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, stated that satisfaction ratings dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the merits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these changes may not signal a genuine commitment to affordability or improved guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically balanced positive customer ratings with revenue generation.