Question about Costco tickets to Magic Key

[jenniferrose]

Hi all! Hoping for some advice on if my plan in my head will work
We purchased the recent Costco 3 day ticket special. We will be going to Disneyland for a weekend in September and then again in December. I was thinking of using 2 days of the park hopper in September then using the 3rd our first day in the parks in December and then purchasing/upgrading to Magic Key's before the end of that day (the days we are planning to go in December are not blocked out for Magic Key). Will this work? Will we receive the value of our park hoppers towards our Magic Key's? Would we not have enough time to book our reservation for the remainder of our December trip? What am I missing? We haven't had annual passes for over a decade so things are very different however my daughter is going to be going to college in So Cal beginning this fall so we decided to go for it with annual passes for her first year.
Thanks!

 

[LAS2AMS]

From what I’ve read, yes, you can upgrade to a MK. No one has provided a finite answer of the value that’s applied to the MK — some say it’s the entire $449, others say it must be done at the park and there’s a specific amount allocated to the admission.

 

[Louis63]

I haven't read up on the Costco tickets, but if they're like regular 3 day tickets, isn't there a time limit on when you can use them after the 1st use?

 

[jenniferrose]

Everything I have read states: Tickets can be used on non-consecutive days from May 20th through December 19th which aligns with our plans.

Has anyone heard otherwise??

 

[disneychrista]

When you upgrade to the MK, they will give you the value of what you paid for the tickets towards the cost of a MK. I have heard others say they were given full (undiscounted) value of discounted tickets towards the AP but in general that is not the case.

 

[Disneyhanna]

I think what you are missing, is that magic key sales have been very limited. They are available right now but the past couple years, I think they have only been available during a few short windows. So it's very possible they won't be available to purchase in September/December. I think last fall, they were only available for a few days in November.

I myself am hoping to upgrade my 70th ticket during early July, but I'm bracing myself for the possibility they will close magic key sales before then.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

It will just depend on if Magic Keys are available for purchase when you want to upgrade.

 

[jenniferrose]

Good to know! Maybe we will do all 3 days in September (assuming they will offer the MK) and upgrade then.

 

[disneychrista]

Good to know! Maybe we will do all 3 days in September (assuming they will offer the MK) and upgrade then.

In case you are not aware, your MK will be valid 1 year from the first day you use the ticket you are upgrading. So even if you wait to upgrade in December your MK will expire one year from the date in September you first used the ticket.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

Good to know! Maybe we will do all 3 days in September (assuming they will offer the MK) and upgrade then.

They may or may not offer it then. It’s very limited and unpredictable. Sometimes they only open sales up for a day or two.

I would not count on it, but if it’s available it should be an option unless there is something about the Costco ticket that excludes it from upgrading.

I bought a special three-day ticket back when DL first reopened after Covid but before they announced the new annual pass program (Magic Keys). I was not able to upgrade that ticket to a Magic Key, which was a real burn from Disney.

 

[gottalovepluto]

In case you are not aware, your MK will be valid 1 year from the first day you use the ticket you are upgrading. So even if you wait to upgrade in December your MK will expire one year from the date in September you first used the ticket.

Exactly. There is no reason to wait.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

In case you are not aware, your MK will be valid 1 year from the first day you use the ticket you are upgrading. So even if you wait to upgrade in December your MK will expire one year from the date in September you first used the ticket.

Exactly. There is no reason to wait.

Unless the days they want to go in December are blocked out to the Magic Key they want and open with the Costco ticket.

 

[katyringo]

Are these 70th anniversary special tickets? Those have to be used by August 14th.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Unless the days they want to go in December are blocked out to the Magic Key they want and open with the Costco ticket.

They already said the Dec days are not blocked out days

 

[gottalovepluto]

Are these 70th anniversary special tickets? Those have to be used by August 14th.

No. These are the Costco special

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

They already said the Dec days are not blocked out days

Ahhh yes, then might as well upgrade as soon as possible if it’s available.

 

[wench]

Are these 70th anniversary special tickets? Those have to be used by August 14th.

Costco has their own version of the 70th tickets that are a much better deal & good until the Xmas blackout window starts.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Any updates on upgrading to MK and the value that was given?

 

[Disneyhanna]

Any updates on upgrading to MK and the value that was given?

Just anecdotal, but I saw a post last week that someone upgraded their Costco ticket and they were credited $420 (dining value was deducted).

I upgraded a regular 70th ticket (purchased direct thru Disney) including LL to a Believe key on Sunday, and was credited the ticket value + LL value that I paid ($623 for a 4-day Anniversary ticket with LL). But as I suspected, the LLs disappear once you upgrade. So definitely wait until the last day when you are leaving to upgrade, I was able to upgrade in the app but not sure about the Costco tickets. (Obviously my park reservation disappeared as well, which didn't matter since I was leaving.)

 

[VGCgroupie]

Just anecdotal, but I saw a post last week that someone upgraded their Costco ticket and they were credited $420 (dining value was deducted).

I upgraded a regular 70th ticket (purchased direct thru Disney) including LL to a Believe key on Sunday, and was credited the ticket value + LL value that I paid ($623 for a 4-day Anniversary ticket with LL). But as I suspected, the LLs disappear once you upgrade. So definitely wait until the last day when you are leaving to upgrade, I was able to upgrade in the app but not sure about the Costco tickets. (Obviously my park reservation disappeared as well, which didn't matter since I was leaving.)

Thank you. For sure want those LL.