Disneyland Halts All New Magic Key Sales w/ Renewal Info to Come; Plus New CA Resident Ticket Offer

[Disney0010]

No way will Disney do away with AP’s. The question will be ”what will the renewed program look like”? I see price increases across the board. I also see a pass that will have less limits on days a person can reserve but at a much higher cost. Overall we were happy with our “Believe” key. Worked out just fine. I do expect the version of that to be more expensive this year. Time will tell. For now we will be patient and enjoy our remaining time left on this years passes.

 

[Mseplover]

Please delete my account

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I will add that I think Disney knows there are problems. I got an email asking me to apply for a research study about the Magic Key program last week. Based on that, I do not think they have solidified their decision going forward. I do not believe I ended up being picked for the study but I do know there is a study taking place very soon.

I wish I got that invitation!

 

[Ryan120420]

We were glad to have the Believe Key this year but do not plan on renewing. Disney has made one decision after another since reopening that has alienated us more and more. Between Genie+ ruining standy lines, things like no more Single Rider on Space Mountain simply to increase Genie+ sales, and the political stuff this year, we are ready for a break. I am interested to see what the new offerings are though. Assuming they eventually rectify their bad decisions, I would be disappointed if we did not renew and then never had the chance to purchase another pass at a later time. My last really great Disneyland trip was in 2019. The year when the parks still played the welcome message with Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. That was the best way to start the day. I miss things like that more than I ever thought I would! I also saw the MSEP that year with the iconic original introduction and America finale. All of the small things I loved about Disneyland are pretty much gone. It all adds up. If I could have a pass for that year’s parks, I would never question renewing. It makes me sad. I will add that I think Disney knows there are problems. I got an email asking me to apply for a research study about the Magic Key program last week. Based on that, I do not think they have solidified their decision going forward. I do not believe I ended up being picked for the study but I do know there is a study taking place very soon.

100% agree.


The removal of the Single Rider queue from Space Mountain/Indiana Jones and Genie Plus destroying stand-by queues was the final nail in the coffin for me.


I have no plans on renewing my Magic Key in September, the in-park experience SUCKS.


My last good visit was the day before the launch of Genie Plus and my last GREAT visit was February 2020. I wish I had known what was going to happen with the world in February, I would have soaked it in more.



Disney use to be the absolute best when It came to providing a top-notch experience for all of its guests. Its a amazing to see how far they have fallen.

 

[Epicnemesis]

We were glad to have the Believe Key this year but do not plan on renewing. Disney has made one decision after another since reopening that has alienated us more and more. Between Genie+ ruining standy lines, things like no more Single Rider on Space Mountain simply to increase Genie+ sales, and the political stuff this year, we are ready for a break. I am interested to see what the new offerings are though. Assuming they eventually rectify their bad decisions, I would be disappointed if we did not renew and then never had the chance to purchase another pass at a later time. My last really great Disneyland trip was in 2019. The year when the parks still played the welcome message with Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah. That was the best way to start the day. I miss things like that more than I ever thought I would! I also saw the MSEP that year with the iconic original introduction and America finale. All of the small things I loved about Disneyland are pretty much gone. It all adds up. If I could have a pass for that year’s parks, I would never question renewing. It makes me sad. I will add that I think Disney knows there are problems. I got an email asking me to apply for a research study about the Magic Key program last week. Based on that, I do not think they have solidified their decision going forward. I do not believe I ended up being picked for the study but I do know there is a study taking place very soon.

With you on every single point.

To paraphrase Tolkien: Evil can’t make anything new, they can only corrupt things good has made.

A whole lot of changes for the worse instead of creating new stuff.

 

[Dust2]

I bought 3 4-day tickets that we were planning on upgrading to the Enchant Key on our last day of our visit (6/14). I messaged through the app how to apply the tickets to a pass later when they become available again and the told me that I won’t be able to. So frustrating! We booked a DVC rental for our trip that cannot be changed so we are out of luck AGAIN. I also couldn’t upgrade the CA 3 day tickets when passes went on sale last year because they were not upgradable and we already had used a day before the Magic Keys were announced. I can’t believe this is happening again. It shouldn’t be this costly, stressful, and difficult to apply tickets to an annual pass.

