Disneyland's new annual pass program has launched: Is the Magic Key worth it?

Since Disneyland discontinued all Annual Passports at the start of 2021, regular visitors to the Happiest Place on Earth have eagerly awaited a new annual pass option. That wait has finally come to an end. Just yesterday, Disneyland unveiled a fresh program to take the place of the old annual passes.

Named Magic Key, this new program for frequent visitors will be available for purchase starting August 25, 2021. Disney has been careful not to label Magic Key as an annual pass, but it operates similarly to the annual pass Disneyland introduced in 2019: the Disney Flex Passport. All guests must now secure advance reservations to enter the parks, although many other features and pricing remain fairly consistent with the previous program.

Overview of Magic Key essentials and pricing tiers

What does the Disneyland Magic Key program entail? And, more crucially, what are the costs involved?

Magic Key presents four distinct pass price tiers, with the lowest tier exclusively available to Southern California residents. Naturally, the highest-priced passes come with the least restrictions, including no blockout dates. The premium passes also offer additional benefits such as parking and enhanced discounts on food and merchandise, while the lower tiers feature more extensive blockout periods and limited perks.

The four Magic Key options are:

Dream Key ($1,399)

• Can hold up to 6 theme park reservations simultaneously
• Receive up to 20% off select merchandise
• Get up to 15% off select dining options
• Standard parking is included

Believe Key ($949)

• Can hold up to 6 theme park reservations at once
• Enjoy 10% off select merchandise
• Receive 10% off select dining
• 50% discount on standard parking

Enchant Key ($649)

• Can hold up to 4 theme park reservations at once
• Get 10% off select merchandise
• Enjoy 10% off select dining

Imagine Key ($399)

(Exclusively available for Southern California residents in zip codes 90000 to 93599)

• Can hold up to 2 theme park reservations at a time
• 10% discount on select merchandise
• 10% discount on select dining

For context, the pricing of the former Annual Passports offered before the 2020 closure is quite comparable to the new Magic Key prices. The most expensive option from last year, the Disney Signature Plus Passport, was $1,449. Similar to the $1,399 Dream Magic Key, the Signature Plus Pass had no blockout dates and included free parking. However, the Signature Plus also came with MaxPass (and PhotoPass), making it slightly different, yet still in the same price range as the Dream Magic Key.

Magic Key passes require reservations

The key new feature of the Magic Key program is that all pass tiers require guests to secure park reservations for entry. Previously, only Disney Flex Passport holders needed to make reservations; other annual passholders could visit anytime, provided they weren't on the blockout lists for their pass tier.

Holders of higher-priced passes can make more reservations simultaneously—up to six for the top two tiers: Dream and Believe. These reservations operate on a rolling basis, allowing Magic Key holders to make a new reservation as soon as one is used.

In theory, a guest with the Dream pass could visit the parks every day of the year, provided reservations are available several days ahead. However, it's unclear how far in advance reservations will fill up until the program launches.

Magic Key holders are limited to making reservations up to 90 days in advance, regardless of their pass type. This is a shorter window compared to regular guests with standard theme park tickets, who can book reservations up to 120 days ahead.

Magic Key blockout schedules

In addition to needing reservations, Magic Key holders face restrictions based on the blockout calendars specific to each pass. While the highest-tier Dream pass has no blockout dates, the other passes do. As expected, the most popular holidays and peak travel periods are the ones that are blocked out.

Blockout dates for the other passes include:

• Believe: Peak periods around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Easter are blocked out, along with several holiday weekends. In total, 20 Saturdays are blocked out between the program's launch and the end of September 2022.
• Enchant: An even larger number of peak dates around Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and Easter are blocked out, along with multiple holiday weekends. The summer season from early June to mid-August is fully blocked. Overall, 42 Saturdays are blocked out from the program's start until the end of September 2022.
• Imagine: Nearly two-thirds of the year is blocked out, making this pass suitable only for the most flexible locals. Summers, major holidays, and all weekends are off-limits, leaving it usable primarily from Monday to Thursday during non-peak weeks.

As you can see, the blockout dates are significant but not entirely unreasonable compared to the previous Annual Passport program. The former second-highest priced Annual Pass, the Disney Signature Passport, had fewer blockout dates than the Believe Magic Key but was priced higher at $1,199 compared to the Believe's $949.

Guests who can only visit the parks on weekends or during school breaks may find that the top-tier Dream pass is their only option. However, at $1,399 for the Dream Magic Key, those guests might ultimately discover that purchasing regular theme park tickets offers better value.

For instance, a guest planning to visit Disneyland for three long weekends each year and buying three-day park hopper tickets at $345 each will end up spending less on regular tickets than on the Dream Magic Key. Conversely, guests with some flexibility who can navigate around blockout dates may find the Believe or Enchant Magic Keys to be more economical, especially when factoring in pass discounts. Be sure to check TPG's guide to Disneyland tickets for helpful price comparisons.

Other Notable Magic Key Features

What additional information do prospective Magic Key holders need regarding perks and restrictions? Here are some important details to consider:

• Park hopping is allowed after 1 p.m.
• None of the passes include PhotoPass (or MaxPass, which is currently on hold).
• The passes have a no-show policy, but it is quite lenient. Guests can cancel without penalty until 11:59 p.m. PT the night before. However, accumulating more than three no-shows within a 90-day period will temporarily block that pass from making park reservations for 30 days.
• All California residents can access monthly payment plans for any Magic Key pass type.
• Guests can upgrade regular theme park tickets to Magic Key passes, just as with Annual Passports. For this reason, it's advisable to purchase regular tickets (preferably through a discounted broker like Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist) and then upgrade to the desired Magic Key level before the trip concludes. This allows for earlier park reservations on the 120-day timeline and helps avoid blockout dates for the initial visit. Note that the special California resident tickets expiring on Sept. 30, 2021, are not eligible for upgrades.
• Look forward to additional Magic Key perks, such as exclusive photo opportunities, a special reservations-only Magic Key terrace lounge, welcome gifts for charter members, exclusive food festival offerings, and more.

Is the Magic Key a worthwhile investment?

Whenever Disney implements changes, there's often a wave of backlash. Many Disneyland enthusiasts braced for the worst regarding this program, with rumors suggesting it might restrict guests to a limited number of park days.

Ultimately, the Magic Key program doesn't seem as groundbreaking as many had feared. It's essentially an expansion of the Disneyland Flex Passport, available to everyone but with additional blockout dates. Superfans can still enjoy a significant number of park days as long as they plan ahead for reservations. There are also options for those who are flexible and budget-conscious.

Until the program is launched and we witness it in action, it's challenging to determine its true value. However, most Disney Flex Passport holders were pleasantly surprised by how smoothly that program functioned in 2019 and early 2020. Securing reservations with the Flex Pass was relatively straightforward, even with last-minute planning. While there's no guarantee that the Magic Key passes will provide the same reservation experience, it's reasonable to remain cautiously optimistic about how the program will unfold in the coming months.

At the very least, the new Magic Key program is unlikely to put a significant strain on the budgets of most former Annual Passholders. Those who have anxiously awaited this announcement, fearing they might be priced out, can now breathe a sigh of relief.