Palace Entertainment Splish Splash $1 Million Settlement Over Ticket Fee Disclosure

Palace Entertainment (Festival Fun Parks LLC), which runs the Splish Splash waterpark, agreed to a $1 million class action settlement after a customer alleged that the company did not clearly disclose processing fees during the online ticket-buying flow. The lawsuit involved people who purchased electronic tickets on Splishsplash.com between Aug. 29, 2022, and March 5, 2024, and paid a processing fee. Under the settlement, eligible purchasers can submit a claim for a cash payment that is calculated pro rata based on the total processing fees paid and the number of valid claims—meaning payouts vary depending on how many people apply. The case was filed to address the alleged “timing” and transparency of fee disclosure, with the plaintiff claiming it violated a New York law intended to ensure consumers are properly informed before they commit to a purchase—here, before customers select tickets online. While the company denied wrongdoing, it chose to settle to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation, a common reason class actions end without a final court ruling on the merits. More broadly, disputes like this reflect a growing focus on online “surprise fees,” and they echo other consumer-protection actions involving ticketing, hidden charges, and misleading checkout practices—areas closely tied to state consumer statutes and, in the ticketing context, evolving standards for clear up-front pricing. For industry context, ticket sellers and venues that use electronic checkout systems must ensure fees are disclosed in a way that complies with applicable state requirements and consumer-protection rules, since regulators and courts have increasingly scrutinized whether consumers receive meaningful notice before purchase. This settlement fits that pattern by targeting processing-fee transparency in the digital ticketing journey, offering affected customers a pathway to recovery without further litigation. Eligible class members can file claims online or by mail, with payments issued after final court approval, and the claim deadline is Aug. 10, 2026