Sales of Magic Key Passes at Disneyland Resort Resume

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

January 17, 2023

 

Disney is following through on a promise made just seven days ago – that Magic Keys (California’s version of annual passes) would be available “from time to time” throughout the year, as “inventory becomes available.” 

 

That time is now.  Disneyland Resort is once again selling its Magic Key passes, a magical feat that began Tuesday morning at 9:00 am (PT). So jump on it before you lose out if you are one of those guests who has been waiting. The last time the Keys went on sale, they were sold out in a matter of hours.

Currently, the available passes include:

Inspire: $1599
Believe: $1099
Enchant: $699 (Unavailable for new sales, renewals only)

Imagine: $449 (Southern California Residents only)

 

Blockout dates and varying perks apply for each level, so be sure to check the Key listings carefully…and quickly. Magic Keys are available at the Disneyland website, and new pass sales are available online only.

 

According to Disney, Magic Key pass availability is limited, and being in the queue does not guarantee the ability to purchase any Magic Key pass. When they are sold out, they are sold out, regardless of your presence in the queue. 

 

And here’s a very significant add-on:  Purchasers need to be aware that new pass sales will be paused each night at 10:00 pm (PT). Disney explained that guests will remain in the queue overnight, as long as they remain connected to the network and keep their browser window open. Pass sales will resume no earlier than 9:00 am (PT), the following day.

 

Guests will have 10 minutes to enter the site when their turn comes up. Entering the site does not guarantee the ability to purchase any Magic Key pass.

As of this writing, wait times were more than an hour. Expect that time to go up, as the Keys are in high demand, and the news of the sales begins to spread.

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Disneyland Resort Resumes Selling Three of the Four Magic Key Annual Passes

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

November 17, 2022

 

(Update, November 18, 2022: One day after announcing that three of four Disneyland Magic Key annual passes went back on sale, Disney announced that those sales were stopped.)

 

Run – don’t walk – if you’ve been waiting to purchase annual passes to Disneyland’s theme parks in California. Three of the four Magic Key annual passes went back on sale yesterday, via either the Disneyland app or the Disneyland website, and one never knows when those sales will again come to an abrupt halt, as they did back in the spring. The last of the passes ceased sales in May, with the higher tiers unavailable since fall of 2021.

Disney warns that passes or certain pass types are subject to limited availability, so if you were planning on getting those passes as Christmas gifts, or heading to the parks for a 2023 vacation, get on your computer quickly. 

 

After a six-month drought, the passes are returning at the same prices they were previously offered. The only pass not currently for sale is the Enchant pass; however, those holding existing Enchant keys will be able to renew them as long as they renew BEFORE their passes expire.  

 

Magic Key prices are:

 

• Inspire: $1,599

• Believe: $1,099

• Enchant: $699 (only for renewals)

• Imagine: $449 (however, they are available to Southern California residents in certain zip codes only)

 

Each pass comes with its own set of block out dates, as well as differing “perks” per level, including varying numbers of reservations that can be held at one time; differing discounts on food and merchandise;  and varying inclusions on parking, PhotoPass offers, and Genie+ discounts.

 

Because of high demand, Disney has established a virtual queue for purchasing the Magic Keys; as of the writing of this article this morning, the wait time in the queue was estimated to be more than an hour before entering the actual purchase link.

 

Could the availability of the Magic Keys have something to do with Disney’s poor showing at last week’s Q4 earnings report?  With inflation looming, dips in stock prices, and news of layoffs and hiring freezes, Disney may be realizing they need the influx of cash from those annual pass holders after all.  There’s been no word yet as to whether annual pass sales will resume at Disney World in Florida.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

Disneyland Raising Magic Key Annual Pass Prices

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 16, 2022

 

Here’s the good news… existing Disneyland Magic Keyholders will be able to renew their annual passes starting this week, if they are within their renewal window.  The bad news?  It’s going to cost a lot more. Even more painful? They will get fewer days for their dollars. 

 

More bad news for those waiting to grab annual passes that don’t have them yet… Magic Key passes for new Keyholder hopefuls will not be available while Disneyland works on processing renewals for current passholders.

Disneyland began selling Magic Keys on August 25 last year, replacing the former annual pass program.  In May 2022, Disneyland paused the sale of the Enchant and Imagine Keys, the last two Magic Key tiers that were still available. The Dream Key had sold out in October 2021, and the Believe Key followed suit in November.

 

According to the Orange County Register, Disneyland will raise Magic Key prices from 8% to 16% when annual pass renewals go on sale to existing passholders on Thursday, August 18, 2022.

 

The new prices for the four Disneyland Magic Key annual passes are: Inspire $1,599; Believe $1,099; Enchant $699; and Imagine $449.  (Imagine is available only to Southern California residents). 

 

The new Inspire Magic Key will increase the cost of the top level pass by $200 (14%), compared to the old Dream Key. The Believe Key will increase by $150 (16%); the Enchant Key is $50 more (8% increase); and the Imagine Key goes up by $50 (13%). 

