Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decrease in park attendance by offering discounted admission and hotel rates over the past few months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although separate tickets for Magic Kingdom are still required. These reduced prices are available until September 24 and mark a significant reduction from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney aims to make trips to its Florida resort more affordable by slashing prices for its budget hotel accommodations. 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 standard rates, according to a Bloomberg analysis.
Moreover, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer, providing discounts of 20% to 30% on dining costs. The meal plan offers all-day passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, redeemable for select meals and snacks across the parks. Reports indicate that Disney World is also introducing more quick meal options and child-friendly food at lower prices, alongside more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts in the Disney community attribute the rising cost of dining within the parks to a decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, revealed that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed price meals at many popular venues.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to reduce costs, he cautioned that these measures may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improved guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to forgo a portion of positive ratings for increased revenue.