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Changes are coming that will impact how children gain access to one Disney park.
Disney theme parks are renowned for their magic, but they are also governed by strict rules to ensure safety, inclusivity, and a family-friendly environment. These rules cover a wide range of behaviors, from prohibiting antisocial conduct toward staff and guests to enforcing bans on items like selfie sticks, which can pose safety risks.
Credit: Disney
The most commonly encountered rule at Disney involves height requirements. These guidelines specify the minimum height needed to ride certain attractions, reflecting the physical demands and safety restraints of each experience. For example, thrilling rides like Space Mountain, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, or Tower of Terror require riders to meet specific height thresholds.
For Shanghai Disneyland, height can also dictate how much a child’s ticket costs for the park. Currently, children under three years old or shorter than one meter tall enjoy free admission, while those aged between three and eleven—or measuring between one and 1.4 meters tall—receive discounted tickets.
But starting December 23, 2024, Shanghai Disneyland will transition to an age-based admission policy, aligning with practices already in place at Disney parks in Florida, Anaheim, and Paris.
Credit: Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai Disneyland Changes Child Admission Rules
Under this new system, free entry will apply solely to children under three years old, regardless of height. Children aged three to eleven will qualify for child tickets, which are priced lower than adult tickets, without height playing a role.
This shift simplifies the ticketing process but raises questions about its fairness. The existing policy accommodated shorter children who may not meet height requirements for major attractions like Soaring Over the Horizon (102 cm), Roaring Rapids (107 cm), or Jet Packs (112 cm), making the cost of a ticket hard to justify.
Credit: Disney
In addition to the admission changes, Shanghai Disneyland is tightening ID requirements. Starting December 23, all guests must present government-issued identification when purchasing tickets and entering the Disney park. Annual Passholders will only be able to buy one-day tickets on blackout dates for their passes.
These stricter ID rules aim to curb scalping, which has been an ongoing problem for the park. Ticket scalping and reselling of merchandise (especially Duffy and Friends merch) have frustrated genuine guests. By requiring IDs at both the point of purchase and entry, Disney aims to eliminate mismatched details and prevent unauthorized sales.
What do you think about Shanghai Disneyland adopting an age-based admission policy?
