The consumer protection agency DGCCRF has fined Disneyland Paris €400,000 for misleading business practices related to their annual passes. This decision followed complaints and protests from subscribers over restrictive conditions and inadequate communication.
Fine for Misleading Business Practices
Disneyland Paris, operated by Euro Disney Associés, has been fined €400,000 by the French consumer protection agency DGCCRF. The fine was imposed due to misleading business practices associated with the park's annual passes.
Issues with the Old Annual Passes
Former annual passes such as Infinity, Magic Plus, and Magic Flex theoretically offered access for 365, 350, and 300 days per year, respectively. In practice, however, subscribers were required to make a “mandatory advance reservation,” and “daily quotas” often prevented access on desired days. These restrictive conditions caused significant dissatisfaction among users.
Protests from Subscribers
At the end of 2022, several dozen subscribers gathered in front of the park to protest against the restrictive access conditions. The protests were organized by the website “les Oreilles jaunes.” These and other complaints eventually led to an investigation by the consumer protection agency.
Criticism from the Consumer Protection Agency
The DGCCRF particularly criticized the inadequate communication regarding the access restrictions of the annual passes. This lack of transparency led to misunderstandings and disappointments among many subscribers.
Introduction of New Annual Passes
In July 2023, Disneyland Paris replaced the old annual subscriptions with new categories: “Bronze,” “Silver,” and “Gold.” These new subscriptions eliminated daily quotas but were introduced with significant price increases. The costs rose by 26% for “Bronze,” 56% for “Silver,” and 40% for “Gold.”
Consequences and Impact
The fine and conviction represent a significant financial burden for Disneyland Paris. To address user criticism, the old annual subscriptions were overhauled. However, the new price increases might lead to a loss of consumer trust, as customers now have to pay more for their subscriptions.
Background Information
The issues with the old annual passes and the subsequent protests and complaints led to an investigation by the consumer protection agency. The changes and price increases for the new subscriptions took place after a three-month interruption in July 2023.
Involved Organizations and Media
In addition to Disneyland Paris and the consumer protection agency DGCCRF, the website “les Oreilles jaunes” and the media outlet “60 millions de consommateurs” played a central role in uncovering and publicizing the issues.
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