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Credit: DisneyDisney is planning to introduce a new paid option in their Parks — prime, roped-off viewing areas for nighttime entertainment — and fans are not too happy with this new direction that Disney is taking.
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The Walt Disney Company has been making changes as of late, particularly when it comes to pricing and ticketing within their family of Disney theme parks. All over the world, Disney fans and Guests have had to contend with ticket price increases, new pricing models, and the elimination of the old FastPass system, where Guests may attain specific, timed entry to attractions, shows, and even character greetings.
The Walt Disney Company has introduced several paid options for advance bookings and perks such as shorter wait times in lieu of FastPasses and other free methods, namely Genie+ and the Lightning Lane system in Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort in the US, as well as Disney Premier Access at Disneyland Paris Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, Shanghai Disney Resort, and the Tokyo Disney Resort. This shift in the pricing of attractions and experiences has come with much criticism from long-time Disney Park-goers, fans and even casual visitors to the Parks around the globe. These changes have been met with confusion, especially from Guests who have to do a ton of homework to understand these new pricing models and applications, with an intense amount of planning, reservation, and additional costs now the norm for any visit to Disney property. Now, it appears that nighttime entertainment and events like parades and shows are also becoming paid experiences.
Prime viewing areas at parades and shows in the Disney Parks are now liable to come with a price tag, as the Oriental Land Company and The Walt Disney Company’s recent announcement indicates. It appears that Disney are using this new paid show viewing areas as a testing ground of sorts — as sufficient demand for it might indicate the paid system being implemented in other Disney Parks. The popular nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic! has officially been replaced with projection-and-screen-heavy Believe! Sea of Dreams at the Tokyo DisneySea Park within the Tokyo Disney Resort, and now you will likely have to pay in order to nab a decent view of the nighttime proceedings.
What does the new paid access entail?
Pricing for prime viewing to the nighttime spectacular is now included as an option under the Disney Premier Access system, which takes the place of Disney Genie and Lightning Lane systems at many international Parks — and the cost? A pretty substantial 2,500 Japanese yen, approximately $20 at the time of writing. Considering that the Disney Premier Access system prices attraction queues for new or popular rides like Tokyo Disneyland’s Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast and Tokyo DisneySea’s Soaring: Fantastic Flight at 2,000 yen, the price for standing at a “prime viewing area” is even more than that of a ride.
In fact, the Tokyo Disney Resort’s website has some almost “misleading” wording:
You can select an admission time in advance and enjoy the show from a designated viewing seat (area).
・Each Park ticket can be used to purchase one Disney Premier Access.
・Guests can select one of the Disney Premier Access (for Shows), and make a purchase.
However, these cordoned off “designated viewing areas” are not actually seated viewing as many may think with the purchase of a Premier Access ticket, but instead fully standing areas, allowing Guests to “move freely within the area”. Above is an image of one configuration, with Entry Request in the Green Area, Disney Premier Access in the Blue Area, Disney Vacation Package in the Pink Area, and Wheelchair-accessible in Purple Area.
According to the Oriental Land Company, these new viewing areas have “seats” available for purchase, but prime viewing may also be obtained via the purchase of an official Disney Vacation Package, which may include access to these designated areas. Some free “Entry Request” viewing areas are also designated (that may be reserved for free on the Tokyo Disney Resort app), although the area is markedly smaller than the paid options.
Why Disney Park-goers and fans are upset
Fans of the Disney Parks have spoken out about this change, expressing their disappointment and disdain for this new choice. Some pretty lucid arguments were also raised by Disney fans regarding the “free standing” nature of this new paid system, where Guests would still have to “camp out” (“Jizo” in Tokyo Disney Park fan slang, which means “lined up Buddhist statues”) for hours to find a good spot even within these free-roaming, paid standing areas.
@074_disney points out:
Being able to move freely means you still have to camp out in the end
自由に移動可能ってことは結局地蔵ジャァン
自由に移動可能ってことは結局地蔵ジャァン https://t.co/0DU4AiLwOb
— nata 11/10🌋 11/17🌋 (@075_disney) November 4, 2022
@Rpz8U brings up their own situation, saying that they can’t afford this new option:
At the end of the day, even if you pay, you have to camp out.
Even if I pay for the Vacation Package, there is a risk that it will be canceled due to rain, so I can’t afford it.
結局課金しても地蔵しないといけないってことね。
バケパにしたいけど雨天中止になるリスクあるからなかなか手出せないし悩みどころ https://t.co/Be9Ixlp8FT— あむ (@Rpz8U) November 4, 2022
@KuuK108 agrees, bringing up the cost:
Add 2,500 yen to camp out 😂
2500円追加で地蔵かーーーい😂
2500円追加で地蔵かーーーい😂 https://t.co/TYyASbdhKD
— KU (@KuuK108) November 4, 2022
While @ayu_teru_r0ck mocks sarcastically:
The Land of Dreams
is the Land of Gold, huh 😂
they just charge you. . .
夢の国が
金の国やん😂
課金するわ。。。
夢の国が
金の国やん😂
課金するわ。。。 https://t.co/WbTd1MOouO— あゆみ (@ayu_teru_r0ck) November 4, 2022
And @dona_akechi is upset with this new system, noticing:
Even if you pay a fee or win a prize, you won’t be able to see the show from a good place if you don’t camp out, right?😰
課金しても、当選しても、地蔵しないと結局いいところで見れない、ということでは？😰
課金しても、当選しても、地蔵しないと結局いいところで見れない、ということでは？😰 https://t.co/ADgryQQQY3
— 新あけっち (@dona_akechi) November 4, 2022
While @lazymomjapan points out:
Huh?
It’s “designated viewing”, but it’s still standing isn’t it lol
ん？
鑑賞エリアだけど立ち見なんだね笑
ん？
鑑賞エリアだけど立ち見なんだね笑 https://t.co/zAHHn3N5yC— レイジーママ。 (@lazymomjapan) November 4, 2022
@saru_p18 finds this all ridiculous, and points out:
Hmm, I want to see this even if I pay money, but even if I pay money, I have to stand and find a place to see it, so it’s just frustrating…
んー、お金出してもコレは見たいんだけどお金出しても、見る為には立って場所取りしないといけないのツライなぁ… https://t.co/hGo1RrD9Lv
— saru (@saru_p18) November 4, 2022
It’s abundantly clear that Disney Park fans are likely going to miss the old, uniquely 360 degree Fantasmic! at Tokyo DisneySea, with its iconic music and free viewing areas.
The new nighttime spectacular in question, Believe! Sea of Dreams has had its public debut date surprisingly moved up earlier than expected, and the prior Mickey Mouse-centric Fantasmic! replaced with a new show showing off projected scenes from popular intellectual properties (IP) mostly from Peter Pan, Tangled, Frozen, Moana and Coco taking center stage. that roughly tie into the new Fantasy Springs themed land (or Port of Call, in Tokyo DisneySea terminology), which itself been recently delayed. Older IPs included in the show are Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, but this is where the featured IPs end.
What do you think about Disney having “the best seats in the house” becoming paid viewing areas? Do you think this change could be seen in other Parks? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Located just beside the JR Maihama Station, and connected to Narita Airport and Haneda Airport by convenient transport networks, Tokyo Disney Resort comprises two theme parks – Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, all connected by the Disney Resort Line monorail. Nearby are official hotels, the Disney Ambassador Hotel, Tokyo Disney Celebration Hotel and Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel.