Disney has introduced gross sales resuming for its Magic Key Annual Pass program at Disneyland and California Adventure at this time (January 17, 2023). This put up covers pricing, dates, particulars, previous precedent, and every little thing else you may need to know.
As a fast recap, Disneyland’s overhauled Annual Pass program debuted in August 2021 with a brand new title, larger costs, and required reservations for all tiers. Demand was excessive from the outset, with a digital queue and all-day waits to buy Magic Key Annual Passes on launch day. (At this level, a multi-hour digital queue is the rule, somewhat than the exception.)
Late that October, Disneyland paused gross sales on the highest stage Dream Key. This got here as park reservations have been nearly completely gone for weekends over three months into the long run. Then in November, the Believe Key additionally bought out amidst the same scarcity of reservation availability.
That left solely the Enchant Key and Imagine Key out there for buy. At the start of this summer season, each of those had their statuses change to “Currently Unavailable” on Disneyland.com. This coincided with the summer season season blockouts for the lower-tiered APs. Once summer season ended, renewals resumed for present Keyholders with tweaks and better costs, however not new gross sales.
Then out of left subject, Disneyland Resort resumed gross sales of choose Magic Key Annual Passes simply because the busy Christmas 2022 season began. The Inspire, Believe and Imagine APs all resumed new gross sales, with the Enchant move will stay unavailable for brand new gross sales however remains to be out there for present move holders to resume.
“With an incredible year ahead, we’re happy to open new sales for select Magic Key passes in time for holiday giving and to create opportunities for guests to treat themselves and their families to a year full of experiences during the upcoming Disney100 celebration,” a Disneyland official stated in a press release.
This was extremely short-lived. After solely a pair days of gross sales–full with a digital queue to entry the gross sales web page with a wait time of 8 to 10 hours–Disneyland suspended all Magic Key gross sales. With that, the query of when Disneyland would resume Magic Key gross sales in 2023 is as soon as once more being requested.
In hindsight, none of this could come as a shock. Back when the brand new Magic Keys have been introduced, Disneyland Resort said: “Pass types may be limited in quantity, and may not be available for purchase or renewal at any time.”
A Disneyland spokesperson indicated that passes had bought out “due to the popularity of the new Magic Key program and in order to deliver a great guest experience for all guests.” However, it’s additionally noteworthy that this occurred on the day earlier than Thanksgiving final yr, at a time when reservations have been extraordinarily restricted or downright unavailable for normal ticket holders.
By Disney’s personal admission, the choice to droop new Magic Key gross sales occurred as a consequence of anticipated crowds at Disneyland Resort in the course of the vacation season. As quickly because the higher-tier Magic Key gross sales have been suspended final vacation season, extra reservations opened up for normal tickets.
Given the prolonged digital queue and the way rapidly gross sales have been paused earlier than, it’s best to completely be a part of the digital queue ASAP in case you have been shut out previously. Even although we’re presently within the winter low season and gross sales simply resumed a pair months in the past–so demand ought to be decrease and extra capability ought to be larger, that’s solely in concept.
In actuality, how lengthy Magic Key gross sales will proceed is anybody’s guess. The draw back of attempting to purchase now’s that you just is perhaps in a digital queue for 8-10 hours if you happen to attempt to purchase at this time…and may wait ~quarter-hour if you happen to as an alternative wait till tomorrow morning at 6 am. The draw back of ready till then is that gross sales could have already concluded.
Let’s begin with an summary of what every tier of Magic Key Annual Passes presents for individuals who are debating which to purchase…
Imagine Magic Key – $449
(Only out there for Southern California Residents dwelling in zip codes 90000 to 93599)
- Reservation-based admission to at least one or each theme parks choose days of the yr.
- Hold as much as 2 theme park reservations at a time
- 10% off choose merchandise
- 10% off choose eating
- 25% off choose parking
Enchant Magic Key – Renewal Only
- Reservation-based admission to at least one or each theme parks choose days of the yr.
- Hold as much as 4 theme park reservations at a time
- 10% off choose merchandise
- 10% off choose eating
- 25% off choose parking
Believe Magic Key – $1099
- Reservation-based admission to at least one or each theme parks most days of the yr.
- Hold as much as 6 theme park reservations at a time
- 10% off choose merchandise
- 10% off choose eating
- 50% off commonplace theme park parking (excluding blockout days, and out there for buy at Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, Pixar Pals Parking Structure and the Toy Story Parking Area)
Inspire Magic Key – $1599
- Reservation-based admission to at least one or each theme parks besides December 21 via January 1
- Hold as much as 6 theme park reservations at a time for various dates
- Includes PicturePass
- Up to twenty% off choose merchandise
- Up to fifteen% off choose eating
- Standard theme park parking included (excluding blockout days)
Here’s a facet by facet comparability chart from Disneyland’s Magic Key gross sales web page:
Note: New move gross sales shall be paused every evening at 10:00 PM Pacific Time. Guests will stay within the queue in a single day, so long as they continue to be related to the community and maintain their browser window open. Pass gross sales will resume no sooner than 9:00 AM Pacific Time, the next day.
If any passes are nonetheless out there when it’s your flip, you’ll have 10 minutes to enter the location. Entering the location doesn’t assure the power to buy any Magic Key move.
Here’s the hyperlink to hitch the digital queue for Magic Key new gross sales: disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/evaluate/
A digital queue system is getting used, which implies that if you happen to get in line at 10 am on the dot, you may need your renewal accomplished by 10:37 pm at this time…or 10:37 am on January 18, 2023.
We’re not kidding. Last yr, the digital queue for preliminary Magic Key purchases was brutal, lasting properly into the night. With this being renewals solely, our hope is that it’s a bit much less painful. (Wishful considering, most likely!)
As for theories as to why Magic Key gross sales maintain being paused for thus lengthy, one is that the corporate is embracing the “Disney Vault” technique of making demand via shortage, or somewhat, perceived shortage. It’s potential that Disneyland has survey information exhibiting a excessive dissatisfaction ranking amongst Magic Key purchasers and low intent to resume.
That wouldn’t be in the least stunning, particularly with the problem some APs have reported in securing reservations. However, if these identical followers consider they won’t have the ability to merely buy passes at their leisure down the highway, they could err on the facet of warning and renew when their time comes.
In our view, the most important issue is almost certainly demand. As said above, Disneyland theme park reservations have been onerous to ebook for months, with many dates–even in what ought to be the low season filling up weeks prematurely. Availability is unquestionably getting higher, however a part of that’s most likely as a consequence of the truth that the preferred Magic Keys have solely been bought intermittently for the final yr.
It’s additionally not as if Disneyland is setting apart availability for patrons of standard tickets and the parks are going largely empty regardless of the dearth of AP reservations. To the opposite, our constant expertise at Disneyland for the final yr has been larger than regular ‘feels like’ crowds and congestion.
Diminished reservation availability has been exacerbated by the truth that Disneyland nonetheless is working under 100% capability. It’s not as unhealthy as Walt Disney World, however some exhibits are nonetheless darkish, not all atmospheric leisure is again, and never each venue within the park (eating, specifically) is totally environment friendly as a consequence of staffing shortages.
This is generally “invisible” to visitors and could appear insignificant within the grand scheme of issues–but it surely’s really decreasing attendance limits by a significant quantity. During latest earnings calls, the corporate acknowledged that each Disneyland and Walt Disney World are nonetheless working with undisclosed capability caps in place, not for the sake of security however as a consequence of an absence of staffing and different sources. Suffice to say, the self-imposed limitations on attendance impression Magic Key gross sales, as Disneyland would (understandably) somewhat prioritize common ticket patrons who spend extra per go to.
Ultimately, it’ll be fascinating to see what occurs with Magic Key move purchases going ahead. Will there be one other digital queue lasting properly into the night tonight…tomorrow…past? Or, have many locals gotten their Disney “fix” (or have been most in a position to buy APs after they have been briefly on sale final November? Will the upper costs end in a major variety of folks being priced out, or is there an insatiable need for all issues Disney amongst locals? Will former Magic Key Passholders take a wait and see strategy, or will the ‘Disney Vault’ perceived shortage technique spike gross sales even additional?
As we’ve stated in numerous posts, it’s nonetheless our perception that issues aren’t too removed from normalizing. (You may name it wishful–or delusional–considering!) At some level, pent-up demand fizzles out, inflation on requirements influences discretionary spending, and the stimulus cash plus what folks saved in the course of the pandemic goes to be depleted. Perhaps Disney is anticipating–or already seeing–the identical, and that explains the return of Magic Keys regardless of the kickoff of the Disney100 celebration being proper across the nook on January 27, 2023.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site lodges in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For the place to eat, take a look at our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, take a look at What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides past Disney, take a look at our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of different locations!
Your Thoughts
What do you concentrate on the Magic Key gross sales resuming? Will you shopping for an Annual Pass or not? If so, which one? If not, why not? Thoughts on the value will increase, blockout dates, or the rest? Have you had issue making Disneyland park reservations? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Hearing your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!