Disneyland Paris rejects price discrimination claim

Disneyland Paris on Wednesday denied allegations that it overcharges customers from certain countries a day after the European Commission said it had launched a probe.

"Our prices are strictly the same everywhere in the European Union, apart from exchange rates," Disneyland Paris vice president Julien Kauffmann told AFP, adding the only other variations concern special offers.

"The only difference at any given time is linked to the fact we make special offers that are not necessarily the same, and not available at the same time in all European countries," Kauffmann said.

"Needs are not fundamentally the same in all countries. In Italy or Spain, we'll more likely offer packages including meals or free transport, while in France -- where people often arrive in their own cars -- we will offer the same discount applicable to a hotel room," he said.

Kauffmann said the timing of the offers varied by country because "an English (visitor) will reserve a holiday six months to a year in advance, while with the French it's four to six months ahead."

- 'Scrutinising complaints' -

The response came after the European Commission announced Tuesday it had opened an investigation into Disneyland Paris's pricing practices after it received complaints that the amusement park east of Paris was altering prices in different countries -- which would be in violation of EU rules.

"The European Commission and European Consumer Centres frequently receive consumer complaints involving unjustified differences in treatment on the grounds of nationality or residence," a European Commission spokeswoman said in a statement to AFP.

"We are currently scrutinising a number of complaints, including several against Disneyland Paris," she said.

The announcement of the probe came amid reports that Europe's biggest amusement park was being investigated for overcharging British and German customers.

The Financial Times reported that Disney charged French visitors 1,346 euros ($1,487) for a premium package, while Britons were charged 1,870 euros and Germans a whopping 2,447 euros.

Customers from France generate 50 percent of the park's income, followed by visitors from Britain, Spain and Italy.

Kauffmann noted, however, that Disneyland Paris's website does not engage in geo-blocking, meaning visitors are free to consult prices on offer in other countries. Should they prefer to take advantage of deals available in other countries, he added, they may do so by reserving them through their local call centre.

Kauffmann said the company had not yet received notification of the probe from either the European Commission or French authorities, who have the responsibility of ensuring that Disneyland Paris is complying with EU fair trade laws, according to an EU source.

The case comes just days after Disney was among several Hollywood studios targeted in a separate investigation as part of a wider Commission crackdown on unfair treatment of consumers.

US firms have borne the brunt of the crackdown, with high-profile cases launched against Google, Apple and Amazon.

Last week, the Commission accused Sky TV and six top Hollywood studios including Disney of breaching antitrust laws by using movie licenses to block access to pay TV content in other European countries.