Disney Finds New Way to Convince Guests to Purchase Controversial FastPass

in Disneyland Paris

premier access sign disneyland paris

Credit: DLP Report

When Guests visit Disneyland Paris, they are starting to see a lot of new things arise. Because of the upcoming 30th anniversary celebrations which will begin March 6, there have been a ton of refurbishments and new elements added to the Park. Disney is planning to implement a drone shot to light up the night sky, and with the return of Disney Illuminations and a newly refurbished castle, there are so many reasons to visit.

A close up of a toy doll
Credit: Disney

Most recently, Disneyland Paris implemented a new “FastPass” system called Premier Access. This system can be purchases on the Disneyland app, and allows Guests to skip to the front of the line for certain attractions. The catch here, however, is that Guests must pay to do so, and each ride has its own price, per person. This means that skipping the line on multiple attractions could end up being very costly.

disneyland paris 30th drone show
Credit: Disney

Although many have started to learn about Premier Access, others may not know about it if they are not up to date with Disney news. To combat this, Disney has placed signage around the Park to encourage Guests to spend the money on Premier Access. CafeFantasia (@CafeFantasia) took to Twitter to post a photo of the sign, but also seemed unimpressed with the cost being asked of Guests, ontop of the high ticket prices.

Having spent £53.69-£90.09 to get into the park, you’re encouraged to spend €16 (£13.36) extra for something that used to be free (FastPass). No thanks. 👎 #PremierAccess #DisneylandParis

Although Disneyland Paris has not been super busy as of late, and the desire for Premier Access has not been as high, it surely will return as peak season quickly approaches for the theme park. Having these signs around will likely tempt many Guests to spend the money to avoid wasting time in line on a busy day. Interestingly enough, at Disney World and Disneyland, we do not see the same advertisement around the Parks, however, both the Disneyland App and My Disney Experience advertise it heavily.

Prices for Premier Access have continuously been in flux, depending on the time of year and date that you are visiting. When the Park is slower, Premier Access costs less, and when it is busy, the cost goes up. This goes for both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. The only other Disney Park that offers a Premier Access system is Shanghai Disney.

disneyland paris pirates of the caribbean
Credit: Disney

Recently, we saw a price increase for the system, which now presents as:

  • Autopia: €7 per Guest
  • Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast: €11 per Guest
  • Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain: €10ths 6 per Guest
  • Star Tours: The Adventure Continues: €7 per Guest
  • Peter Pan’s Flight: €14 per Guest
  • Big Thunder Mountain: €16 per Guest
  • The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror: €14 per Guest
  • Ratatouille: The Adventure: €14 per Guest
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril: €7 per Guest
  • Orbitron: €7 per Guest
  • Phantom Manor: €7 per Guest

At Disney World and Disneyland, Guests can use Disney Genie+. Disney Genie+ is a paid system that will charge Disney World Guests $15.00 per person per day and $20.00 per person per day at Disneyland to utilize the Lighting Lane queue, which will be the old FastPass+ queue. Guests will be able to pick one return time at a time for select attractions and skip the lines when their turn arrives.

Elsa in Disneyland Paris 'Illuminations'
Credit: Disney Parks

There is also another option within the Disney Genie platform, allowing Guests to purchase a la carte single experience passes for more coveted attractions such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at an added cost. These rides have their own added cost, which differ depending on the date and attraction, and are not included in your Disney Genie+ purchase if you decide to purchase that offering as well.

At Disneyland Paris, lots of changes are coming to Walt Disney Studios and their Disneyland Park, with the 30th anniversary just weeks away. Walt Disney Studios is adding a massive addition that will include Star Wars, Marvel, and Frozen, as well as their very own Avengers Campus, which will be the first section to open in the Park.

disneyland paris peter pan float and sleeping beauty castle
Credit: Disney

Related: Disney Dramatically Drops Cost of Controversial FastPass System

We have recently seen Disney’s Sequoia Lodge reopen while the Disneyland Paris Resort continues to undergo a refurbishment. On top of that, we have seen price increases for pins and stunning snowfalls! The Disneyland Paris app has also changed; read more on that here. Disney Stars on Parade is also back at Disneyland Park now that the holidays are over! Guests looking to skip the line can also purchase Premier Access, which is a pay-per-ride system that allows Guests to skip the standby line. Tonight, Illuminations will finally return to Disneyland Paris, and soon we will see Sleeping Beauty Castle twinkle in the night sky with the new LED lighting package.

What do you think of Premier Access? Let us know in the comments below.

Let the expert team at Academy Travel help you plan your next magical vacation to Disneyland Paris! Or, do you want to head to Walt Disney World Resort’s four theme parks? Visit Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and the Disney Springs shopping and dining district!

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