Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission fees and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance over the past several months.
In May, the park started offering discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. These new ticket prices will be available until September 24 and represent a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is lowering the overall cost of visiting its Florida resort by offering discounts on its budget hotel accommodations. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort could start as low as $100, depending on booking timeframes. These reductions could amount to a 27% discount from typical rates, according to Bloomberg.
This summer, the parks have also introduced new dining packages aimed at reducing food costs in Disney. These packages offer families all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is reportedly expanding quick meal options and providing more affordable dining for children, in addition to more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts note that the increasing expenses associated with dining inside the parks are contributing to the decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which surveys thousands of Disney visitors each year, indicated that customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted from 90% to 60% parallel to the park’s shift from a la carte dining options to fixed-price meals at numerous popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged that Disney’s cost-cutting strategies are a positive step, he warned that this trend may not truly indicate a dedication to affordability or genuine guest satisfaction. He stated, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”