Shanghai court sentences two in Disney VIP queue-jumping scam

The Pudong New Area People's Court of Shanghai has recently handed down prison sentences in a fraud case involving fake VIP queue-jumping packages at Shanghai Disneyland.

Two defendants, surnamed Yao and Wu, were sentenced to 14 months and 10 months in prison, respectively, for the crime of fraud, along with corresponding fines, for contract fraud. Yao initially appealed the verdict but later withdrew the appeal.

According to court documents, between July and August 2024, the defendants designed a scheme advertising Disneyland queue-jumping strategies and quick entry approaches on social media platforms.

They marketed VIP packages ranging from 799 to 4,880 yuan ($112-685) per person, promising priority access to attractions, early park entry, and exclusive guided tours.

The investigation revealed that the defendants had no official partnership with Shanghai Disneyland. After collecting payments, they deployed unlicensed tour guides who either abandoned visitors mid-tour or attempted to provide guidance remotely via WeChat.

The promised FastPass tickets were either not purchased or bought in limited quantities, with the defendants and unauthorized guides splitting the embezzled funds.

When confronted with complaints and refund requests, the fraudsters employed delay tactics and refused reimbursement. The total documented losses amounted to more than 78,000 yuan, affecting multiple victims.

The Pudong court determined that the defendants established multiple travel companies to facilitate their fraud, deliberately misleading customers about their ability to provide premium services.

In an incident from last April reported by local media, a visitor surnamed Ren and her family fell victim to a similar scheme, paying 7,700 yuan for what was advertised as a luxury package and tickets through an online vendor named Shanghai Disney ticketing on Taobao, a popular e-commerce platform.

Upon arrival at the park, the guide demanded a five-star review before providing services. When the family attempted to access the promised FastPass lanes, they discovered their tickets were just standard admission passes. The vendor subsequently attempted to intimidate Ren by revealing knowledge of her home address and threatening to have people follow her family in the park.