 

Additionally, the tiers of the annual passes will see some shuffling, with the new Inspire pass replacing the existing Dream Key.  (Dream Keys are not available for renewal.)  The Inspire key will not have park access during the two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Day, meaning that there are no longer any Keys with year-round access. Each tier now comes with block-out dates.

 

As for the perks for the Magic Keys, each Magic Key includes a 20% discount on the purchase of Genie+. The top two tiers, Inspire and Believe, have unlimited PhotoPass digital downloads. Inspire Keys can hold 6 park reservations at a time, and get discounts of 20% off select merchandise and 15% off select food and beverage. Believe Keys can hold 6 park reservations at a time, and get discounts of 10% off select merchandise, food and beverage. Enchant Keys can hold 4 park reservations at a time, and get discounts of 10% off select merchandise, food and beverage. Imagine Keys can hold 2 park reservations at a time, and get discounts of 10% off select merchandise, food and beverage.

 

For parking, the passes include an increasing fee at each level, though they are still discounted from general parking costs. Inspire Keys include free parking; Believe Keys offer a 50% discount; and Enchant and Imagine levels get a 25% discount on parking at the Toy Story lot — when park passes are available and block-out dates are not in effect.  

 

The park reservation process also remains in effect. Specific details on the new tiers can be found by visiting Disneyland.com/Magic-Key, but if you are planning to renew, don’t snooze on it. Disney has said that it may pause sales of certain tiers of the Keys based on demand and limited availability.  California residents will have access to monthly payment plans.

 

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Beth Keating is a theme parks, restaurant and entertainment reporter for DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Disneyland California Stops Sales of “Believe” Key

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

November 24, 2021

 

With Thanksgiving crowds pouring into Disney parks on both coasts, and the Christmas holiday vacationers still to come, Disney has begun restricting sales of its annual pass programs.  On Sunday evening, they suspended sales of 3 of the 4 tiers of their Disney World passes, with only the lowest tier, the Pixie Dust pass, remaining available for Florida residents.  

Today (Wednesday, November 24), Disneyland (California) stopped selling its Believe Key, the second-highest tier of its Magic Key annual passholder program. Disney ceased sales of the top tier “Dream” Key option in October. The two lowest levels of the pass, the Enchant and Imagine Keys, remain available, however the Imagine Key is only available to Southern California residents.

 

According to KTLA in Los Angeles, Disneyland officials said, “Due to the popularity of the new Magic Key program and in order to deliver a great guest experience for all guests, the Believe Key is sold out at this time. The Enchant Key and Imagine Key – the other Magic Key types – remain on sale at this time. All Magic Key holders, including current Dream and Believe Key holders, will continue to have access to Magic Key holder benefits, such as the Magic Key terrace, specialty merchandise, select discounts, an upcoming Magic Key holder month, and many more special experiences, some announced and others yet to be announced.”

 

Disneyland’s Magic Key passes were priced at $1,399 for the Dream Key; $949 for the Believe Key; $649 for the Enchant Key; and $399 for the Imagine Key.  Each key offers a varying range of blockout dates, parking options, and park reservation allotments.

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

 

For You and a Great Christmas Gift! The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution is here! It combines a simple, powerful system for getting things done with encouragement and fun for Disney fans, including those who love Mickey, Marvel, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Pixar, princesses and more. Also, “The Disney Planner 2022: The TO DO List Solution” comes with a handy spiral binding for easy use. 

Yet More Ticket Pain for Disneyland Guests

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

October 25, 2021

 

Our sympathies go out to our fellow Disney fans on the West Coast. They have not been having a good run lately.  On top of the fact that their park was closed much longer than all the other parks (thirteen months!), passholders on the West Coast have been struggling to find theme park reservation availability right now.  As in, booked pretty solid for the next two months… There are currently only 2 days open for Disneyland Park, and less than two dozen weekdays available for California Adventure for the highest tier through the end of the year. Even fewer days are available at the lower tiers.

 

That’s a painful reality on top of the thousands some have shelled out for their new “annual passes,” now called “Magic Keys” on the California shores.

Now comes word that Disneyland’s Dream Level Magic Key (annual pass) has sold out. While that is likely a disappointment for those guests looking for a Key that would allow them unlimited access to Disneyland, it potentially provides some relief for the jammed-up search for open theme park reservations for Key holders.  

 

Dream level ($1,399) was the highest tier of Magic Key passes, giving guests admissions with no block-out dates and entry to both theme parks on any day of the year, as well as 20% off some merchandise, and 15% off some dining. Dream Key guests could hold up to 6 theme park reservations at a time, and standard theme park parking was included.  

The Believe, Enchant, or Imagine Keys are still available at this time, with lower tier perks.

 

For those guests without parking included in their Key passes, it was also announced that the cost of parking at Disneyland Resort will increase from $25 per day to $30 per day.

 

In other distressing news for guests,  Disneyland has changed its ticket tier system, moving from a 5-tier “demand pricing system” for single day tickets to a new 6-tier system. Ticket pricing varies with the time of the year and the day of the week.  The highest demand travel times will now be the Tier 6 level, with the highest ticket costs. For example, Tier 6 will cost a whopping $164 for a 1-day, 1-park ticket. Add on the Park Hopper option for the day, and you hit a single day high of $224.

