Disneyland Paris just announced they are replacing the traditional FastPass system with something called “Premier Access” – an upcharge service.
As shared via DLP Report on Twitter: “Breaking: this summer, Disneyland Paris will launch “Premier Access”, a new upcharge in the app to board select attractions instantly, from €8 per ride (off peak, prices vary). Traditional FastPass will NOT return, but Standby Pass will at busy times – the only free option.”
To help put it into perspective, 8 Euro dollars equals roughly $9.50 in United States dollars. If there is a ride you’d like to skip the line for, you’d pay that charge via the app and enter the queue through the former FastPass line.
We aren’t completely shocked Disney looks like they will be going the route of a paid FastPass-type system. While the free FastPass system has been great while it lasted, we are hopeful but would be surprised if it returns to Walt Disney World. Disney World’s neighboring theme park, Universal Orlando Resort, has been offering a Universal Express Pass as an upcharge to skip the line for their attractions for some time now. Unfortunately, it seems like Disney may be going that same way.
After nearly seven months of closure, Disneyland Paris announced today that they will reopen on June 17th, 2021, the first time all six Disney resorts will be open since January 2020.
After being teased last week, this brings a close to what will become 230 days of closure, and the final Disney park to reopen from COVID-19. The reopening of Disneyland Paris will be the first time all six Disney Resorts have been open since January 24th, 2020 when Shanghai Disneyland first closed due to COVID-19.
Disneyland Paris released a video today to commemorate the resort’s reopening after nearly eight months. Additionally, Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski gave the following statement:
“We have all been dreaming of this moment, the moment we can reunite and enjoy unforgettable moments with our family and friends. When Disneyland Paris reopens, our Guests will be able to enjoy the outstanding experiences we are known for, from iconic attractions and new heart-warming Character moments to unique interactions with our Cast Members and even a few surprises along the way.”
Disneyland Paris will reopen along with Walt Disney Studios Park, Disney’s Newport Bay Club, and Disney Village. Disney’s Hotel Cheyenne will reopen on July 1st, while Disney’s Davy Crockett Ranch will reopen on July 13th. No further reopening dates were announced for Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe or Disney’s Sequoia Lodge. The Disneyland Hotel remains closed for refurbishment.
There will be plenty of Selfie Spots and surprise appearances in the parks with Characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. Favorite Characters will appear in new ways and sometimes unexpected places, encouraging Guests to keep their eyes and ears open for one magical surprise after another. A new galactic experience with Star Wars Legends will be added, along with the return of The Cheshire Cat Express Train featuring friends from Alice in Wonderland, Mickey, Minnie & the Gang, Heroic Experiences with Marvel Super Heroes and Kingdom of Arendelle Enchanted Moments.
Disneyland Paris will welcome Guests back to the magic with a limited number of tickets available each day using an online reservation system. To ensure admission, Guests – including Annual Pass holders – must register on the system and obtain a reservation for park entry prior to their arrival. Guests who already have a dated ticket do not need to register and reserve a date. Likewise, Guests with packages that include park admittance will receive admission for the duration of their stay and do not need to use the system. Dated tickets also offer flexibility as they can be cancelled up to 3 days prior to visit date.
To provide Guests with peace of mind, current booking conditions allow flexibility on packages and include cancellations and modifications without fees for stays in Disney Hotels anytime up until 7 days before the arrival date (excluding insurance and/or travel fees) as well as the possibility to pay in several installment without fee.
As the health and well-being of Guests and Cast Members remains a top priority, Disneyland Paris’ reopening will take a deliberate approach with enhanced health and safety measures that were successfully implemented last year. Our measures continue to reflect current government guidelines, demonstrating our ability to improve the Guest experience while providing a safe environment for all. As authorities recommend the wearing of an appropriate face covering in public spaces, Disneyland Paris asks all guests ages 6 and older to do so. This reopening will also implement limited attendance, required advanced ticketing and reservations to support physical distancing, per government guidance. As a result, some experiences, shows or events will not be available or may be modified, depending on evolving guidance from authorities. Visit the Disneyland Paris official website for more information about booking conditions and available experiences.
Happy belated Earth Day (and Happy Anniversary to Disney’s Animal Kingdom)! Disney has been hard at work to harness the power of the sun to power parks globally. Disney has announced there is a new solar facility coming online at Castaway Cay! When completed, this new solar array will power 70% of Disney’s private island in The Bahamas. This new facility represents a larger effort by Disney to power its parks more responsibly. Globally, these solar facilities are enough to power 65,200 homes for one year, the equivalent of 8 Walt Disney World theme parks!
From a Disney Cast Member;
As we celebrate Earth Day, I wanted to share some of the amazing work being done around the world to power the magic by harnessing the sun! I am incredibly proud to share that we’re continuing to make tremendous steps towards reducing our carbon footprint at our global parks and resorts with new solar facilities coming online around the world.
