Disney and Ticketmaster Launch Buy Now- Pay Later Program

Disney’s Launches New Installment Plans For Broadway Shows

Disney and Ticketmaster have rolled out another way to take your money…this time more slowly over a period of several months. The ever popular Buy Now - Pay Later plan, courtesy of Klarna, has found its way to Broadway. The program is likely familiar to frequent online shoppers across the internet since Klarna advertises its installment plans on a whole host of retail and other purchasing categories.

Klarna (a Swedish company founded in 2005) has made quite a name for itself in the layaway market, servicing hundreds of online outlets including popular retailers like Nike, Instacart, Sunglass Hut, Urban Outfitters, Rooms To Go, 1-800-Flowers, Petco, Juicy Couture, Goldbelly, Victoria’s Secret, Wayfair, Neutrogena, The Vitamin Shoppe and even Harley Davidson. The list goes on and on. It was bound to reach Broadway eventually and now its here.

Broadway Shows Using Klarna

Currently, Disney only has two shows running on Broadway: Aladdin (which just celebrated its 10th anniversary) and The Lion King (still going strong after more than 25 years). The latter of Disney’s juggernauts sells their tickets exclusively through Broadway-Direct, a platform on which Klarna’s installment plan is not yet available. Apparently, Simba does not approve.

But for audiences wanting to spend some quality time in Aladdin's Agrabah, they now have a couple of additional purchasing options when it’s time to check out.

Just before confirming payment, consumers may choose to pay over time in four interest-free payments or six lower monthly payments with an added surcharge. For example, if the total ticket price comes to $211.48, each monthly payment on the four month interest-free plan would run $52.87. But over six months, each payment would run $37.33 for a total of $223.98, effectively adding a nominal $12.50 to the total purchase.

The Merchant of Disney, Taking You For A [Magic Carpet] Ride

While not quite as nefarious as a pound of flesh, Disney keeps finding new ways to get consumers to reach for their wallets. Yes, the layaway plan seems like a way to give lower income folks more access to what’s often seen as elitist entertainment, but it’s Disney so they can’t leave well enough alone. In addition to these new payment plans, shoppers are also offered ticket enhancements at the point of purchase. One such add-on is parking, which admittedly makes logical sense to poeple who have cars - which is neither NYC locals or tourists.

Oh but there’s more. Most audiences— especially the kids— consider merch as part of the experience of seeing a show. If you don’t come home with a tote bag full of goodies, did you even see the Broadway show at all? Disney now encourages consumers to buy items like pen sets, ornaments and genie lamps prior to entering the building! While some parents might consider this a timesaver, Disney is literally banking on taking your money coming and going. How? Well, no advance souvenir will preclude a screaming child from demanding a magic carpet upon leaving the theatre.

Disney No Stranger To Cash Grabs

Disney’s unethical cash-grabs are not limited to Broadway— the practices are running rampant at the Disney parks as well. One such example is the ending of the free fast-pass at Magic Kingdom and its replacement with the rather expensive Genie-Plus. First pay a hefty sum to get into the park - then pay again to get onto any of the rides. Disney is a real genius in squeezing money out of people.

Buy Now, Pay The Real Price For It Later?

If the buyer can afford to choose the interest-free plan, there’s absolutely no reason not to do it, so long as they are confident in their ability to make every single payment without fail. However, here’s the catch. If a payment is late or missed, a substantial penalty will be incurred and Klarna will also immediate apply a high interest rate to the remaining balance.

So while this is certainly a tempting option for avid patrons who may be temporarily strapped for cash, there are long-term risks and severe implications should the payments not be made in full and on time, like any other credit system.