Obtaining a Magic Key for a 3-year-old

[SOCALMouseMommy]

When Magic Key renewal information was first released, Disney was allowing 3 year olds to get a Magic Key when their parents’ renewal windows opened. Initially they were requiring that kids turn 3 within 60 days of trying to obtain the Magic Key. I was pretty stressed Disney wouldn’t allow me to add my 3 year old because he turned 3 more than 60 days ago.

In recent weeks, people on social media had been reporting that Disney loosened up this 60-day policy, so when my renewal window opened today I went to the ticket booths to try to my my youngest a Magic Key.

I am thrilled to report that he did indeed get his Magic Key, but it was a little stressful! The CM helping me was wonderful, but the lead who came over to “approve” the Magic Key all but accused me of lying about my son’s age.

She asked to see him and I presented him, and she raised her eyebrows at me and very incredulously said, “He’s 3?” I told her he’s big for his age (he’s 90th percentile) and then she wanted to see his birth certificate, which I thankfully brought with me. She spent several minutes scrutinizing his birth certificate (which is the original, official certificate with embossing), during which time I was standing there with my heart beating in my chest feeling like I was being accused of doing something underhanded, and then she finally said he “just squeaked through.”

I was so happy to get him a pass but dang, if that interaction didn’t leave me with such a bad taste in my mouth! My advice, if you are trying to get your 3 year old a Magic Key, bring your birth certificate! They definitely want to see it!

Here is my little guy who was so happy to finally come back to Disneyland after a long hiatus! He looks 3 to me (I mean, he should, he IS 3! ).

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Glad everything worked out! Your little guy looks very happy!

 

[DizMe]

When Magic Key renewal information was first released, Disney was allowing 3 year olds to get a Magic Key when their parents’ renewal windows opened. Initially they were requiring that kids turn 3 within 60 days of trying to obtain the Magic Key. I was pretty stressed Disney wouldn’t allow me to add my 3 year old because he turned 3 more than 60 days ago.

In recent weeks, people on social media had been reporting that Disney loosened up this 60-day policy, so when my renewal window opened today I went to the ticket booths to try to my my youngest a Magic Key.

I am thrilled to report that he did indeed get his Magic Key, but it was a little stressful! The CM helping me was wonderful, but the lead who came over to “approve” the Magic Key all but accused me of lying about my son’s age.

She asked to see him and I presented him, and she raised her eyebrows at me and very incredulously said, “He’s 3?” I told her he’s big for his age (he’s 90th percentile) and then she wanted to see his birth certificate, which I thankfully brought with me. She spent several minutes scrutinizing his birth certificate (which is the original, official certificate with embossing), during which time I was standing there with my heart beating in my chest feeling like I was being accused of doing something underhanded, and then she finally said he “just squeaked through.”

I was so happy to get him a pass but dang, if that interaction didn’t leave me with such a bad taste in my mouth! My advice, if you are trying to get your 3 year old a Magic Key, bring your birth certificate! They definitely want to see it!

Here is my little guy who was so happy to finally come back to Disneyland after a long hiatus! He looks 3 to me (I mean, he should, he IS 3! ).

View attachment 703242

What a cutie!!! So glad it worked out, but dang, that's just not very cool that they gave you that "You're lying!" vibe.

 

[katyringo]

I hope you send an email to guest relations. That's really unacceptable. You had their birth certificate for goodness sakes.

It also makes me think there are guests who are not being honest and now the CM is jaded.

Honestly the whole way Disney is handling APs kinda
Stinks.. they really need to make an announcement about new sales..

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I hope you send an email to guest relations. That's really unacceptable. You had their birth certificate for goodness sakes.

It also makes me think there are guests who are not being honest and now the CM is jaded.

Honestly the whole way Disney is handling APs kinda
Stinks.. they really need to make an announcement about new sales..

That is exactly what I’m thinking but what exactly are people trying to do? If a family has one younger child without a MK and Disney won’t sell them, it’s a bummer for that family that now can’t visit all together. If they wouldn’t have sold me a Magic Key for my 3-year-old I was planning on not renewing. But Disney makes it feel like if you don’t renew you might never be able to buy Magic Keys again (or maybe not for a long time).

My brother and SIL renewed their Magic Keys even though none of them can visit the parks at least through the end of the year (maybe longer) due to my niece’s cancer treatment. But my brother said he didn’t want to risk them not ever being able to have Magic Keys. When her treatment is over and it’s safe to do so, he wants her to be able to go back to her happy place (“every day if she wants to” is what he said).

It’s all just kind of “bad vibes” all around. I don’t know why Disney is being so secretive about plans for the program.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

That is exactly what I’m thinking but what exactly are people trying to do? If a family has one younger child without a MK and Disney won’t sell them, it’s a bummer for that family that now can’t visit all together. If they wouldn’t have sold me a Magic Key for my 3-year-old I was planning on not renewing. But Disney makes it feel like if you don’t renew you might never be able to buy Magic Keys again (or maybe not for a long time).

