Magic Key Program

[DLgal]

I have a reservation (starting a DL) for Dec 3rd (Friday) that I need to drop. PM me if you want to try to snag it when I drop it. Can we do that here?

They don't go back into inventory immediately. I've cancelled dates and then immediately gone back to reserve another and my cancelled dates didn't show as available.

I think Disney releases cancelled dates in batches periodically throughout the day. There is no way to coordinate a cancellation with someone wanting to make a reservation.

 

[Jaina]

They don't go back into inventory immediately. I've cancelled dates and then immediately gone back to reserve another and my cancelled dates didn't show as available.

I think Disney releases cancelled dates in batches periodically throughout the day. There is no way to coordinate a cancellation with someone wanting to make a reservation.

Oh drat, that's frustrating. But it makes sense. I hoped it was like dining, so I could help someone out! I'll just cancel it then.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Has anyone noticed that November 9 is the last Magic Key reservation day available for the entire rest of the year?

 

[cruisehopeful]

I got a survey about my husband's Imagine key yesterday. Based on the questions, they are aware of the issues with not having reservations available, not being able to hold enough reservations, etc. My husband can usually go on Mondays and is only allowed to book 2 days. I wasn't sure which Monday in December we will go, so we have 2 booked. The survey asked if I book days to hold them and then decide later if I will go. Duh. Did they think that people would only book days that they were 100% sure they were going to go when everything is booked up weeks in advance? Did they really not understand how many APs used their passes? You know, like deciding day of or a couple days before that they would want to go?

Having all of December locked out for my Dream key right now really sucks. I can circumvent that by staying on property if I really want to do that, but I think it sucks that I would have to do that. I can't imagine getting keys again next year based on how the system operates.

 

[DisneylandFan22]

If I had the Dream key, I would be really mad that the entire rest of the years was already booked. I have a lower tiered key and luckily my last trip of the year will be 11/18 and 11/19.

Also, we finally got our welcome gifts.

 

[DLgal]

Has anyone noticed that November 9 is the last Magic Key reservation day available for the entire rest of the year?

View attachment 618823View attachment 618824

These are just snapshots in time. Throughout the day, it changes so much. Yesterday there were way more Nov dates and some Dec dates available for times and then back to very few. It fluctuates so much I don't put any stock into the availability at any one time.

 

[DLgal]

If I had the Dream key, I would be really mad that the entire rest of the years was already booked. I have a lower tiered key and luckily my last trip of the year will be 11/18 and 11/19.

Also, we finally got our welcome gifts.

I have a Dream key and just yesterday was able to book Dec 27, and Dec 31 starting in DL was alo available for most of the day! I thought about it....briefly.

I have 2 Nov dates booked already and trying for an opening on the 20th, and am confident I'll get it. I also have the rest of my family booked on Dec 11 and am confident I'll be able to snag one reservation to join them. I'm not worried about it at all. Almost all dates have consistently opened up 1-3 days out. It's about being patient and continuing to check daily for a reservation.

 

[DonnerB]

I’m fairly confident we can pick up our desired days in November and December with a little diligence.

I know the products are not really comparable, but my Universal Gold AP with minimal blackout dates, parking included and no reservations required cost me approximately what a one day, top tier Park Hopper + parking would cost. The availability calendar is just feeling absurd and we are definitely frustrated with our Dream Keys. January reservations seem to be holding their own, though…so maybe there’s hope post-holidays.

 

[MonocularVision]

Have you found a way to work out the fact that these reservations may show available for literally less than a minute before becoming unavailable again? I don't know how happy people would be to pay for a service that doesn't actually net them a park reservation, which isn't something you can technically do on someone else's behalf.

At this point, it's all a game of timing and luck. I would not simply pay for a service that notifies me that a date has become available because likely, by the time I go to make my reservation, it will be gone.

In my observations there are many times a reservation will last longer than a minute. But you are correct that I wouldn’t be able to actually make the reservation without getting login information for the user which I am not willing to do.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

These are just snapshots in time. Throughout the day, it changes so much. Yesterday there were way more Nov dates and some Dec dates available for times and then back to very few. It fluctuates so much I don't put any stock into the availability at any one time.

Well, yes but for every single day to be gone though the end of the year?

 

[DLgal]

Well, yes but for every single day to be gone though the end of the year?

But that's not the final availability calendar. It's highly fluid. Disney adds more reservations once they don't sell enough day tickets in advance. It happens every week. Plus, they are currently staffed at 80% and expected to be back at 100% by year end, so they will likely open up a bunch of slots for December as the month approaches.

If I'm wrong, I'll eat my hat.

 

[DLgal]

I've been periodically checking throughout the day today, as I usually do. I could have booked the following dates, at various times today:

Dec 20, Dec 23, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 28, Nov 30.

 

[DonnerB]

I've been periodically checking throughout the day today, as I usually do. I could have booked the following dates, at various times today:

Dec 20, Dec 23, Nov 12, Nov 15, Nov 28, Nov 30.

