News Disneyland Magic Key Program

[mickEblu]

Seems like Disney is finally implementing the ability to upgrade your magic key without going to the booth!

The catalyst most likely being all the ticket booths they’re getting rid of or not using. I believe the only place to buy a ticket now is Lost n Found to the left of the main gate. And the only two ticket booths being used at all are on the Harbor side for DAS.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I just realized my “annual pass” is really not an annual pass for all intents and purposes. Between being blocked out most of the summer (June/July), Spring Break, the last 3 weeks of December and being blocked out weekends from October through the end of the year. Unless you don’t have kids in school or are willing to take a bunch of weekdays off an Enchant pass is really only good for about 7 months of the year.

This year you actually get a couple Sundays in November. One of them being during Christmas Time. Next year an Enchant pass won’t have a single Saturday or Sunday for the last three months of the year. And thats after being blocked out all Summer. That’s what $1,000 bucks + a pop gets you. A few years ago that was a Signature + AP with no blackouts (except for maybe the last two weeks of the year?) plus MaxPass.

Twice the price, half the days, half the perks… roughly a quarter the value it was just 5 years ago. An AP used to be an incredible value for anyone who could go a few weekends a year, now if you aren’t a local who can go a few times a month it’s hard to justify the price.

 

[mickEblu]

Twice the price, half the days, half the perks… roughly a quarter the value it was just 5 years ago. An AP used to be an incredible value for anyone who could go a few weekends a year, now if you aren’t a local who can go a few times a month it’s hard to justify the price.

Yeah for sure. Really highlights what a great value the passes used to be. I do still feel that the value is there. Especially for the locals. I’m not priced out but I am questioning if I need year round Disneyland access at these prices. Especially when you start factoring the traffic/hassle and time it takes to get to and from the parks. It’s also not just the price of the passes but also all the extra money you end up spending because you have that access and use your pass. The constant reminders that they re charging more for less kind of leaves a bad taste in the mouth too. I had already decided I was skipping 2026 but starting to wonder if Disney is just going to convert me to a Yearly 3 day So Cal pass guy. I could see myself just buying an annual pass every other year now. Or maybe just when they open up something new or on anniversary years like the 75th.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I don’t mind blackout dates but it’s very frustrating how they handle the reservations. I travel a lot and usually end up on last minute trips, the appeal of a pass is if end up going to Florida or California I know I can go to Disney.

Well not in California…. I have to log in and see if any reservations are open for the days I plan to be there and then quickly snag 6 that I think I might use. It’s silly and annoying.

Having attended the 50th, 60th, and now 70th I’ll also mention it’s clear how little DL is trying these days…. They didn’t even have a piano player (let alone a show) in the horseshoe for the 70th.

 

[DCBaker]

While the Inspire and Believe Key annual passes are still available to purchase, Disneyland Resort says select Magic Key passes will go back on sale Tuesday, January 13th, 2026:

Multiply your magic! The Inspire and Believe Key annual passes are now on sale while supplies last. Select Magic Key passes go back on sale Tuesday, January 13th, 2026!

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

I feel like they don’t want to sell magic keys at all, but they don’t know how to replace the revenue so they open them up when they need the numbers in the reports. That’s the only thing that makes sense.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

Sounds like attendance has fallen enough that Magic Keys may be available year round, like the good old days.

I’ve suspected for a few years that Disney was using FOMO to create Key demand but it seems they may just keep sales open now in an attempt to sell them as fast as possible to get more people in the parks.

 

[CaptinEO]

Sounds like attendance has fallen enough that Magic Keys may be available year round, like the good old days.

I’ve suspected for a few years that Disney was using FOMO to create Key demand but it seems they may just keep sales open now in an attempt to sell them as fast as possible to get more people in the parks.

I was thinking too they wanted to go full FOMO and make them limited things that sell out day one.

But the post covid demand has finally weaned. They do still limit the sales but the demand is not what it used to be, I'm sure Disney would've loved to have maintained its instant sellout status.

 

[mickEblu]

My take on Disneyland the last few years - “the hardware is still great but the software can be improved.” I suppose that’s partially why so many MKs go back and forth on whether to renew or not. The rides are top notch and it’s still a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy a day with the family. But experientially is it really? When you can’t put your kid down without them getting trampled? When seemingly nobody around you has any self awareness? When Disney created solutions for problems they created with LL’s and mobile ordering? Solutions that require you to bury your head in your phone all day and/ or spend the day making appointments like you’re at work.

 

[SuddenStorm]

My take on Disneyland the last few years - “the hardware is still great but the software can be improved.” I suppose that’s partially why so many MKs go back and forth on whether to renew or not. The rides are top notch and it’s still a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy a day with the family. But experientially is it really? When you can’t put your kid down without them getting trampled? When seemingly nobody around you has any self awareness? When Disney created solutions for problems they created with LL’s and mobile ordering? Solutions that require you to bury your head in your phone all day and/ or spend the day making appointments like you’re at work.