My brother and SIL renewed their Magic Keys even though none of them can visit the parks at least through the end of the year (maybe longer) due to my niece’s cancer treatment. But my brother said he didn’t want to risk them not ever being able to have Magic Keys. When her treatment is over and it’s safe to do so, he wants her to be able to go back to her happy place (“every day if she wants to” is what he said).

It’s all just kind of “bad vibes” all around. I don’t know why Disney is being so secretive about plans for the program.

Your brother sounds very wise. I hope the treatments are successful. I send all my best.

Teresa from the podcast shared her Florida AP slipped during the time her mother (or mother-in-law?) died. I don’t think she was successful in getting an exception.

Craig also shared they paying for Kylie’s AP while she is pregnant because he needs one for work and wants her to be able to join him but admits it kinda of waste right now. I imagine many pregnant women would be in the same pickle.

It is a bad situation currently. At least say when they will come back, so people can make an informed decision.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Your brother sounds very wise. I hope the treatments are successful. I send all my best.

Teresa from the podcast shared her Florida AP slipped during the time her mother (or mother-in-law?) died. I don’t think she was successful in getting an exception.

Craig also shared they paying for Kylie’s AP while she is pregnant because he needs one for work and wants her to be able to join him but admits it kinda of waste right now. I imagine many pregnant women would be in the same pickle.

It is a bad situation currently. At least say when they will come back, so people can make an informed decision.

Thank you so much. They are doing the best they can for now.

It would be nice if Disney said Magic Keys will open again “after the new year” or “next summer” or whatever. But part of me feels like this is Disney MO of trying to get people FOMO.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

Thank you so much. They are doing the best they can for now.

It would be nice if Disney said Magic Keys will open again “after the new year” or “next summer” or whatever. But part of me feels like this is Disney MO of trying to get people FOMO.

Yes and just like your example of a 3 year old there are many ways a family can change i.e. adoption, fostering a child who is a relative, military dad or mom returning from deployment, an elderly/disabled relative moving in etc.

I would hope Disney would accommodate at least some of these scenarios if everyone else in the household has a pass, especially if it involves a minor being added where leaving them home is unrealistic.

Maybe just allow a few exceptions for DL locals, just for extraordinary circumstances.

 

[Malcon10t]

There are a lot of people who dod lie and cause CM to be jaded. Remember the mom who explained she just kept her son in a stroller til he was 5 and said he was 2? But rarely do they see them say they are younger, but now there is a reason.

I totally get "big 3yo." My granddaughter was one of those. Here she is at 2 3/4 years old.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

Oh @SOCALMouseMommy back to your original scenario only allowing it 60 days within when they turn 3 is not realistic unless they are willing to pro-rate the length, so the entire family’s expiration dates can still line up.

Give people a bit of leeway like in your case so you can get them somwhat close togther.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

There are a lot of people who dod lie and cause CM to be jaded. Remember the mom who explained she just kept her son in a stroller til he was 5 and said he was 2? But rarely do they see them say they are younger, but now there is a reason.

I totally get "big 3yo." My granddaughter was one of those. Here she is at 2 3/4 years old.

View attachment 703297

She is so adorable! And sooooo tall!!

I can’t even imagine trying to pass a 5-year-old off as a 2-year-old, oh my gosh!

I guess I can see it that people are trying to “work” the system in some way and lie to say their child is younger, but I just for the life of me can’t understand WHY Disney won’t let you add one child, whether they are 3 or 4, if the rest of the family has Magic Keys. Especially when Disney has made purchasing Magic Keys so difficult in the last year.

When my son turned 3, Disney had already taken the Believe key away so my only option would have been a key that was blocked out all summer when my son and I had keys that were open for the summer. And then they even took those two keys away, so there was nothing.

I’m starting to feel like Disney would have allowed me to buy my son a Believe Key when he turned 3 even though it wasn’t available for sale … and I am starting to feel like Disney thinks I knew this was an option but didn’t utilize it. But I had no idea. It’s not published as policy anywhere. It didn’t even occur to me to ask. I was just waiting for Believe to come back (thinking it would soon), but it never did.

Anyway, I realize this is all first world problems and having Magic Keys is a privilege and not a necessity but when you have already given Disney money and signed a year-long contract and all you want is to be able to bring both of your children together it’s just seems unnecessarily complicated.

 

[starlite_]

What a b....not nice person. Who cares if you suddenly want to buy a MK for your 5 year old? Or your 10 yo? IMO if the parent's have a MK, then kids under 12 should be able to get one as well. Specially in a situation like yours. What they should do imo is set the key to expire whenever the parent's key expires (cheaper than a whole key), and then the whole family has to renew together. That way they minimize possible abuses of parents using their kids to circumvent discounts or something if that is what they are worried about.