Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been discreetly reducing the costs of admission and hotel stays in recent months.
In May, Disney launched discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day. However, tickets for Magic Kingdom must be purchased separately.
These reduced ticket prices, which are available until September 24, signify a significant decrease from the peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to make trips to the Florida resort more affordable by lowering rates for its budget accommodations. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, depending on booking dates. This price adjustment can lead to discounts of up to 27% compared to standard rates, as reported by Bloomberg.
Furthermore, the parks have introduced new dining packages this summer that cut the cost of meals by 20% to 30%. Families can now purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also providing more quick meal options, lower-priced kids’ meals, and more adaptable restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the rise in dining costs within the parks as a key contributor to the decrease in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, mentioned that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as the company transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at many popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the benefits of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he warned that these changes might not indicate a genuine commitment to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue,” he stated.