Disney is offering discounted admission to some of its theme parks, summer dining plans and reduced hotel rates in an effort to lure back customers who complain about the prohibitive costs of taking their families to “The Happiest Place on Earth.”
In May, Disney World quietly began slashing ticket prices, sending a one-day park hopper ticket to its Orlando, Florida theme park as high as $254.
According to Bloomberg News, discounted prices for three-day tickets start at $89 per day, but they will only include visits to Hollywood Studios, Epcot and Animal Kingdom.
If you want access to the Magic Kingdom, you’ll need to purchase a separate pass at full price, which ranges from $109 to $159 per day.
Disneyland in Anaheim, California, introduced a similar plan this summer, allowing visitors to visit the theme park for just $50 a day if they purchase a three-day, one-park ticket, valid for admission Monday through Thursday.
Disney visitors who book hotel rooms within the resorts have cheaper options, such as the Disney All-Star Movies, Music & Sports Resorts, which start at about $100 per night.
A quick look at Google Hotels reveals the reduced rates: As of mid-January, rooms at this hotel are listed for $125, a 27% discount off the standard rate. According to Bloomberg News.
Disney recently announced it is revamping its “Lightning Lane” system, which allows guests to reserve ride seats up to a week in advance.
Prices vary from $30 to over $100 per person, although some rides have no extra cost to book.
When the new system goes into effect Wednesday, people will be able to make reservations for “Frozen Forever After” and “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad” at no extra charge.
The changes are meant to cut wait times, but they’ve been a pain point for many Disney-goers, who have taken to the internet to express their dissatisfaction.
Disney has also fielded complaints about the prices of menu items at its theme park restaurants and concession stands.
Disney has reintroduced its Dining Plan, which cuts the price of the average family meal by 20-30%.
Visitors can purchase a certain number of dining credits for about $30 per child and $95 per adult per day. These credits can be used toward meals or snacks at fast-food restaurants, according to Bloomberg News.
Disney is also rolling out more affordable quick-service dining options and lower-priced children’s menus.
Not all skeptics are convinced that Disney has changed its ways.
“I feel like Disney has lost our family forever,” Lindsay Robertson, a mother of two from Dallas, told Bloomberg News.
“There was a string of bad experiences with staff, queues were out of control and costs were becoming unmanageable.”
In the second quarter of this fiscal year, Disney’s domestic theme parks reported a 7% increase in revenue, while its international parks reported a 29% increase.
But Disney acknowledged that it struggled with rising theme park costs in the quarter due to inflation.
At Walt Disney World, higher ticket prices led to increased guest spending, while at Disneyland, higher ticket prices and hotel rates led to increased guest spending, the company said.
The Washington Post has reached out to Disney for comment.
With post wire
