When Disney began to reopen the parks in 2020, guests learned that free FastPasses would not be reinstated. FastPasses were used to allow guests to forgo some ride queues throughout the parks. As the free FastPasses were phased out, they were replaced with paid options that gave guests the option of skipping standard queues.
Post-Pandemic Changes
Disneyland’s Magic Keys program offered pricing that was in line with the annual passes and included some additional perks such as private lounges, passholder exclusive gifts of art prints, and sunglasses. However, the limited availability of park reservations for passholders led to unhappy guests.
Genie Plus has been met with mixed reviews in Disneyland. Currently, Genie Plus charges $20 per day per person and gives guests the option to ride certain rides by selecting the rides in advance and then entering the queue through “Lightning Lanes.” With Genie Plus, high-demand rides like Rise of the Resistance require an additional charge of up to $20 for access to Lightning Lanes.
At Walt Disney World, guests have found that many of the available slots for rides tend to fill up very early in the morning, leading to disappointed guests. The company responded by informing guests that they may only be able to book one or two rides or experiences each day for their $15 Genie Plus pass.
Disneyland has notified its guests that customer demand is now having an impact on the ability of guests to use Genie Plus to secure line-skipping access.
A solution to these problems is currently being used by Disneyland Paris, and of course, as you may have guessed, it comes at a price.
Disneyland Paris Premier Access Ultimate
The summer of 2021 saw the debut of “Premier Access” in Disneyland Paris. This program allows guests to purchase Individual Lightning Lane access, costing anywhere from $8 to $20 per ride. Genie Plus followed soon afterward and experts think the programs in Disneyland Paris are a preview of what is coming down the pike to Disney Parks in the U.S.
Now Disneyland Paris has introduced “Premier Access Ultimate.” This option grants guests the perk of selecting 12 rides throughout their park day for a pricey 90 euros (about $95) per person, in addition to the cost of a park ticket.
Many speculate that similar systems will come to Disneyland and Walt Disney World, which would assure guests access to rides in high demand. Of course, such a guarantee would not come cheap.
Competitors Already Do This
Both the Orlando and Hollywood locations of Universal Studios Parks already offer this type of ticket option. It is called “Universal Express.” This option grants guests access to shorter lines similar to the Disneyland Paris “Premier Access Ultimate.”
As an example of how much extra money this could mean to your wallet, in California the Universal Express Ticket costs between $189 and $289, while a general admission ticket goes from $109 to $134. Orlando’s general admission ticket ranges from $109 to $144, with the add-on express pass tacking on an additional $79 to $259. Universal Studios Park in Orlando also has an unlimited express option that is even more expensive.
Premier Access was introduced in Disneyland Paris in the summer of 2021. Soon after Genie Plus came to Walt Disney World, followed by late fall in Disneyland.
Some industry observers are predicting that both Walt Disney World and Disneyland could see a similar version of Premier Access Ultimate in around six months.
Would you pay extra for Premier Access Ultimate?