Disney’s annual pass programs allow frequent visitors to enter the parks multiple times a year, often with added perks such as merchandise discounts, early access to events, and invitations to limited-time offerings.
Those benefits also come with rules. Passholders are expected to follow Disney’s code of conduct, respect cast members, and comply with park policies.
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When those rules are broken, Disney has shown it will act. In 2018, the Orange County Register reported that Disneyland Resort revoked passes belonging to guests who purchased large amounts of merchandise specifically to resell it outside the parks.
More recently, park security overseas noticed a pattern that prompted a police investigation.
Investigation Leads to Arrest of 28 Disney Passholders
According to Daily Economic News, a gang of 28 passholders was recently arrested.
The investigation began after security teams at Shanghai Disneyland noticed repeated incidents inside retail locations.
Several guests were stopped while leaving the gift shops after taking merchandise without paying. Each of the individuals reportedly claimed they had “forgotten” to pay for the items.
In early March, the park’s security manager reported the situation to the Pudong Public Security Bureau’s International Tourism and Resort Area Management Branch.
Authorities later discovered that all of the individuals involved held a Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass.
Police reviewed CCTV footage from the park and identified members of three groups connected to the activity.
On March 12, authorities arrested 28 individuals believed to be involved in the operation.
Investigators later determined the suspects had allegedly been stealing plush dolls from the park’s stores.
The items targeted were limited-edition plush toys with an official retail price of about 300 yuan, or roughly $44.
After taking them, the suspects allegedly resold the toys to tourists nearby for around 30 yuan — roughly $4.
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Police say the three groups are linked to more than 100,000 yuan, or about $14,500, in illegal proceeds.
Authorities have since warned the park to strengthen internal security measures, including increasing patrols and improving merchandise management systems.
Officials also asked visitors to report suspicious activity or unusually low-priced merchandise to cast members or police.
High Demand for Shanghai Disney Merchandise
Demand for certain merchandise at Shanghai Disneyland has been unusually intense in recent years.
Limited-edition releases, particularly plush toys from the Duffy and Friends line, often draw long queues and rapid sellouts. The character Duffy and related figures have become a major merchandise success in Asian Disney parks.
Some releases have triggered overnight lines and heavy resale activity. In 2025, a Duffy-themed merchandise collection sold out almost instantly and prompted fans to queue for up to 14 hours at the park.
Disney has occasionally taken unusual steps to manage demand.
During one recent release, the park temporarily halted in-park sales of a merchandise line after scalpers bought large quantities and began reselling them at higher prices online.
The popularity of characters such as LinaBell — a pink fox introduced at Shanghai Disneyland — has also fueled the collecting culture around the park’s merchandise. Fans quickly began reselling the toys online when they launched.
Against that backdrop, limited merchandise can become highly sought after — making it an attractive target for resellers.
Large organized theft rings remain rare, but one-off incidents are all too common.
Earlier this week, a 27-year-old Florida resident was arrested after allegedly stealing 50 Disney Trading Pins valued at about $900 from a store at Disney Springs.
Another unusual incident occurred at Disney Springs last September.
A burglar reportedly swam across the water wearing a scuba suit to reach Paddlefish before entering the manager’s office and taking between $10,000 and $20,000 in cash.
Police have also responded to suspected grand theft incidents at the parks themselves, including both Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in December 2025.
Meanwhile, guests have complained about pickpocketing incidents at Disneyland Paris – particularly in the Disney Village area and near the resort’s bus stops.
Have you ever witnessed theft at a Disney theme park?
