In response to growing customer dissatisfaction and decreasing attendance, Walt Disney World has been quietly introducing discounts on admission prices and hotel stays in recent months.
Starting in May, Disney began offering discounted three-day ticket packages, allowing access to Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom for $89 per day, although tickets for Magic Kingdom must still be purchased separately. This reduction in ticket prices, available until September 24, marks a significant drop from the previous high of $254 for a daily Park Hopper pass.
In addition to ticket discounts, Disney is making efforts to lower the overall expenses associated with visiting the Florida resort by reducing the rates for its most affordable hotel options. Rates for a night at Disney’s All-Star Movies, Music, and Sports Resort could be as low as $100, depending on booking dates, which represents a potential discount of up to 27% based on a Bloomberg analysis.
The parks have also launched new dining packages this summer, which offer reductions of 20% to 30% on food costs. Families can purchase all-day meal passes for $30 per child and $95 per adult, applicable to various meals and snacks throughout the parks. Additionally, Disney World is said to be providing more quick meal options, lower-priced food for children, and more flexible dining policies.
Experts note that the rising costs of meals within the parks have contributed to a decline in customer satisfaction. Len Testa, president of TouringPlans.com, indicated that customer satisfaction ratings have dropped from 90% to 60% as Disney transitioned from a la carte dining to fixed-price meals at several of their most popular restaurants.
While Testa acknowledged the value of Disney’s cost-cutting measures, he expressed concern that this trend might not necessarily demonstrate a genuine dedication to affordability or improving guest satisfaction. He noted that Disney has historically been willing to trade off positive ratings for increased revenue.