One Disney resort has unveiled the end of one controversial (and expensive) upcharge.
If one thing gets diehard Disney fans in a frenzy, it’s anything new. This frenzy isn’t always positive. For proof, just see recent reactions to the debut of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at both Disneyland Resort (where previews are currently ongoing for cast members and Magic Key holders) and Walt Disney World Resort, where the ride’s lack of reliability has drawn harsh criticism from guests – especially those who were upset about Splash Mountain closing in the first place.
One recent addition that had guests in the right kind of frenzy was Fantasy Springs. Home to Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey, Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival, Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure, and Fairy Tinker Bell’s Busy Buggies, the new land debuted at Tokyo DisneySea in June.
Like most things at Tokyo Disney Resort, the land soon charmed guests—even those who hadn’t actually visited the park yet—with its impressive audio-animatronics (seriously, check out the “I See the Light” scene of Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival on YouTube if you haven’t already) and a keen eye for atmospheric details.
However, it also sparked some controversy over the difficulty of access. Upon opening, Fantasy Springs offered three ways to ride the attractions. Guests could either secure a free Standby Pass when they entered the park, purchase Premier Access (again, only available once they entered the park), or purchase a Fantasy Springs Magic Passport.
The latter is only accessible to those with a Fantasy Springs Hotel reservation and starts at 22,900 yen ($149 USD) per person. Combined with the minimum prices for a stay at the Fantasy Springs Hotel (66,000 yen, or $430 USD) per night, that brings the real total cost of a Fantasy Springs Magic Passport to just under $580.
With reservations snapped up months in advance, the first two options quickly became guests’ go-to ways to experience Fantasy Springs. Yet, demand for Standby Passes and Premier Access surged, with waves of eager visitors lining up outside Tokyo Disney Resort as early as 2 a.m., all hoping to secure their chance to enter.
However, it seems like access to Fantasy Springs may become much easier soon. Today, Tokyo Disney Resort quietly announced that its Fantasy Springs Magic Passports will end on March 31, 2025, and guests will no longer be able to add them to their vacation packages.
While Tokyo Disney Resort hasn’t explicitly confirmed that this means guests will be able to freely enter Fantasy Springs like other theme park lands, it does seem likely. Limited access to the land was always going to end at some point, similar to how Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge initially opened with a virtual queue before dropping the requirement completely once demand cooled.
Tokyo Disney Resort is in a transformative phase right now. In July, it closed its original version of Space Mountain, which it is now in the process of demolishing to make space for a newer, bigger, better version of the indoor roller coaster. Later this week, Tokyo Disneyland will also bid adieu to Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters as it prepares to add the world’s first Wreck-It Ralph (2012) attraction to Tomorrowland.
The park will soon also welcome a temporary new version of “it’s a small world” known as “it’s a small world with Groot,” featuring miniature versions of beloved Marvel Studios characters in the style of Mary Blair.
Stay tuned for more info about Fantasy Springs access!
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