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From park reservations to crowd levels, COVID-19 has changed many things about Disney’s theme parks, but our least favorite is the surge in paywalls and upcharges introduced across property.
Since the pandemic, perks that once came with park admission—like the Magical Express at Walt Disney World Resort and the FastPass—have been replaced by paid upgrades such as Lightning Lane, sending the total cost of a Disney vacation soaring.
Credit: Disney
In particular, additions like Tokyo Disney Resort’s Fantasy Springs Passport and the Lightning Lane Premier Pass have sparked criticism. The Fantasy Springs Passport, which grants access to Tokyo DisneySea’s latest land, costs over $500 once you factor in that you also need to book a room at the Fantasy Springs Hotel to buy the Passport.
Meanwhile, the Lightning Lane Premier Pass adds hundreds, if not thousands, onto a family’s vacation by allowing guests to bypass lines without making a reservation (although considering the length of Lightning Lanes, whether or not it’s really worth the fee is up for debate).
Disney has also been known to restrict access to some character meet-and-greets to Disney Visa cardholders, requiring guests to have a Disney credit card for Stitch or Darth Vader.
Paid Viewing for Disney Shows and Parades
One of the longest-standing extra charges is for premium viewing spots for Disney’s shows and parades. While all guests can view these events for free, the added cost for the best views has led many first-time and infrequent visitors to believe they need to pay extra for a complete Disney experience.
Credit: Disneyland Paris
Recently, Disneyland Paris introduced a new paid viewing option for its upcoming Mickey’s Dazzling Christmas Parade, costing €21 ($22.68 USD).
Bookable through the Disneyland Paris app, this reserved area is in Central Plaza, offering guests a premium viewpoint of the festive parade if they arrive 30 minutes before it begins.
This follows similar offerings earlier this year for the resort’s daily parade and nighttime fireworks, Disney Illuminations, previously priced at €19 ($20.56 USD) with no discounts for passholders. In the past, Disneyland Paris offered premium viewing as a perk for Annual Passholders, but that benefit has been removed since the resort introduced its new (and far inferior) pass system in 2023.
Credit: Disneyland Paris
The resort also allows guests to pay for “guaranteed access” to stage shows like TOGETHER: A Pixar Musical Adventure, Mickey and the Magician, and The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Land, ensuring a seat for these popular productions.
Other Disney resorts have introduced similar systems. Tokyo Disney Resort, for instance, offers Disney Premier Access for select shows, including the Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade Dreamlights and the daytime parade, Disney Harmony in Colour.
What are your thoughts on Disney’s growing number of upcharges for its theme parks?
At some point the bubble will burst! I got one would not pay the extra charges. One has to question what exactly does my high priced park ticket include, a few basic rides?
Paying for lightning lane is making us no longer prefer to visit the parks. As DVC members, we do continue to spend weeks at our preferred Disney DVC resort hotels, but have not had park tickets since 2019.