The Disneyland Magic Key Pass is a new annual pass program introduced by Disneyland Resort in California. This pass allows visitors to enjoy the magic of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on select days throughout the year. The main idea is that the Magic Key Pass is a convenient and flexible way for fans to experience the parks. With the Magic Key Pass, visitors can choose from four different tiers based on their preferences and budget: Imagine Key, Enchant Key, Believe Key, and Dream Key. Each tier offers various benefits and privileges, such as access to both parks, special discounts, and other exclusive perks. One of the key advantages of the Magic Key Pass is its flexibility.
Also, now the parks start emptying out earlier vs. being packed at night, because APs would come after work to have dinner and enjoy fireworks and parades. Hopefully Disney will allot enough reservations for the Magic Key Holders for people to make late reservations. I'm sure the crowd level trends will tell the story.
Because we do day trips on the weekends only the options that include Saturday and Sunday make sense to us, but like so many, we usually decided on a whim to go up a day or two beforehand. To me, Enchant looks to be the better option for a casual visitor who wants a pass but doesn t have a regular visiting pattern, while Believe is better for those who regularly visit once or twice per month, particularly if those visits are on weekends.
One of the key advantages of the Magic Key Pass is its flexibility. Passholders have the freedom to visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure on select days, depending on their chosen tier. This means that whether you're a casual visitor or a die-hard fan, there is a pass option that suits your needs.
How to Get the Most from Disneyland's Magic Key Pass
August 4, 2021, 12:02 AM · Now that the Disneyland Resort has introduced its new "Magic Key" annual pass program, the question is - how can you get the most from it?
Knowing the value you can extract from Disneyland's new pass program is essential in deciding whether or not to buy it - and, if you do, which of the four tiers to purchase. Magic Key passes go on sale August 25 on the Disneyland website, with prices ranging from $399 to $1,399. (Monthly no-interest payments are available to California residents.)
If you want the full details on what you get for each of the four Magic Key tiers, please read our previous post, Here's the Scoop on Disneyland's New Annual Pass Program. As one Theme Park Insider reader commented, "they rolled back the prices a couple years, added the constraints of the Flex pass to every tier, renamed the whole thing, and called it a day."
That's spot on. So understanding the old Disney Flex annual pass is the key to understanding Disney's new Magic Key. That pass required guests to make a reservation for the days that they wanted to visit the park. Under the new Magic Key pass, a "Key holder" - as Disney is now calling passholders - may hold from two to six reservations in the next 90 days, depending upon which tier they own. Unlike the old Flex pass, there are no more "Good to Go" days when you can visit without a reservation. Every visit must be reserved in advance now. (And that's true for regular tickets as well as the new Magic Key passes.)
But just because you can hold only up to six reservations in a 90-day period does not mean that you can visit Disneyland and Disney California Adventure only up to six times in a 90-day period. Savvy users of the old Flex pass learned how to roll over their reservations to maximize the number of visits they could make.
When passes go on sale and reservations open on August 25, let's say that you reserve that date and the next five in a row, assuming you bought the top-tier Dream or Believe Keys that allow up to six concurrent reservations. As soon as you enter the park on the 25th, that uses one of your six reservations, freeing space for you to make another to reach your six.
Since you would have reservations already for August 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30, you could then reserve August 31. By rolling over reservations in this way, you could theoretically visit the parks every single day of the year.
Of course, at some point, certain days will "sell out" and no reservations will be available. And certain dates will be blocked out for the bottom three tiers. That's where strategy comes into play. You want to anticipate the high-demand dates that you really, really want to visit the park and that are not blocked for your tier and then make a reservation for those dates exactly 90 days in advance. Then you can use your remaining reservations on a rolling basis to maximize the visits you can make to the park. Here are the blockout calendars for the bottom three tiers: Believe, Enchant, Imagine. The top tier Dream Key has no blockout dates.
Remember that you if you change your mind, you must cancel by the day before you scheduled visit. If you "no show" three times in a 90-day period, you will be locked out of making new reservations for 30 days.
