Walt Disney World has recently implemented a series of discounts on admission and hotel stays in response to growing customer dissatisfaction and a decline in park attendance.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced reduced three-day ticket packages, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. This pricing represents a significant drop from the previous peak of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass and will continue until September 24.
In addition to reduced ticket prices, Disney is also lowering the cost of its most affordable hotel accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now be as low as $100, depending on the booking period, which translates to discounts of up to 27% based on Bloomberg’s analysis.
Furthermore, new dining packages have been launched this summer, offering meals at a discount of 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, which can be used for select meals and snacks in the parks. Disney is also expanding quick meal options, offering more affordable food for children, and introducing more lenient restaurant policies.
Experts suggest that the rising costs of dining within the parks have contributed to the drop in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, reported a decrease in satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledges the potential benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warns that they may not indicate a genuine commitment to enhancing affordability or guest satisfaction, noting Disney’s historical tendency to prioritize revenue over positive customer feedback.