Magic Key Program

[kristensideaoffun]

Okay official terminology, tickets can be upgrade to the new pass:

"UPGRADES: A Guest wishing to upgrade to a Pass from another form of eligible Disneyland® Resort theme park admission media must upgrade on the same day in which the original form of theme park admission media is valid, and must choose a Pass of equal or greater value than the retail price of the original theme park admission media when it was purchased. The difference in prices must be paid in full at the time of the upgrade. If an upgrade to a Pass is made from a multi-day ticket, the Pass will be backdated to begin on the first day that such ticket was used; if an upgrade to a Pass is made from a lower level Pass, the new Pass will have the same expiration date as the original Pass. Each guest wishing to upgrade their theme park admission media to a Pass must be present at the time of the upgrade transaction. Fully used, or partially used and expired, theme park admission media, complimentary ticket media, special event ticket media and ticket media stating its ineligibility for an upgrade may not be upgraded to a Pass. Upgrades are subject to Pass availability. Downgrades are not allowed. "

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/magic-key-terms-conditions/

Does anyone remember if special event tickets were eligible for upgrades in the past? I can’t remember. We have Oogie Boogie tickets I might consider upgrading.

 

[dieumeye]

Three no-shows is pretty generous, honestly.

What keeps a Dream holder from just booking every single weekend “just in case” and then releasing them the day before, but then sometimes you’re not sure so you just maybe no-show…

I mean, ultimately that will lead to a lot of calendar movement, which is potentially not the worst thing, but… yeah…

You have just described what I’m probably going to be doing. (I hate required reservations). I was afraid to post about it cuz I imagine it’ll make people mad.

It makes me wonder about what “buckets” will be in use. Will everyone be pulling from one bucket? Will APs have a different bucket? Will different AP levels have different buckets?

Regardless, I know I’ll be disappointed if I get the top key and it’s difficult to get reservations for the days I want to visit.

But that’s a risk I guess I’m gonna take because I’m too impatient to wait and see how it goes!!

 

[DopeyDame]

Ugh we’re East coasters and our trip begins on 8/25. How screwed are we from a crowd perspective? I imagine everyone and their mother will flood to the parks on those first few days

Us too! We haven't been to Disneyland in 20+ years and will be there August 25-27. Blerg.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

D'oh! Our trip is Aug 12-17 w/5 day hoppers. We would have loved to put the price of those towards a new Magic Key Pass.

 

[lindyv321]

You make a reservation for you morning park and then in the afternoon you can park hop back and fourth.

So if I have a regular park hopper I only need to reserve my morning park not both? I have two day hoppers and only made reservations for my morning park….

I’m hoping to upgrade my two day hoppers in November. Should I just do it prior to using them since they are going to backdate the start date anyway? That way I can take advantage of the discounts? I wonder if I’d still then be able to keep my existing reservations?

 

[abent]

So my dates in October and December would require the top tier pass. I think I am going to do it! It would make one more trip during the year more likely!!

 

[smartlabelprint]

D'oh! Our trip is Aug 12-17 w/5 day hoppers. We would have loved to put the price of those towards a new Magic Key Pass.

Can you change?

 

[bwvBound]

@DLgal, adding to post #280, parking can trigger "1st use" depending on the pass type. Activation was described on the site.

 

[DLgal]

I read first date you visit. But if you don’t start it before one year it expires and you can only use the value to pay for a new pass at the higher price.

Perfect, thanks!

 

[smartlabelprint]

So if I have a regular park hopper I only need to reserve my morning park not both? I have two day hoppers and only made reservations for my morning park….

I’m hoping to upgrade my two day hoppers in November. Should I just do it prior to using them since they are going to backdate the start date anyway? That way I can take advantage of the discounts? I wonder if I’d still then be able to keep my existing reservations?

If a Nov date is blocked you can use your hopper then upgrade.

 

[tlovesdis]

Does anyone know what the blackout days are? My family and I are going to DL this October, then next June so I’m thinking it’s worth it to upgrade. But I want to make sure our dates in June aren’t on the blackout calendar.

edited to add - I found the calendar

The blockout calendars are listed for each pass on the website. Go to the Magic Key section then click on the pass then click on blockout calendar.

 

[DLgal]

@DLgal, adding to post #280, parking can trigger "1st use" depending on the pass type. Activation was described on the site.

Ooh...good to know!

 

[DLgal]

I wonder if they will let us look at park availability before buying?

 

[SarahWI]

But that’s a risk I guess I’m gonna take because I’m too impatient to wait and see how it goes!!

Maybe we’ll buy hoppers and try to upgrade. We’re out of staters and coming for a week. I’m not sure we want to risk being able to book at 90 vs 120 days or different availability buckets where we can’t get in the park.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I am so curious about fastpass. Our kids need DAS and I just couldn’t imagine bringing kids 7 and under that had to wait in a half hour line. We have been enough times that I’d skip a ride rather than wait that long.

 

[abent]

I wonder if there will be any discounts on resort stays??

 

[smartlabelprint]

I wonder if there will be any discounts on resort stays??

There usually are. But not blanket discounts. Only for certain dates in a limited amount.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Does anyone remember if special event tickets were eligible for upgrades in the past? I can’t remember. We have Oogie Boogie tickets I might consider upgrading.

You have just described what I’m probably going to be doing. (I hate required reservations). I was afraid to post about it cuz I imagine it’ll make people mad.

It makes me wonder about what “buckets” will be in use. Will everyone be pulling from one bucket? Will APs have a different bucket? Will different AP levels have different buckets?

Regardless, I know I’ll be disappointed if I get the top key and it’s difficult to get reservations for the days I want to visit.

But that’s a risk I guess I’m gonna take because I’m too impatient to wait and see how it goes!!

I do this with DVC -- I book speculative reservations and take it right up to the cancellation window (30 days), I also did this with Flex Pass. However, once you have a reservation on the books, that's one less reservation you are able to use elsewhere. So in a 90 (or 120, did we ever confirm) day window, booking speculative for this weekend prevents you from booking downwind. I think that will keep a lot of people from doing this...because I'm sure in the next 90/120 days, there is a weekend that is "must go" for the passholder.

@kristensideaoffun -- I don't think special events are upgradable, I don't even think the so cal tickets were upgradable, but I don't have the fine print in front of me!

 

[DLgal]

I do this with DVC -- I book speculative reservations and take it right up to the cancellation window (30 days), I also did this with Flex Pass. However, once you have a reservation on the books, that's one less reservation you are able to use elsewhere. So in a 90 (or 120, did we ever confirm) day window, booking speculative for this weekend prevents you from booking downwind. I think that will keep a lot of people from doing this...because I'm sure in the next 90/120 days, there is a weekend that is "must go" for the passholder.

@kristensideaoffun -- I don't think special events are upgradable, I don't even think the so cal tickets were upgradable, but I don't have the fine print in front of me!

But if it's a rolling 120, it's not really an issue.

 

[SarahWI]

So in a 90 (or 120, did we ever confirm)

I don’t think anyone has and it’s making me nuts.

several media outlets are saying 90 days in advance but I can’t find it on official DL site. It makes me wonder if the media are working off original rumor page.