It’s SO FLUID. I have been checking pretty continuously and have yet to see a single December date…but did see Thanksgiving Day (11/25) pop up! As my dad likes to say, “timing is everything!”

 

[mel2014]

The whole first half of November just opened up again, other than the 7th. I imagine we will keep seeing these rolling reallocations.

 

[ComeToSocialize]

The fluidity of the calendar is both a blessing and a curse. It's nice for people in the know who keep checking, as it does seem like with persistence, getting reservations is pretty doable, particularly if you are willing to wait until even the day before (tough for people who don't live locally and have to plan a trip in advance without knowing for sure though). It keeps things more available for those who are motivated, which is good.

On the other hand, it's not great for Disney as it leads to customer dissatisfaction for people who don't know that stuff comes back available, and bad PR (most people are used to things like concert tickets or flights - when it's sold out it's sold out, no reason to keep checking).

• The best solution would be for Disney to stop screwing around and just make more slots available for Keys at the 90 day mark, instead of doing what they are currently doing which is basically waiting to see how many paid tickets are bought and then releasing more slots as the date moves closer. Not likely though.
• Another solution would be a waitlist/queue that you can sign up for for "sold out" days. If availability comes, it goes to next person in queue. However, would a waitlist spot use one of your reservation spots? Feels harsh for it occupy a valuable slot that might never come to anything, but if not, why wouldn't people sign up for the waitlist every day? If you are pulled off the waitlist but already have your max reservations filled, what do you do? Do you have to give one up? What if you get pulled off the waitlist at 11pm the night before? Does the no-show rule still apply? Waitlist doesn't seem feasible for all of these reasons.
• Given that survey question, my guess is they are considering a limit on cancellations - not prohibiting cancellations entirely, as "life happens," but setting some rules so people don't do this "hoard just in case" behavior. Perhaps it's 4 cancellations in a 60 day window or something like that?

The workout class my dad goes to is basically like a Magic key - it's unlimited subscription access, but the classes fill up so you have to book. To avoid no-shows, they charge people $20 if they don't cancel 12 hours before. I don't think Disney should ever charge for no-shows, but just pointing out that this problem isn't unique to Disney.

 

[Epicnemesis]

The blackout calendar and the reservation calendar aren’t syncing up for me. The blackout calendar is showing availability on the 7th for my enchant key but when I go to reserve it’s still blacked out. Pretty annoying.

 

[DLgal]

The blackout calendar and the reservation calendar aren’t syncing up for me. The blackout calendar is showing availability on the 7th for my enchant key but when I go to reserve it’s still blacked out. Pretty annoying.

I don't even look at the general calendar. I only go by what shows up after I log in to make a reservation.

 

[DLgal]

The fluidity of the calendar is both a blessing and a curse. It's nice for people in the know who keep checking, as it does seem like with persistence, getting reservations is pretty doable, particularly if you are willing to wait until even the day before (tough for people who don't live locally and have to plan a trip in advance without knowing for sure though). It keeps things more available for those who are motivated, which is good.

On the other hand, it's not great for Disney as it leads to customer dissatisfaction for people who don't know that stuff comes back available, and bad PR (most people are used to things like concert tickets or flights - when it's sold out it's sold out, no reason to keep checking).

• The best solution would be for Disney to stop screwing around and just make more slots available for Keys at the 90 day mark, instead of doing what they are currently doing which is basically waiting to see how many paid tickets are bought and then releasing more slots as the date moves closer. Not likely though.
• Another solution would be a waitlist/queue that you can sign up for for "sold out" days. If availability comes, it goes to next person in queue. However, would a waitlist spot use one of your reservation spots? Feels harsh for it occupy a valuable slot that might never come to anything, but if not, why wouldn't people sign up for the waitlist every day? If you are pulled off the waitlist but already have your max reservations filled, what do you do? Do you have to give one up? What if you get pulled off the waitlist at 11pm the night before? Does the no-show rule still apply? Waitlist doesn't seem feasible for all of these reasons.
• Given that survey question, my guess is they are considering a limit on cancellations - not prohibiting cancellations entirely, as "life happens," but setting some rules so people don't do this "hoard just in case" behavior. Perhaps it's 4 cancellations in a 60 day window or something like that?

The workout class my dad goes to is basically like a Magic key - it's unlimited subscription access, but the classes fill up so you have to book. To avoid no-shows, they charge people $20 if they don't cancel 12 hours before. I don't think Disney should ever charge for no-shows, but just pointing out that this problem isn't unique to Disney.

The easiest solution for Disney would just be to significantly shorten the booking window AND allow same day cancelations up to a certain time, like noon. The booking window is too far out.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I had to cancel my Dapper Day reservations because our kitchen is getting demolished next week. My timing for Dapper Day has never worked out. I plan to go every time and I have never been. At any rate, my reservations didn't immediately pop back up as available. Good luck to anyone who wants that weekend.

 

[Epicnemesis]

Okay got one for DCA as a starting park. Is there a smooth way to swap starting parks if DL opens or do I have to be in limbo by canceling one and hoping the other is actually open.