While using solar energy may not be a new concept, we are pushing the boundaries in our unique Disney way, including solar panels atop our most famous attractions at Disneyland Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and a solar farm in the shape of Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort. And coming soon are solar canopies at Disneyland Paris that will provide shelter for 9,500 guest vehicles, a facility that will power ~70% of Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s private island in The Bahamas, and two colossal solar facilities coming to Central Florida. To put all of this into perspective our Disney Parks, Experiences and Products solar portfolio around the world can produce enough energy to power eight Magic Kingdom Parks at Walt Disney World Resort.
Pretty cool, right? Through the innovative use of space, and with a touch of Disney magic, we are using the sun to conserve energy and power up in a responsible manner. Let’s take a tour around the world to see our solar arrays in action.
Powering ~70% of the island’s power, Disney Cruise Line will soon bring online 4,320 solar panels at Castaway Cay.
Walt Disney World has been basking in the glow of the Sunshine State and using solar energy for several years, and today, Walt Disney World and Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) are teaming up with local utility partners in Central Florida to develop two new 75MW solar facilities, which are expected to come online in approximately two years.
These new solar projects add to a not-so-hidden Mickey shaped solar array, built in collaboration with RCID and Duke Energy, sharing that authentic Disney flair across 22 acres of land, as well as the massive 270-acre, 57MW solar facility built in partnership with RCID and Origis Energy USA. When combined, Walt Disney World’s total solar facilities will produce enough renewable energy to power up to 40% of its total annual energy consumption.
Disneyland Paris is setting the standard for solar energy in Europe – working on one of the largest solar canopy plants in collaboration with Urbasolar. These solar canopies will provide practical and innovative use of 67,500 solar panels sitting atop an outdoor guest parking lot.
Hong Kong Disneyland is also setting an example locally, serving as home to the single largest solar panel site in Hong Kong. Across 20 attractions and buildings, the park has installed over 5,000 solar panels.
Soaking up the California sunshine, atop the Radiator Springs Racers attraction sits 1,400 solar panels that help power the magic at Disneyland Resort.
And solar power energizes Tokyo Disney Resort, generating enough power to fuel the iconic Dreamlights Parade with solar panels installed at eight backstage locations across the resort.
Since 2009, Disney has operated under a long-term vision to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions, and we’re just getting started. Our new set of ambitions goals commit us to achieve net zero emissions for our direct operations by 2030.
To learn more about how we help protect and celebrate the magic of nature not just during Earth Month, but all year round, be sure to tune into my Instagram handle, @DrMarkatDisney. Together, we can take better care of the world we share.
According to the OC Register, Disney Legend Jim Cora passed away on Sunday, March 21st a following a brief hospitalization.
Cora began his Disneyland career working part-time as an Attractions Host Cast Member cleaning 3-D glasses for the Mickey Mouse Club Theater. After 43 years with the company, Cora retired as the chairman of Disney International.
Cora thanks Walt Disney himself for his quick rise through the ranks of the company. He recounts an incredible story where Walt Disney sent teenage Cora to the Disneyland Administration building to find Van Arsdale France. Cora was instructed to “Tell him Walt sent you. I think he may have something for you.” Van Arsdale France founded Disney University.
Jim Cora went on to join the opening team of Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and then to the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World where he was responsible for implementing the “Disney Way of Leadership” program. Cora then helped redesign the “area concept” of the Disneyland Park, leading him to be responsible for Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.
In 1979, Jim Cora became the managing director of Operations for the Tokyo Disneyland Project. He held responsibility for all of the operational planning, management, and training for the park. Before the park opened, he was promoted to Vice President of Walt Disney Productions Japan, Ltd to help oversee the Oriental Land Company and to upheld Disney’s operational standards.
After his time in Japan, Cora moved back home to California and assumed the role of Vice President of Disneyland International in 1983. Shortly thereafter, Cora took on the project of negotiating agreements and master planning for the Disneyland Paris project. He was promoted to Vice President and COO for the Euro Disney Corporation. In 1995, Jim was promoted to President of Disneyland International where he oversaw the development of Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. His final focus was to develop and maintain strategies that would allow Tokyo Disney Resort to succeed and grow. He retired from this position in 2001.
Josh D’Amaro, the current Disney Parks Chairman, claims that Jim Cora was one of the few remaining connections to Walt Disney. D’Amaro said in a statement,
“His dedication to bringing Disney magic to people around the world was only matched by the passion he exuded throughout his career and for the many years that followed. I always loved hearing Jim’s thoughts about our business. He was one of our last connections to Walt Disney and he will be missed dearly.”
Many of you happy haunts know the story and legends surrounding Haunted Mansion at Disneyland park and Magic Kingdom Park. However, do you know of the tragic love story that is at the (broken) heart of Phantom Manor in Disneyland Paris? Check out the details and virtual ride as shared below by DisneyParksBlog!
The ominous tale is about to appear before you as you follow the forever waiting bride as she seeks her true love. Along the way you might notice some familiar sights and frights, but there are certainly shriek-inducing surprises unique to this spooky abode. For example, Phantom Manor is nestled in the shadows of Frontierland, a locale which you’ll see ghostly echoes of in the final scenes of the attraction. Also, listen closely, you might hear the voice of a famous horror film star, a dreadful little detail that is unique to this Disneyland Paris favorite.
Even more hair-raising secrets await to be unearthed. Now enter your Doom Buggy below … Bone Voyage!
