In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and falling park attendance, Walt Disney World has been stealthily reducing the prices of admission and hotel accommodations over the last few months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to enjoy Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for just $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom are sold separately.
These lower ticket prices, valid through September 24, represent a significant reduction from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney aims to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by lowering prices at its budget hotels. Guests can book stays at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort for as little as $100 per night, depending on availability. This effectively gives discounts of up to 27% off the standard rates.
Furthermore, the parks have introduced new dining packages this summer, which offer meal costs that are 20% to 30% lower. Families can buy all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, usable for various meals and snacks within the parks. Reports indicate that Disney World is also expanding quick meal options, providing cheaper food for children, and adopting more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts point to rising food costs in the parks as a key contributor to decreasing customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a decline in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% alongside Disney’s shift from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged that Disney’s cost-cutting measures are praiseworthy, he expressed concern that these actions may not signify a genuine dedication to affordability or enhancing guest satisfaction.
“Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” Testa remarked.