Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Disneyland Annual Pass
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Ready to create never-ending memories at the "Happiest Place on Earth?" With two theme parks, three resorts, and an entertainment district, a one-time annual fee in exchange for visiting Disneyland whenever you'd like sounds too good to be true. From the recently opened Avengers Campus to their award-winning food festivals and seasonal events, there's always something new to discover at the house of the mouse.
And speaking of new, the Southern California theme park resort has experienced a period of vast changes, retiring its long-running FastPass program in exchange for the new Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. The popular Disneyland annual pass program has also been ditched to make way for the Magic Key, opening for renewals this month (right now, Disneyland has paused new sales of Magic Key passes). We have detailed everything you need to know about this new system including pass levels, blockout dates, discounts, and more.
Related: 29 Disneyland Rides, Ranked From Worst to Best
Todd Wawrychuk/Disney Parks
Related: More Disney trip ideas
Pros and Cons of Having a Disneyland Magic Key Pass
The program's four different tiers of passes bring a welcomed level of spontaneity and savings to the frequent Disneyland visitor. Craving a Dole Whip? Local passholders can pop in on a whim. For the out-of-town visitor, passes rival the price of standard admission and with the added resort and dining benefits, could be a major steal.
Disney also sweetens the deal with Magic Key exclusive merchandise, discounts, secret menu items, and even a private lounge, The Magic Key Terrace. Holders also receive early access to seasonal event tickets, like Oogie Boogie Bash. Benefits are updated via the Magic Key Portal in the Disneyland mobile app.
There are quite a few caveats to consider. Blockout dates vary by price level but run from wide-open calendars to the bulk of summer and holidays blocked out, but of course, the price point reflects that.
Another major hurdle to consider? Disneyland currently enforces a reservation system. Visits must be booked prior to park arrival and there may be limited availability even if the date is included on your calendar. When booking a reservation, a starting park — Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park — must be chosen and the reservation holder is unable to visit the other park — "park hop" — until 1 p.m.
The limit on how many reservations guests can hold at one time is dependent on tier level, and passes can be penalized for missed reservations. Reservations can be made up to 90 days in advance based on availability with additional reservations often released on a rolling basis.
Disneyland Annual Pass Discounts
Magic Key holders can delight in discounted merchandise and food at both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, as well as throughout the restaurants and shops at Downtown Disney and the three on-site resorts, with the level of discount dependent on the pass. They can also enjoy 20% off Disney Genie+ Service.
Imagine, Enchant, and Believe Key holders receive 10% off dining and merchandise, while at the highest level, Inspire Key receives 20% off merchandise and 15% off dining.
Standard parking is included with the Inspire Key, while Believe Key receives 50% off standard parking fees, excluding blockout dates. Imagine and Enchant Key holders get 25% off at the Toy Story Parking Area, excluding blockout dates.
Seasonal hotel discounts are available to Magic Key holders at Disneyland's three resorts — the Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Grand Californian Resort & Spa, and Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. Resort stays come with the added perk of extra park hours and a dedicated park entrance.
AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
Types of Disneyland Magic Key Passes
There are four levels of the Disneyland Magic Key — Imagine, Enchant, Believe, and Inspire — which vary by blockout dates and price, from $449 to $1,599.
The most restrictive tier, Imagine Key, is only available for Southern California residents living in zip codes 90000 to 93599. Holders of this level can retain up to two theme park reservations at a time, but the majority of the calendar year is blocked out. The Enchant Key is open to all guests, and holders of this level can retain up to four theme park reservations at a time with fewer calendar restrictions than the Imagine Key.
The second-highest tier, Believe Key, offers more varied dates of admission throughout the year, and holders of this level can retain up to six theme park reservations at a time. The Inspire Key allows guests to hold up to six theme park reservations at a time and has the fewest blockout dates. It may be better suited for guests who anticipate visiting over peak times.
Magic Key passes may be unavailable for purchase at any given time, so check the Disney website for the most up-to-date information.
Magic Key Prices
The dramatic price difference between the Inspire Key, priced at $1,599, and Imagine Key, priced at $449, is due to the latter's restriction to weekdays with summer and major holidays blocked out. The $699 Enchant Key offers a bit more flexibility but still comes with many blockout dates.
While the Believe and Inspire Keys allow for the same number of reservations, the $1,099 Believe Key excludes the free parking included with the Inspire Key and has some blockout dates around major holidays. The $1,599 Inspire Key has the highest level of discounts and fewest blockout dates.
Sean Teegarden/Disneyland Resort
Magic Key Blockout Dates
Blockout dates are the main factor when considering which Magic Key level may be best for you. Whether local or visiting from out of town, if seeing the enchantment of Christmas lights or enjoying a sun-drenched summer day in the park is important to you, it's something to consider. The Disneyland website and the Magic Key Portal in the Disneyland app offer an up-to-date annual blockout calendar with days of access available for each pass level.
The Imagine Key has the most blockout dates with weekends, most of summer, and major holidays restricted. This pass may be best if you are flexible and can visit on weekdays during less busy seasons. The Enchant Key has fewer restrictions than the Imagine Key but is blocked out around some weekends, Christmas, New Year's, Easter, and portions of summer and spring break.
The Believe Key is blocked throughout Christmas, New Year's, some major holidays, and some weekends during peak season. With a modest amount of blockout dates, it may be more reasonable for locals who don't care to fight crowds during the busier holidays. There's no longer an annual pass without blockout dates, but the Inspire Key has the fewest, with restricted dates around Christmas and New Year's.
Magic Key Renewal
Guests can renew their Magic Key on the Disneyland website and by phone via the Magic Key Membership Services line at (714) 781-7277 with additional details expected to be announced.
