Walt Disney World is responding to growing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance by quietly implementing discounts on admission and hotel stays in recent months.
Beginning in May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages that allow visitors to access Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom still need to be bought separately. These reduced ticket prices, valid until September 24, mark a significant decrease from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to make trips to the resort more affordable by slashing the rates for its budget hotel options. For instance, a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort can be as low as $100, based on booking dates. This reflects discounts of up to 27% compared to regular rates, as reported by Bloomberg.
The parks have also rolled out new dining packages this summer, offering discounts of 20% to 30% on dining costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes priced at $30 for children and $95 for adults, which can be used for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Disney World is also enhancing quick meal options, offering lower-priced food for kids, and introducing more flexible restaurant policies.
Experts attribute the decline in customer satisfaction partly to the rising costs of dining within the parks. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, noted a significant drop in customer satisfaction ratings from 90% to 60% as Disney shifted from a la carte options to fixed-price meals in many of its popular restaurants.
While Testa appreciates Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warns that these measures may not truly reflect a commitment to affordability or guest satisfaction. He highlighted that Disney has historically been willing to sacrifice customer ratings for increased revenue.