[attach id=445760 size="medium"]Disneyland Paris is facing a pricing probe amid claims that it charges British tourists more than its French customers, according to a report. Photo: Ian West/PA[/attach]
British holidaymakers are being charged more to go to Disneyland Paris than their French counterparts, the European Commission has said.
EC sources say complaints against the theme park are just the tip of the iceberg, with claims of discrimination on the basis of nationality also being made against Spanish hotels, Austrian ski lift firms and the city of Venice.
Disneyland Paris is facing a pricing probe after it was found that British visitors can be charged up to 15 per cent more than French nationals.
EU rules allow for price differences between member countries but state that all citizens, regardless of nationality, should have the opportunity to purchase the cheaper tickets.
A spokeswoman for the EC said consumers were “often prevented from getting the best price” and confirmed the Commission were “scrutinising a number of complaints, including several against Disneyland Paris”.
She added: “Discrimination can take place in several ways.
“Sometimes service providers automatically re-direct consumers to their country-specific website, often with less attractive prices and offers.
“Sometimes they simply refuse delivery to the consumer's country of residence.”
According to the theme park’s UK site, disneylandParis.co.uk, a family of two adults and two children would pay £232 for a one-day park ticket whereas a family of the same size booking on the French version, disneylandparis.fr, are offered the same ticket for £199.
A spokesman for Disneyland Paris said the company offers EU citizens different deals throughout the year by offering “market-specific promotions” adding that customers had the opportunity to take advantage of the prices from other countries.
He said: “Promotions take into consideration factors specific to people in the local market, such as their school holiday calendar and booking patterns. Anyone aware of a promotion running in a market not local to them, can contact the central reservations office and request to make that specific booking.”
However, the Press Association encountered difficulties when trying to book the cheaper French tickets through the central reservations office, constantly being referred back to the British office.
French authorities now have the responsibility to ensure Disneyland Paris is complying with the EU rules, said an EC source.
It has always been the case that our offers from every country are available through the call centre
Christophe Murphy, vice president of Disneyland Paris, said offers should be able to be bought from a different country through the reservations office, as it has been protocol for “many years”.
He added: “It has always been the case that our offers from every country are available through the call centre.”
Though Disney would not comment on the EC investigation, Mr Murphy said the way promotions were handled is “something we will have to look at”.
Disney fan Adam Goodger, 34, said he had been aware of the price differences for some time. Mr Goodger who runs unofficial fan website britdisney.com, said: “I’m surprised because it doesn’t fit in with their ethos.
“It might be that they didn’t purposefully set out to offer some people cheaper tickets.”
The complaints made to the EC were submitted through the European Consumer Centre for Services, a body assisting consumers across the EU.
ECC executive Jane Negus called on Disneyland Paris to be “a lot more transparent” following Mr Murphy’s claims that Britons can access other promotions .
She said: “If consumers could have purchased the cheaper tickets through the call centre, that should be made clearer on the website.
“If the European Union is a single market, does that not mean that consumers should have access to prices that are the same across the board?”
Tips for getting the best deals
The European Commission is investigating Disneyland Paris after it was revealed British holidaymakers are being charged more for tickets than French tourists.
Disneyland Paris said they offer different promotions.
Bob Atkinson, of holiday comparison service TravelSupermarket, gives his top tips for getting the best deal when travelling abroad.
Should I book online?
“When booking things like holiday park and attraction passes as well as local transport cards and museum visit passes, check online for the best prices.
“Visit a variety of other websites, including those in other languages as sometimes they’ll offer better promotions on popular attractions and theme parks, and according to EU law should be accessible to foriegners as well as those from that nation.
“Look out as well for voucher offers for reduced admissions.”
When should I book?
“Book at the right time – when booking your holiday you should either look to book your holiday early, and take advantage of the January holiday sales, or book at the last minute and make the most of late deals.
“Check school holiday dates in the country you are visiting – demand for holidays isn’t just affected by your home country’s school holiday dates.
“The country that you are visiting may also be in the middle of its school holiday period, which may result in increased prices.
“Depending on where you visit, it’s possible to travel abroad during the school holidays without visiting a country that is also having their school break.”
When is the best time to travel?
“If possible opt to travel at unsociable times – while it is not always ideal to travel in the middle of the night (particularly with kids), it can save you some money.
“Also try to avoid weekend travel if possible.
“Travelling on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays is usually more expensive than travelling in the week, so be sure to check whether flying a couple of days earlier or later would reduce the cost of your flights.”