Disneyland Resort's Magic Key Program: New, Improved Annual Pass

ANAHEIM, CA — Disneyland Resort has announced a new way to purchase tickets for those who visit the park regularly. The new Magic Key program is what a spokesperson for the resort calls a "guest-centric offering that will deliver choice, flexibility and value for park admission, special access to unique experiences, savings opportunities, enhanced benefits and more."

If you were an annual pass holder during the coronavirus shutdown, chances are you took a Disneyland poll, followed the park on social media, and did whatever you could to stay engaged with the favored southern California theme park while it was closed to the public.

The Magic Key program was shaped by extensive consumer research and feedback from our guests and fans.

With the new program, there will be four options of Magic Key passes to provide guests and their families with choices that fit various needs and lifestyle preferences for visiting the Disneyland Resort. The differences in price points are determined by the number of reservations you can hold at a time and will affect how many days you can make reservations throughout the year.

A few items of note!

• Each member of your family will require their own Magic Key.
• Payment plans have been returned.
• Southern California discounts still exist.

Gone are the days of just "showing up" or "no showing" if you have a specific reservation time at the park. Reservations are the way of the future to aid the resort in managing crowd control.

The number of theme park reservations that may be held at a time during a specific booking window is dependent on pass type and is subject to availability and other rules and restrictions, including excessive “no-show” rules.

Added are parking benefits for the top two tiers: 50 percent off entry to the Mickey and Friends, park-run structures with the Believe Key, and free parking with the Dream Key.

According to a park spokesperson, guests who are already holding tickets may have the opportunity to upgrade those to a Magic Key pass. If you purchased promotional tickets, those would not be applied toward a Magic Key, however.

"We will be leveraging our theme park reservation system for Magic Key, which helps to provide a great theme park experience for all of our guests," according to spokesperson Michael Ramirez. "In addition to savings opportunities for merchandise and food & beverages, Magic Key holders will have access to additional offerings and benefits, plus other unique surprises throughout the year."

There are perks to not waiting, he says.

Charter members that become Magic Key holders within the first 66 days will receive a special welcome package, plus have the ability to enjoy a limited-time experience in Disneyland Park (beginning Sept. 1).

The Magic Key passes will start at low as $399 or $19/month for 12 months (for Southern California residents and after down payment) and go on sale beginning Aug. 25 (no earlier than 10 a.m. PT) on Disneyland.com and the Disneyland app.

For all the important details you need to know about the Magic Key program, please read our full announcement on the Disney Parks Blog at Disney parks.Disney.go

Which key will you choose? Let us know in the comments or by emailing your Patch Editor.