Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by quietly implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays over the past few months. In May, the park started offering discounted three-day ticket packages that allow visitors to explore Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although Magic Kingdom tickets still must be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, available until September 24, represent a significant decrease from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass. Additionally, Disney is looking to lower the overall cost of a trip to the Florida resort by reducing rates on its budget hotel options. A stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can now start as low as $100, depending on booking dates, which equates to discounts of up to 27% off typical rates, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages that cut meal costs by 20% to 30%. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 for children and $95 for adults, valid for various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney is reportedly enhancing food options with more affordable quick meals for kids and adopting more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute increased dining costs within the parks as a key factor behind the decline in visitor satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that customer satisfaction ratings plummeted from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the potential positives of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he cautioned that these changes may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction. He remarked that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive ratings for increased revenue.