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.
Disney Legend Tony Baxter and Disney innovator Greg Hale have been inducted into the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Hall of Fame. Check out their incredible involvement with the Walt Disney Company below as shared by DisneyParksBlog.
Tony Baxter, who is a former Walt Disney Imagineering creative executive, was honored earlier today with the Lifetime Achievement Award from IAAPA for his decades of work on some of Disney’s most memorable attractions.
Tony, who began his Disney career working as an ice cream scooper at Disneyland, started working for Walt Disney Imagineering (then called WED Enterprises) in 1970. Over the next 43 years, he helped oversee and create such attractions as the Land, Seas and Imagination pavilions at EPCOT, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the major refurbishment of Fantasyland at Disneyland in 1983, Star Tours, Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. He was also the executive producer who oversaw the design of Disneyland Paris, which opened in 1992.
In 2013 Tony received the Disney Legend award as well as a window honoring him on Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland. Following his retirement that same year, Tony continues to consult with Walt Disney Imagineering on various projects and mentors the next generation of Imagineers.
Greg was also honored today for his extraordinary accomplishments and contributions as a leader and innovator at Disney.
Greg, who is Disney Parks’ chief safety officer, leads a global team of ride design, operations, maintenance and safety professionals around the world that keep Disney on the leading edge of theme park safety, accessibility for guests with disabilities, and technology advancements. Greg has received a number of previous awards in recognition of his commitment to safety and for fostering innovative practices that increase access to Disney experiences for those with disabilities. He holds dozens of U.S. patents and is credited as one of the inventors of Disney FASTPASS Service. He has served on several industry safety boards and associations and has held a number of leadership roles within IAAPA, including as the organization’s chairman in 2017.
The FastPass+ System we all know and love at Walt Disney World is looking like a thing of the past! As Disney Parks begin to reopen amidst social distancing guidelines, Disney is testing a new virtual queue system, the “Disney Standby Pass”.
The first appearance of this new system launched for one attraction, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, at Shanghai Disneyland. The system allows guests to create a queuing schedule for attractions right on their park mobile app.
Are you familiar with the Star Wars: Rise of Resistance virtual queue process at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? If so, it seems like this virtual queuing system will be very similar.
What have we learned from the launch at Shanghai Disneyland?
Guests must be inside the park with their entire party, and in their park app to select a Disney Standby Pass.
The Standby Pass provides a 1-hour window to get in line for the attraction.
Once your time comes around, a Cast Member will scan your pass on your app as you enter the attraction through the normal standby line entrance.
Guests will not be able to wait in a normal standby line to ride the attraction, but rather must have a Standby Pass.
More points are available by checking out the Shanghai Disneyland page here.
Disney just released an update on Walt Disney World Resort Reservations. It is confirmed that Disney is pausing all New Ticket and Resort Reservations and cancelling all Dining and Experience Reservations, FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours in preparation for the new park reservation system. Please see the full update below as shared by Disney:
In case you missed it, this week we shared some big news about Walt Disney World Resort, including plans to welcome guests back to the theme parks as part of a phased reopening beginning July 11, pending state approval.
We know many of you are excited to return to the magic and make new memories with your family, friends and loved ones. As we previously shared, as we take these next steps forward, we are introducing enhanced health and safety measures reflecting guidance from health authorities and appropriate government agencies.
When our theme parks reopen, we will manage attendance through a new theme park reservation system on DisneyWorld.com that will require all guests to make a reservation in advance for theme park entry. Over the coming weeks, we will be making some necessary updates to prepare for the launch of this park reservation system. Here’s some important information to help you plan ahead:
New Ticket Sales and Hotel Reservations: At this time, we are temporarily pausing new ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel reservations so we can focus on guests with existing tickets and reservations. Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make a theme park reservation before new tickets are sold; we will be reaching out to these guests soon to provide additional details. We will resume new sales of tickets and Disney Resort hotel reservations after that period of time. Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability.
Dining and Experiences: In order to foster physical distancing during this time, upon reopening, our offerings, restaurants and other experiences such as behind-the-scenes tours will be limited in capacity, and other experiences may remain closed. As a result of limited capacity, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all existing dining reservations and experience bookings, including Disney dining plans included in packages, through the end of the year. We will reopen dining and experience bookings with more limited numbers closer to when the parks reopen. We will also shift from a 180-day booking window to a 60-day booking window for dining and experience bookings going forward to allow Guests to make their plans closer to their visits.
FastPass+ and Extra Magic Hours: As a result of the COVID-19 impact, the FastPass+ service will be suspended for the time being as we plan to use additional queue space to manage capacity at our attractions and maintain physical distancing. We will automatically cancel existing FastPass+ selections and share any future updates on the service at a later date. Also, please note that upon reopening, Extra Magic Hours will be temporarily suspended.
We are reaching out to guests affected by these updates with additional information and details on options, including refunds. We understand how much excitement, thought and time goes into planning a Disney vacation and realize some of these changes may be disappointing. Please know we will be here to help you, as we remain focused on delivering a wonderful experience for everyone who visits.
You can visit a new “Know Before You Go” hub at DisneyWorld.com/Updates, where you can find the latest updates on our operations and offerings, including details on how to modify your plans. If you booked through a third-party, we recommend you reach out directly to your travel professional or ticket seller.
We appreciate your ongoing patience and understanding as we continue to keep the well-being of guests and cast members in mind. Stay tuned for more information over the next few weeks on how to use the theme park reservation system and other tips to be aware of prior to your visit.
While there has been much curiosity, speculation, and excitement on when and how Walt Disney World will reopen, one thing is for sure… we are all eagerly awaiting more announcements! We will be the first to say we have absolutely no idea when Walt Disney World will reopen and won’t announce a reopen date until we learn so from the Mouse himself! We have learned some interesting news however when logging into the My Disney Experience App.
Currently, in the My Disney Experience App, it looks as though guests with a valid park ticket (including Annual Passholders AND Regular Ticket Holders) can select FastPasses 30-days in advance beginning in June. For example, as of today, we can book FastPasses for June 2. This goes for guests with or without a Disney Resort room reservation.
What does this mean for a reopen date? We truly aren’t sure! All we know right now is what the My Disney Experience App is allowing us to do.
