Facing increasing customer dissatisfaction and a drop in park attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly implementing discounts on admission prices and hotel stays over the last few months.
In May, Disney introduced discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing guests to visit Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, while tickets to Magic Kingdom still require separate purchase. This promotion is set to continue until September 24 and represents a significant decrease from the previous peak price of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
Additionally, Disney is working to lower the overall expense of visiting the Florida resort by reducing the rates for its most affordable hotel options. A night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could cost as little as $100, depending on the booking date, amounting to a potential discount of up to 27% compared to normal rates, as noted in a Bloomberg analysis.
This summer, the parks have also rolled out new dining packages, which provide a 20% to 30% reduction in dining expenses. Guests can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, redeemable for select meals and snacks throughout the parks. Moreover, Disney World is reportedly enhancing meal options by offering quicker meal selections, more affordable food for children, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts attribute the rising dining costs in the parks to growing customer dissatisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, which conducts annual surveys of Disney visitors, stated that satisfaction ratings dropped from 90% to 60% as the company shifted from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several popular restaurants.
While Testa commended Disney’s efforts to cut costs, he warned that these changes may not necessarily indicate a genuine commitment to guest satisfaction or affordability. He noted, “Disney has long been willing to sacrifice a certain number of positive ratings for a certain amount of revenue.”