Why are Disneyland Paris annual passes so cheap?

[ekatiel]

First, I have to admit that I know nothing about the park-- its scope size, etc. BUT, we have friends who are now living as missionaries in France, and she just posted on FB that they got annual passes to Disneyland Paris for Christmas. She also posted a pic of one of the passes and it had a price on it-- 167 Euros. That's SUPER cheap for an annual pass-- about $200. So, why are they so cheap? I looked up Disneyland (California) passes for comparison and an annual pass with blackout dates is $519. I'm sure California resident passes are cheaper, although I can't see to find those prices online. Why the price difference between the Paris park and the California park? Maybe I need to move to Paris .

 

[Indio]

Maybe because the food is so bad there!!!!!

 

[goodgodmrsmolly]

First, I have to admit that I know nothing about the park-- its scope size, etc. BUT, we have friends who are now living as missionaries in France, and she just posted on FB that they got annual passes to Disneyland Paris for Christmas. She also posted a pic of one of the passes and it had a price on it-- 167 Euros. That's SUPER cheap for an annual pass-- about $200. So, why are they so cheap? I looked up Disneyland (California) passes for comparison and an annual pass with blackout dates is $519. I'm sure California resident passes are cheaper, although I can't see to find those prices online. Why the price difference between the Paris park and the California park? Maybe I need to move to Paris .

Well, nobody goes to Dis Paris. It is having a hard time attracting guests and has been described as run down by some people online. So the passes are cheaper to entice more people to go. I have never been there and really don't see it as a destination that I feel I have to check out ever.

 

[Cyrano]

Moving from WDW board to DLP Board where the folks there may be able to help

 

[figment_jii]

I looked up the prices of a one-day two-park ticket without blockout day and it's £65 (~$80), while a one-day ticket PH for DLR is $150 (yikes!). So the basic ticket prices are very different, so it would make sense that the AP pricing would also be different.

Are you comparing DLP and DLR pricing because they both have two parks? They're in very different markets, so I wouldn't expect the pricing at one to have anything to do with the pricing of the other parks.

 

[torsie24]

I imagine a big part of it is down to the AP prices of other European theme parks. DLRP needs to be on a par with those.

We have a theme park near us and the annual pass for it is £65 (about $100) and that also has a zoo and aquarium.

DLRP therefore can't go crazy high with it's prices.

 

[kizzabel]

Well, nobody goes to Dis Paris. It is having a hard time attracting guests and has been described as run down by some people online. So the passes are cheaper to entice more people to go. I have never been there and really don't see it as a destination that I feel I have to check out ever.

Actually it has the highest visitor numbers of any theme park in Europe and has a huge base of repeat visitors from all across Europe and while in the parks it is common to hear American accents so not everyone shares your views.

I would advise a visit to DLP where you can see many unique sites like Maleificents dragon in the cavery beneath the castle, the views from Sleeping Beauty Castle balacony a and indeed the stained glass and tapestries inside the Castle, Crush's coaster, the wonderful Cinemagique, RD Racer to name but a few.

The main park is large in relation to the US magic kingdoms and I have read countless comparisons by global park visitors who find Disneyland Parc at DLP to be the most beautiful of all the magic kingdoms.
DLP has some financial woes but the past and present CEOs have worked hard and are striving to improve the resorts situation.

We have one beautiful park, one which is improving year on year having just recently added an innovative Ratatouille dark ride and an array of hotels which are all in the process of or just completed renovations and all of this at a very manageable walking distance. It's a pretty ideal set up.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I agree that it has to match the market.....

DLR is frequented in different ways than WDW, and their prices reflect that....

I have been 2x, and it was great! (I even went to DLRP twice before DLR) I literally spent a whole roll of film in 2002 on the castle!

I think many people compare it to the other parks, which doesn't make sense, you need to compare the whole situation, guest profile, and culture surrounding it.....

 

[Jonjo]

The DLP AP prices are set at a price that will attract European and especially French repeat visitors. If they were set on par with US prices the French locals would not buy them and the resort would loose out on a steady income stream from returning visitors, especially at weekends.

The last few weeks have seen the parks reaching capacity at weekends, mostly due to AP holders making weekend visits.

The French and European theme park, and tourist industry (museums, historical building castles, palaces, heritage railways, etc) is a very established and a more sophisticated market place, compared to the US model.

In Europe if the price is too high people would decide not to visit and they would happily go else where. It's only a theme park after all and Europeans spend their leisure Euros and time with care. Especial in these hard times of recession and high unemployment.

 

[Jonjo]

Well, nobody goes to Dis Paris. It is having a hard time attracting guests and has been described as run down by some people online. So the passes are cheaper to entice more people to go. I have never been there and really don't see it as a destination that I feel I have to check out ever.

Well the facts speak for themselves, DLP has the highest attendance of any theme park in Europe, even now during the recession there have been weekends when all the on-site Disney hotels have been fully booked and the park has reached very high capacity levels.

Unfortunately over the last few years maintenance at DLP had to be put on the back burner as the resort was being run to please the banks that virtually managed the parks.

Since 2012 when the resorts debt was bought by TWDC things have been on the up. The lower interest rate on the debt repayments has freed up valuable capital for some much needed maintenance and refurbishment works.

Next month Euro Disney Shareholders will be voting on a recapitalization proposal by TWDC which totals approximately €1 billion. This proposal, if implemented, would improve the cash position of the DLP by approximately €250 million, and reduce the indebtedness by €750 million.