My thing is the departure of a lot of what defined the Disneyland brand for decades.

A level of etiquette and formality is gone on the part of the cast members. Gone is the Disney look. We're not 'ladies and gentleman', we're friends. Which just sounds juvenile and cheapens the brand. Disneyland operates best when the cast operate at a higher level of service, etiquette, and formality- while the attractions/characters are the overtly 'magic' or 'escapism'. If that makes sense.

Things that have been a part of Disneyland for decades- Bill Rogers, Zip a Dee Doo Dah/Splash- have been replaced and the replacements aren't great.

 

[SingleRider]

Sounds like attendance has fallen enough that Magic Keys may be available year round, like the good old days.

I’ve suspected for a few years that Disney was using FOMO to create Key demand but it seems they may just keep sales open now in an attempt to sell them as fast as possible to get more people in the parks.

They tried to create FOMO when WDW passes opened up a couple of years ago and WDW APs have been fully available for over two years now.

 

[coffeefan]

My thing is the departure of a lot of what defined the Disneyland brand for decades.

A level of etiquette and formality is gone on the part of the cast members. Gone is the Disney look. We're not 'ladies and gentleman', we're friends. Which just sounds juvenile and cheapens the brand. Disneyland operates best when the cast operate at a higher level of service, etiquette, and formality- while the attractions/characters are the overtly 'magic' or 'escapism'. If that makes sense.

Things that have been a part of Disneyland for decades- Bill Rogers, Zip a Dee Doo Dah/Splash- have been replaced and the replacements aren't great.

People also don't get in formal wear when flying on planes or attending college classes. Times change.

I'm certain the decline in international tourism and rise in economic anxiety are bigger factors than these reasons.

 

[mickEblu]

Sounds like attendance has fallen enough that Magic Keys may be available year round, like the good old days.

I’ve suspected for a few years that Disney was using FOMO to create Key demand but it seems they may just keep sales open now in an attempt to sell them as fast as possible to get more people in the parks.

It sure didnt feel like attendance has fallen this past Sunday/ Monday. Navigating the parks was a pain in the @$$. Of course that doesn't mean Disney doesn't wish it was busier or that they hit the exact goals they wanted to.

 

[Vegas Disney Fan]

It sure didnt feel like attendance has fallen this past Sunday/ Monday. Navigating the parks was a pain in the @$$. Of course that doesn't mean Disney doesn't wish it was busier or that they hit the exact goals they wanted to.

Watching fresh baked videos lately it seems very hit or miss, he’ll have a few weeks in a row pointing out how the paths are empty and all the rides have low waits, then a few weeks talking about how busy and chaotic it is, then a few weeks later he’ll be pointing out how slow it is again, then a week later be surprised by how insane it is.

I used to rely on isitbusy to plan all my DL trips (based on their prediction calendar) but they seem to be just as confused as everyone else now.

 

[CaptinEO]

Watching fresh baked videos lately it seems very hit or miss, he’ll have a few weeks in a row pointing out how the paths are empty and all the rides have low waits, then a few weeks talking about how busy and chaotic it is, then a few weeks later he’ll be pointing out how slow it is again, then a week later be surprised by how insane it is.

I used to rely on isitbusy to plan all my DL trips (based on their prediction calendar) but they seem to be just as confused as everyone else now.

I think Disney does what they can to be as busy each day as possible with the tier based ticketing and Magic Keys but it isn't always going to be packed despite their best efforts.

I think they should have slow season days as no reservations required (for tickets or keys).

 

[CaptinEO]

New Disneyland Magic Key Annual Pass Tier For 2026 Just Announced

Disneyland has just made a surprise announcement that a new type of Magic Key pass will be offered during the next sale.

mickeyvisit.com

Enchant now 25 dollars more but added June and July. Summer is slow as always so this is a fix.

 

[mickEblu]

New Disneyland Magic Key Annual Pass Tier For 2026 Just Announced

Disneyland has just made a surprise announcement that a new type of Magic Key pass will be offered during the next sale.

mickeyvisit.com

Enchant now 25 dollars more but added June and July. Summer is slow as always so this is a fix.

They heard me. Haha. I’ve been saying for the past 6 months + that the blackouts on the Enchant are way too aggressive at that price point. Had they done this the last couple years, they would have probably gotten all of my Sea World, Hurricane Harbor and Universal etc money

 

[CaptinEO]

They heard me. Haha. I’ve been saying for the past 6 months + that the blackouts on the Enchant are way too aggressive at that price point. Had they done this the last couple years, they would have probably gotten all of my Sea World, Hurricane Harbor and Universal etc money

Enchant had such big price increases vs what it offered. A rare win for consumers here.

 

[mickEblu]

Enchant had such big price increases vs what it offered. A rare win for consumers here.

For sure. A few of those summer weekdays would have came in really handy for me with kids off for the summer.

 

[Disney Irish]

So, same basic MK just new name and new price with a few extra days.