So let's say that you want to visit the park every Saturday. Ignore the $399 Imagine Key, because it is blocked on all weekends. The $649 Enchant Key is unblocked for only 11 Saturdays during the 12 months from September 2021 through August 2022. If you can reserve them all, that works out to $59 a visit, plus parking. That's a better deal than you can get right now on daily tickets, but you might find a better deal with the $949 Believe Key, which is unblocked for 30 Saturdays and allows you six reservations at a time, as opposed to the Enchant Key's four. That would make it easier to actually book more of those 30 Saturdays.
The Believe Key also gets you 50% off parking, which saves you $12.50 per visit. Parking is free with the $1,399 Dream Key, which has no blockout dates and also allows you six reservations at a time.
On the flip side, if you are a southern California resident who is free to visit the park on weekdays, the $399 Imagine Key could work for you, especially if you are aggressive about rolling over your two available reservations to take whatever is available. Forget about visiting during the summer, over Christmas or during spring break - as all those will be blocked for that tier. The Imagine tier is Magic Key's version of the old Southern California Select Pass, but with the new reservation requirement.
Unfortunately, we have no idea at this point how many spaces per day Disneyland has set aside for Magic Key pass users, so we do not know how tough it will be to get reservations. With the old Flex pass, getting in was easy in its first days, but got tricky later on as more people bought that pass.
Magic Key gives Disneyland immense power to manage its crowd levels by adjusting the number of available reservations for Key holders each day, based on available attractions, hotel bookings and expected demand for regular day tickets. But that power could leave some inattentive Key holders squeezed out if they wait too long to reserve the dates they want to visit, especially in lower tiers with lots of blockout dates.
The better solution for casual fans in the area might be the current California Resident Offer (available for $78 a day from our travel partner). But if you are okay with playing the reservation game, Disneyland's new Magic Key might provide you the opportunity to get back into the parks for less money and only a little bit more hassle than before.
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Another highlight of the Magic Key Pass is the array of special offerings and exclusive experiences that passholders can enjoy. These include early entry into the parks, discounts on food and merchandise, and access to unique events and celebrations. This allows passholders to make the most of their Disney experience and create unforgettable memories. To acquire a Magic Key Pass, interested individuals can purchase them online or at the Disneyland Resort ticket booths. It is important to note that availability may be limited, and certain blackout dates may apply depending on the chosen tier. Passholders should also familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions associated with their pass to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience. In conclusion, the Disneyland Magic Key Pass offers a convenient and flexible way for visitors to experience the magic of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure throughout the year. With its different tiers and exclusive benefits, the pass provides a customized and memorable Disney experience. By acquiring a Magic Key Pass, fans can unlock a world of fun and excitement at the happiest place on earth..
Reviews for "The Benefits of Becoming a Disneyland Magic Key Pass Holder"
1. John - 1/5 stars - I was highly disappointed with the Disneyland Magic Key pass. The price was exorbitant for what was offered. The lines were still long, the attractions were crowded, and there were limited benefits for passholders. The supposed discounts and perks were few and far between, making it feel like a waste of money. I regret investing in the Magic Key pass and would not recommend it to anyone looking for a magical experience at Disneyland.
2. Emily - 2/5 stars - As an annual passholder, I had high hopes for the Disneyland Magic Key pass. However, I found it to be a major letdown. The reservation system for entry was frustrating and often led to disappointment as many days were fully booked. Even when I was able to get a reservation, the park was overcrowded and lacked the beloved Disney charm. It seemed like Disney was trying to squeeze as many people in as possible without considering the overall experience. Save your money and opt for a different pass or ticket option if you want a better Disneyland experience.
3. David - 1/5 stars - The Disneyland Magic Key pass was a complete waste of money. The passholder perks were practically non-existent, and the overall experience felt lackluster. The park was consistently overcrowded, making it difficult to fully enjoy the attractions. The available discounts were minimal, and the reservation system was a headache. I would not recommend the Magic Key pass to anyone who wants a truly magical Disney experience. It's better to spend your money on individual tickets or find alternative options for park entry.