Skip to content
NOWCAST KCRA 3 News at 4am
Live Now
Advertisement

Disneyland raises prices on Magic Key annual passes, adds surprising perks

All of this, however, comes at a higher price.

Disneyland raises prices on Magic Key annual passes, adds surprising perks

All of this, however, comes at a higher price.

COMPANIES OFFERING INFLATION RELATED PAYCHECK BUMPS. DISNEYLAND PASSHOLDERS CAN NOW RENEW THEIR MAGIC KEY ANNUAL PASSES, BUT IT WILL COST MORE. BETWEEN $50 TO $200 MORE, DEPENDING ON THE PASSES. THE OLD ANNUAL PASSPORT ENDED BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC. THE MAGIC KEY PROGRAM CAME OUT LAST YEAR, BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE WAITING UP TO EIGHT HOURS JUST TO GET DAILY TICKETS. THE PASSES OFFER FREE OR DISCOUNTED PARKING AND A SERVICE TO SKIP THE LINE, ALONG
Advertisement
Disneyland raises prices on Magic Key annual passes, adds surprising perks

All of this, however, comes at a higher price.

For Disneyland Magic Key annual passholders, not being able to renew their about-to-expire passes has been a major pain point recently. No new passes have been available for months — at some levels, since last year — and many of the park’s most frequent visitors have been deeply concerned that Disneyland’s current annual pass program would end altogether, like the company ended the previous annual pass program during the park’s pandemic closure.But that changed Tuesday when Disney announced a revised Magic Key program. “We are elated to announce new benefits made for you, inspired by you,” an email from Disneyland to current Magic Keyholders read. While no new passes are currently for sale, three of the four current tiers of passes will be offered for renewal. The previous top tier, the Dream Key, offered no blackout days — though lack of available reservations prompted a Bay Area woman to sue Disney for $5 million. That lawsuit is still in progress. Rather than the Dream Key, Disneyland is now offering a new top-tier Inspire Pass, which comes with most of the Dream Key perks such as free parking, but now has blackout days for the most in-demand weeks over the holidays. The new passes also include a surprising number of perks, some for the first time. Now, all tiers will include a discount on parking, as well as pre-sale access for events, and unlimited PhotoPass downloads for Believe and Inspire keys. All of this, however, comes at a higher price. The two top-tier passes are increasing by $150 each, while the two lower-tier passes, which come with significant blackout dates, are increasing by $50. But the most notable change, though, is to what is maybe the most contentious recent development at Disney: Genie Plus. The paid line-skipping access costs $20 daily, and replaced the previously free fast passes at Disneyland. Now, all Magic Keyholders can access Genie Plus for 20% off, at a daily cost of $16 per person. In the third-quarter earnings call on Aug. 10, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said that “about 50% of the people who come through the gate” buy Genie Plus, “which I think you can see the result of in our yields.” Disney reported record-breaking profits at its theme parks during that call, but expressed some reservations about an “unfavorable attendance mix” — too many passholders — at Disneyland.

For Disneyland Magic Key annual passholders, not being able to renew their about-to-expire passes has been a major pain point recently. No new passes have been available for months — at some levels, since last year — and many of the park’s most frequent visitors have been deeply concerned that Disneyland’s current annual pass program would end altogether, like the company ended the previous annual pass program during the park’s pandemic closure.

But that changed Tuesday when Disney announced a revised Magic Key program. “We are elated to announce new benefits made for you, inspired by you,” an email from Disneyland to current Magic Keyholders read. While no new passes are currently for sale, three of the four current tiers of passes will be offered for renewal. The previous top tier, the Dream Key, offered no blackout days — though lack of available reservations prompted a Bay Area woman to sue Disney for $5 million. That lawsuit is still in progress.

Advertisement

Rather than the Dream Key, Disneyland is now offering a new top-tier Inspire Pass, which comes with most of the Dream Key perks such as free parking, but now has blackout days for the most in-demand weeks over the holidays.

The new passes also include a surprising number of perks, some for the first time. Now, all tiers will include a discount on parking, as well as pre-sale access for events, and unlimited PhotoPass downloads for Believe and Inspire keys.

All of this, however, comes at a higher price. The two top-tier passes are increasing by $150 each, while the two lower-tier passes, which come with significant blackout dates, are increasing by $50.

But the most notable change, though, is to what is maybe the most contentious recent development at Disney: Genie Plus. The paid line-skipping access costs $20 daily, and replaced the previously free fast passes at Disneyland. Now, all Magic Keyholders can access Genie Plus for 20% off, at a daily cost of $16 per person.

In the third-quarter earnings call on Aug. 10, Disney CEO Bob Chapek said that “about 50% of the people who come through the gate” buy Genie Plus, “which I think you can see the result of in our yields.”

Disney reported record-breaking profits at its theme parks during that call, but expressed some reservations about an “unfavorable attendance mix” — too many passholders — at Disneyland.