 

[frechley]

This move has pretty much pushed us to cancel our summer trip, I think. We had planned on getting an enchant key on our last day, in order to be able to do both halloween and Christmas season as well. Summer was far from our most ideal time to go, but it looks like we might have been the group of buyers Disney was trying to avoid.

We already have 5 day hoppers and are glad to use them whenever, hopefully Fantasmic crowds calm down soon enough and we can go in the fall/winter.

To be honest, the loophole of being able to reserve summer days with a normal ticket and then upgrade to an enchant key at the end of the trip was a blatant loophole and they were probably wise to avoid people like us using that loophole.

Having said all that, I agree with most of what has been said here, they seem bent on monetizing everything. Here's hoping Chapek's tenure is short-lived and that all the rides we want to ride are up on our next trip...

Edit: I was writing my post as Dust2 posted theirs. Apparently the idea of upgrading to an Enchant key was not an uncommon one...

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I bought 3 4-day tickets that we were planning on upgrading to the Enchant Key on our last day of our visit (6/14). I messaged through the app how to apply the tickets to a pass later when they become available again and the told me that I won’t be able to. So frustrating! We booked a DVC rental for our trip that cannot be changed so we are out of luck AGAIN. I also couldn’t upgrade the CA 3 day tickets when passes went on sale last year because they were not upgradable and we already had used a day before the Magic Keys were announced. I can’t believe this is happening again. It shouldn’t be this costly, stressful, and difficult to apply tickets to an annual pass.

Ahhhh man, I'm so sorry. That really sucks. I was also burned by that CA three-day ticket and it still makes me crazy. Never felt sour on Disney until that happened, but sadly been feeling more soured by other things happening in the parks. Makes me so sad!

 

[Jrb1979]

A question for those that are down on Disney. I only ask my family doesn't have the emotional attachment to Disney like many of you do. If you're so upset about the state of Disney why not go to Knotts instead. I have heard but great things Knotts.

 

[Epicnemesis]

A question for those that are down on Disney. I only ask my family doesn't have the emotional attachment to Disney like many of you do. If you're so upset about the state of Disney why not go to Knotts instead. I have heard but great things Knotts.

I don’t think anyone here is sobbing into a pillow about the changes, but I think it’s fair to voice disappointment when the quality and qualities of a thing you enjoy decline drastically over a short period of time due to internal decision making.

I don’t think it’s so much an emotional attachment as much as it is frustration at all the friction points a company seems hellbent on putting between its customers and their enjoyment of the company’s services.

Also we had passes to knotts last year but let them drop. It’s too badly run unfortunately. We switched our “alternate park” to Universal this summer. (first trip is this weekend)

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

A question for those that are down on Disney. I only ask my family doesn't have the emotional attachment to Disney like many of you do. If you're so upset about the state of Disney why not go to Knotts instead. I have heard but great things Knotts.

I am not a "theme park" person, I'm a Disney person. I am sad about the lesser experience from Disney these days. It's just not the same. And if I'm paying the crazy prices on passes, I would like to be enjoying the experience.

We have passes to SeaWorld and I will probably also get passes to the San Diego Zoo and Zoo Safari Park. Passes for all three of us to those parks cost less than one pass to Disney. I could add on LegoLand for all three of us and still not reach the cost of one Believe pass. Those parks are not even close to Disney, but I expect less from them and I also am paying much less. So it feels like a better value for us.

I am sad. Never in a million years would I have thought I would contemplate not renewing our passes but the park experience is just not great anymore. Genie+ has ruined the standby lines and dines packs the parks with the bare minimum of (new/untrained/uninvested) staff. It's just not the same.

 

[DLgal]

A question for those that are down on Disney. I only ask my family doesn't have the emotional attachment to Disney like many of you do. If you're so upset about the state of Disney why not go to Knotts instead. I have heard but great things Knotts.

Knott's is a low budget amusement park, and that is exactly how it feels. It's no better than a six flags, honestly. We can go there once a year for free and we don't even bother. We took our teens a couple years ago, pre covid, and they haven't asked to go back. It's nothing like Disneyland.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

A question for those that are down on Disney. I only ask my family doesn't have the emotional attachment to Disney like many of you do. If you're so upset about the state of Disney why not go to Knotts instead. I have heard but great things Knotts.