 

1-day, 1-park tickets on Tier 1 days will stay the same at $104. However, all of the other ticket combinations have been increased by anywhere from $5 to $25. According to the Los Angeles Times,“Daily ticket prices are jumping 3% to 8%, with standard daily parking rates going up by 20%. The parks last raised ticket prices by as much as 5% in February of 2020.”

 

(The Los Angeles Times also notes that the inflation rate in the U.S. was 5.4% for the 12 months that ended in September.)

 

Price increases for 1-day adult tickets include:

• Tier 1: $104 (previously $114)
• Tier 2: $119 (previously $114)
• Tier 3: $134 (previously $124)
• Tier 4: $149 (previously $139)
• Tier 5: $159 (previously $154)
• Tier 6: $164  (new tier)

 

Price increases for single day Park Hopper tickets are:

• Tier 1: $164 (previously $159)
• Tier 2: $179 (previously $169)
• Tier 3: $194 (previously $179)
• Tier 4: $209 (previously $194)
• Tier 5: $219 (previously $209)
• Tier 6: $224 (new tier)

 

Price increases for 1-park per day/multi-day adult tickets are:

• 2-Day tickets: $255 (previously $235)
• 3-Day tickets: $330 (previously $310)
• 4-Day tickets: $360 (previously $340)
• 5-Day tickets: $380 (previously $360)

 

Prices increases for multi-day Park Hoppers:

• 2-Day Park Hopper: $315 (previously $290)
• 3-Day Park Hopper: $390 (previously $365)
• 4-Day Park Hopper: $420 (previously $395)
• 5-Day Park Hopper: $440 (previously $415)

 

Head to the Disneyland website for prices for specific days and calendars for your travel plans, (or ask your friendly travel agent for assistance in maximizing your travel plans as the Disney tiers and reservations systems get more complex). 

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!

Magic Key Program to Replace Annual Passes at Disneyland

 by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 4, 2021

 

Disney is introducing a new annual pass replacement program called the “Magic Key Program,” and beginning August 25, Disneyland fans can start taking advantage of the new program at the California parks.

In making Tuesday’s announcement on the Disney Parks Blog, Michael Ramirez, Public Relations Director at Disneyland Resort, said, “We are pleased to introduce the Magic Key program, a new, guest-centric offering that will deliver choice, flexibility and value for park admission, special access to unique experiences, valuable saving opportunities and so much more. There will be four options of Magic Key passes, to provide our guests and their families with choices that fit various needs and lifestyle preferences for how they wish to visit the Disneyland Resort.”

 

The Magic Key pass allows guests to:

• Make theme park reservations for ongoing visits
• Hold more than one theme park reservation at a time for different dates
• Save up to 15% on select dining
• Save up to 20% on select merchandise
• Enjoy special offerings just for Magic Key holders

 

There are four different levels of Magic Key passes available, with differing block out dates (see Disneyland’s website for specific dates.) Magic Key holders will also be treated to unique benefits, such as dedicated dining experiences, custom menu items at the Magic Key terrace, and special offerings at festivals.  Guests who join the program in the first 66 days (representing Disneyland’s 66^th anniversary) and become charter members will also receive a limited time welcome package.

 

The four Magic Key levels include:

 

Dream Key ($1,399)

• Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks every day of the year.
• Hold up to 6 theme park reservations at a time for different dates
• Up to 20% off select merchandise
• Up to 15% off select dining
• Standard theme park parking included (excluding block out days)

 

Believe Key ($949)

• Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks most days of the year.
• Hold up to 6 theme park reservations at a time
• 10% off select merchandise
• 10% off select dining
• 50% off standard theme park parking (excluding block out days, and available for purchase at Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, Pixar Pals Parking Structure and the Toy Story Parking Area)

 

Enchant Key ($649)

• Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks select days of the year.
• Hold up to 4 theme park reservations at a time
• 10% off select merchandise
• 10% off select dining

 

Imagine Key ($399; Only available for Southern California Residents living in zip codes 90000 to 93599)

• Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks select days of the year.
• Hold up to 2 theme park reservations at a time
• 10% off select merchandise
• 10% off select dining

 

Monthly payment plans will be available for California guests (with a down payment). Head to the Disneyland website for all the specifics on the new program, including a calendar of the block out dates.

 

And in case you are a Disney World guest on the East Coast eagerly awaiting your turn to plunk down the big bucks for your chance at membership, the Disney Parks Blog offers, “For those wondering about Walt Disney World Annual Passes, new pass sales will become available in time for the start of the 50^th anniversary celebration! Walt Disney World Resort will be sharing additional information and details later this month, so be sure to stay tuned to DisneyWorld.com and the Disney Parks Blog.”

 

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

 

Please support the efforts of DisneyBizJournal.com to bring news, analysis and commentary on Disney to readers such as yourself. Make a contribution right here via PayPal. Thanks!