Credit: DisneyFor years, Disney parks across the globe have been slowly phasing out the beloved, free FastPass system in favor of paid line-skipping alternatives. Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort made the leap years ago, and Disneyland Paris quickly followed suit. However, one shining beacon remained for budget-conscious Disney fans: the Tokyo Disney Resort.
Since July 2023, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea have offered the “40th Anniversary Priority Pass,” a spiritual successor to the original FastPass. It was the last free line-skipping service available at any Disney park worldwide. But sadly, all good things must come to an end.
The Oriental Land Company (OLC), which owns and operates the Tokyo Disney Resort, has officially confirmed that the free Priority Pass will be retired after August 31, 2026. Starting September 1, 2026, Tokyo Disney will transition fully to a paid model by expanding its Disney Premier Access service.
Here is everything you need to know about the end of free FastPass at Tokyo Disney Resort, which rides will now cost extra to skip the line, and what this means for your future vacation budget.
The Fall of the Free Priority Pass
When OLC debuted the 40th Anniversary Priority Pass in the summer of 2023, it was a massive hit among guests. It allowed visitors to reserve a return window for select attractions through the Tokyo Disney Resort App, heavily reducing wait times without costing an extra dime. Even after the 40th-anniversary celebrations concluded, the free Priority Pass lived on, becoming a staple of the Tokyo Disney experience.
However, the writing was on the wall. Earlier this summer, OLC announced that the service “will no longer be available” after August 31, 2026. While fans initially held out hope for a rebranded free replacement, OLC’s first-quarter fiscal report released on July 30, 2026, confirmed the worst: the free service is being replaced by an expanded, paid Disney Premier Access system.
The motivation behind this shift is purely financial. In that same fiscal report, OLC boasted about hitting “record highs” in operating cash flow, net sales, and operating profit. The report explicitly stated that the company would implement various initiatives to contribute to financial performance, including adding new attractions to the paid Premier Access service starting September 1, 2026.
What is Disney Premier Access?
If you are familiar with Lightning Lane Single Pass at the American Disney parks, you already understand Disney Premier Access. It is a paid service, available through the Tokyo Disney Resort App, that allows guests to select designated times to experience attractions with a reduced wait time.
Currently, Premier Access is available for the resort’s most popular E-ticket attractions, such as Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast (2,000 yen), The Happy Ride with Baymax (1,500 yen), and the new rides in Fantasy Springs (2,000 yen each).
With the elimination of the free Priority Pass, OLC is moving a massive slate of classic attractions onto the paid Premier Access tier.
Which Rides Are Moving to Paid Access?
Starting September 1, 2026, the following attractions will require a paid Premier Access pass to skip the line:
Tokyo Disneyland:
- Big Thunder Mountain: 1,500 yen
- Pooh’s Hunny Hunt: 1,500 yen
- Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek!: 1,000 yen (roughly $6.15 USD)
(Note: The Haunted Mansion will also join Premier Access for 1,000 yen, but its eligible period runs from September 15, 2026, through January 7, 2027, likely to coincide with its Holiday Nightmare overlay.)
Tokyo DisneySea:
- Raging Spirits: 1,500 yen
- Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull: 1,500 yen
In addition to rides, a new stage show debuting in Tomorrowland on September 30, 2026—D-Groovationz4 Live: Happy! Funky! Groovy! Tour—will also offer Premier Access viewing for 2,500 yen.
The Rules of Purchasing Premier Access
If you plan to visit Tokyo Disney Resort after September 1, 2026, you will need to budget for these new fees to avoid lengthy standby lines. Purchases are made directly through the Tokyo Disney Resort App using a credit, debit, or prepaid card.
There are strict rules on how often you can purchase these passes. For attractions, you must wait 60 minutes after your initial purchase, or until the admission time of your purchased pass (whichever is earlier), before you can buy another one. If you want to ride the same attraction twice using Premier Access, you must wait until after you have used your first pass or the designated return time has passed.
What This Means for Your Disney Vacation
The end of the free Priority Pass marks the absolute end of the free FastPass era across all Disney parks globally. For budget planners, a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort now requires a new strategy.
If you are traveling in September 2026 or later, you should add a Disney Premier Access line item to your vacation budget. With the current favorable exchange rate for US travelers, buying Premier Access is highly recommended for first-timers or those with limited time in the parks.
However, some Disney park experts view this change as a potential positive for the average guest. Just like the original FastPass, the free Priority Pass was often disproportionately leveraged by power users and onsite hotel guests, leaving later-arriving visitors with nothing. By moving these classic attractions to a paid tier, fewer people will clog the virtual queues, which should, in theory, make the standard standby lines move faster and more efficiently.
Whether you view it as a necessary evil or an unfair price hike, the reality is clear: if you want to skip the lines at Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, you are going to have to pay for it.