I think your question answers itself. People are emotionally attached to Disney. Because people are emotional beings, they have a tough time separating themselves from their emotions and examining the situation using analytical and critical thinking skills and make logical decisions. Mr. Spock is pure fiction. Culturally speaking, the environment is seemingly shifting to enabling people to act on their emotions and normalizing emotional behavior even if it is unhealthy or destructive. It's not good, but sadly, it's reality.

TWDC isn't changing. TWDC has already changed. Accept it or not. That's folks choice. It's freewill. And, it's a mystery.

 

[Dust2]

I don’t think anyone here is sobbing into a pillow about the changes, but I think it’s fair to voice disappointment when the quality and qualities of a thing you enjoy decline drastically over a short period of time due to internal decision making.

I don’t think it’s so much an emotional attachment as much as it is frustration at all the friction points a company seems hellbent on putting between its customers and their enjoyment of the company’s services.

Also we had passes to knotts last year but let them drop. It’s too badly run unfortunately. We switched our “alternate park” to Universal this summer. (first trip is this weekend)

We went to Knotts for the first time over Spring Break and found it to be a much better value than Disney with more thrill rides. My son is turning 12 so he is finally ready for the bigger coasters. Since we are unable to upgrade to a pass during our Disney trip next week, we are taking our business to Knotts for Halloween and will maybe try Disney for tickets/passes over the Christmas season. Maybe we will try Universal as others have suggested. We have not been to Disney since last summer and haven't experienced the increased crowds and Genie+ so we will see...

On a side note, I got a push notification from Knotts on 5/30 informing me that the passes were going up in price on 5/31, the same day Disney paused their passes. Sure enough, it appears that all Knott's passes have increased by about $20. It's strange that both happened on the same day

 

[DontSpamMe]

This does not sound good at all. Lots of people affected by this.

I only wanted to post and give love to Knotts. I've never felt ripped off after a Knotts visit like I have on so many recent Disneyland trips.

This last weekend was nothing less than miserable in the parks. We are probably done with Disneyland after a Halloween trip just before our MK expires and our last 3 day hopper has to be used by Jan 2023. Genie+ is my main culprit. It's a joke and terribly implemented. It has ruined the experience for the people who do rides. We are a ride family.

 

[starlite_]

After the way folks with that buy-tickets-turn-to-AP plan were burn on WDW I'm surprised so many on this coast were counting on it for their Magic Keys tbh. It seemed very risky.

 

[Kenshin21]

I foresee them definitely changing the perks and giving it a new name. At WDW their highest tier only has 5 days so I think the top pass here would be 5 as well. I would be shocked if there isn't a hefty price increase as well. If they follow the 40 day renewal window, thats mid July, so we probably won't hear anything until then.

Before they announced the MKs they were talking about some rewards style system, and we ended up getting pretty much the same program as previous AP with reservations. We could now see some sort of system they were originally trying to bring.

 

[DLgal]

I foresee them definitely changing the perks and giving it a new name. At WDW their highest tier only has 5 days so I think the top pass here would be 5 as well. I would be shocked if there isn't a hefty price increase as well. If they follow the 40 day renewal window, thats mid July, so we probably won't hear anything until then.

Before they announced the MKs they were talking about some rewards style system, and we ended up getting pretty much the same program as previous AP with reservations. We could now see some sort of system they were originally trying to bring.

Doubt they rename it. They have spent a ton of money on Magic Key branded items and logo design/implementation around the parks.

 

[Mseplover]

Please delete my account

 

[DizMe]

I bought an annual pass to Knotts so I could go with my Disney buddies when we were unable to go to DLR. Knotts had a super cheap AP so we made a trip down. Had afternoon tea at Mrs Knotts to celebrate a birthday and then explored the park. For me, it was a one and done. It's fine if you're into thrill rides, and the little western "town" area is cute, but quality wise there's absolutely no comparison. The mine train ride "effects" made me laugh. Knott's is in a very different niche, far down the scale from Disney.

I also agree that Disney has built an intense following thanks to the emotional attachment many of us have. A lot of us grew up with Disney movies, beloved characters, books, television programs, music, etc and the parks are part of that. It would be difficult for any other amusement park company to rival that.

But I think Disney may be driving many to think about a trial separation and others to threaten divorce. Can this marriage be saved? I hope so.