It's been a very weird week over in Disneyland Paris as the new annual pass scheme was unveiled to universal uproar and criticism with existing annual pass members getting caught in the crossfire. However, on the other side of the scales guests where treated to one of the most ambitious and breathtaking firework and drone shows in Disney Parks history.
First of all Hi I'm Ken a huge Disney park fan since my first trip to Disneyland Paris in 1996. I love to write and people like my writings so thought I would give this a go although I'm probably twenty years too late to start a Disney blog but recently felt I've the confidence to shake the "Disney Adult" mantra and write about what I love and share the stories and offer my opinions on all things Disney and maybe other stuff in the future....anyways to the stories.
The week began with the unveiling of Disneyland Paris resort's new annual pass program. Sales of Annual passes where stopped at the beginning of the year with the air they are going to take people's feedback and relaunch a new range.
So the news came the emails arrived and, well let's just say reaction was pretty, actually completely negative. From Facebook to instagram, the anger. It wasn't the fact that each tier was now about €200 more expensive it was €200 with less perks.
Bag storage, free wheelchair and stroller hire, VIP firework viewings, privileged discount tickets, discounted room rates have now all been taken away under the new tiers.
But nearly all of these have been taken away from existing annual pass members starting the 19th July apart from privilege tickets purchase which will continue for existing infinity pass holders.
So are there any perks or benefits of the new annual passes? Well there are going to be more annual pass holder meetups and special events, but these are not free and there will be a charge for these. Details of the new passes are as follows
Bronze
The basic tier and gateway to the Annual Pass world. This pass is really geared towards those who just want to enter the parks with access to 170 days per year without any additional parks apart from parking with a cost of €289
Silver
The next tier is silver which gives you access to 300 days to the parks and 10% discount to merchandise food and photopass and free parking with a cost of €499
Gold
With the gold pass you have 365 day access. (Previously Annual pass holders had limited spots through the day meaning if annual pass spots where taken you couldn't use your annual pass), the new pass takes this away to allow you access till overall park capacity. You also get 15% off food and merchandise (which was originally 20%), free photopass and parking. Also only this tier is the only pass that offer early magic hours access to allow access to the parks an hour before park opening. Cost of €699.
All passes will now also be digitally accessible on the Disneyland Paris app.
My opinion
I've been an annual pass member since January and have been a few times this year and I have loved the little things and felt I was getting my money's worth. If they said these where the perks for new members or new passes then it gives the customer a choice however by taking away the perks from existing members its a terrible decision to put existing members in the firing line it feels like a slap in the face and certainly will not be renewing next year. Disney announced the passes as followed:
Big oof and believe me this did not go unnoticed with the community. paying more for less is just rubbish and its probably unlikely that Disney will change but if anything changes I'll update.
Bastille Day Magic
Friday the 14th marked Bastille day in Paris and boy did Disneyland Paris they put on a show. using drone technology which they introduced with the park's 30th Anniversary celebrations with the Disney D-Light show combined with some of Disney and Pixar's French inspired film, from Beauty and the Beast to Ratatouille to the Hunchback of Notre Dame
The show is introduced by Lumiere in drone form for the first time all the way to the famous windows of the Notre Dame Cathedral.
There's no doubt about it drone tech will propagate through the other parks and it's even started with the Tokyo Disneyland Resort using drones for their 40th Anniversary night show. in a few years as technology improves I'm sure night shows at Disney Parks will have drones as staple part of the show.
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