Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and reduced attendance at its parks, Walt Disney World has been quietly lowering admission and hotel rates over recent months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that permit visitors to access Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for the Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately. This promotion, valid until September 24, marks a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is aiming to lessen the financial burden of visiting the Florida resort by offering lower rates for its budget-friendly hotel options. Rates for a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music and Sports Resort may be as low as $100, depending on the booking time. This could represent a reduction of up to 27% compared to standard prices, based on a Bloomberg analysis.
Moreover, the parks have rolled out new dining packages this summer, cutting dining costs by 20% to 30%. Families can now buy 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 World is also expanding quick meal choices, offering more affordable food for kids, and implementing more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the erosion of customer satisfaction partly to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted that satisfaction ratings have fallen from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from à la carte pricing to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s recent cost-cutting measures, he expressed concern that these actions might not represent a genuine commitment to enhancing guest satisfaction or affordability. He remarked that Disney has historically balanced customer ratings against revenue goals.