Update: Magic Key Holder Settlement Reached, Plus Rumor: Renewal for Magic Key Holders Tomorrow?

[joseph821]

Honestly, $9.5 million isn't a significant monetary hit for Disney. They took in over $144,000,000 on a year's worth of dream keys alone without consideration of revenue from other magic keys and tickets.

It may not be significant when compared to the Dream Key Revenue but it is still money to be paid out. Do you think they wanted to payout from the program. $10M plus internal legal costs plus outside counsel costs? $10M is still enough for this to stop selling all keys. All the Dream Key Revenue is gone...taken in and spent already. Long gone.

Disney does not like to pay out. I think what I meant this is the first time Disneyland had to payout from passholder program.

 

[StormyCA]

Disney doesn’t offer annual passes as a favor to anyone. If it was not very lucrative for them, they wouldn’t offer them. I don't foresee Magic Keys going away but they might decide to revamp the program drastically.

(While they’re at it, maybe they could change the name back to ANNUAL PASS, which is what it is, rather than the confusing Magic Key nonsense. Hmmmmm …. Could this be why they’re giving away all those Magic Key branded Magic Bands? )

I don't think I said they considered it a 'favor'. I think they consider(ed) it 'mutually beneficial' but that perhaps they no longer feel that way. Sometimes even something that makes you money may no longer be worth the hassle in your eyes. But whatever they do or don't do, I'm sure there will be mixed feelings about it.

I agree, just call it an Annual Pass. No need to 'foo foo' it up with a fancy name.

 

[joseph821]

I don't think I said they considered it a 'favor'. I think they consider(ed) it 'mutually beneficial' but that perhaps they no longer feel that way. Sometimes even something that makes you money may no longer be worth the hassle in your eyes. But whatever they do or don't do, I'm sure there will be mixed feelings about it.

I agree, just call it an Annual Pass. No need to 'foo foo' it up with a fancy name.

Agreed. I also think Disneyland might just offer the most expensive key and that will be the end of all of the Keys. They will let the rest of the keys run out and offer them a $100 credit to upgrade. Then no more blackout calendars and the like because the lower keys will be gone. Just the Christmas season blackout for the top and only key.

 

[MillauFr]

Agreed. I also think Disneyland might just offer the most expensive key and that will be the end of all of the Keys. They will let the rest of the keys run out and offer them a $100 credit to upgrade. Then no more blackout calendars and the like.

Why would they let key holders into the parks on high demand days? I can see no black out dates but adding a $99 surcharge to access the parks during periods of high demand. They need to equalize attendance somehow.

 

[joseph821]

Why would they let key holders into the parks on high demand days? I can see no black out dates but adding a $99 surcharge to access the parks during periods of high demand. They need to equalize attendance somehow.

Sorry I meant no more blackouts needed on the other Keys. Ill edit that! Thanks!

 

[joseph821]

Why would they let key holders into the parks on high demand days? I can see no black out dates but adding a $99 surcharge to access the parks during periods of high demand. They need to equalize attendance somehow.

That is possible. But I do not think the Christmas season they will allow a surcharge for that since they already have plenty of guests available.
Equalize attendance yes but with the reservation system DL will figure it out.

 

[MillauFr]

That is possible. But I do not think the Christmas season they will allow a surcharge for that since they already have plenty of guests available.
Equalize attendance yes but with the reservation system DL will figure it out.

Maybe they will just get rid of an unlimited pass. It encourages over consumption.

 

[joseph821]

Maybe they will just get rid of an unlimited pass. It encourages over consumption.

Anything is possible. I hope DL does not get rid of the So Cal pass but that could be possible. DL might just offer the higher passes/leys because they know they will get the revenue. And just do SO Cal ticket promotions as needed.

 

[DizMe]

Maybe they will just get rid of an unlimited pass. It encourages over consumption.

There is no such thing as an unlimited pass. I have the top tier and it still blocks you from 2 weeks at Christmas, and you are still required to have park reservations so there is control over how many people can go on a given day. Disneyland (and every other theme park) by nature encourages over-consumption, with or without annual passes. A lot of people, like me, have the top tier pass but live hundreds of miles away and go 3-4 times a year. Is that over-consumption? I don't find it any more so than those who go golfing every weekend or attend concerts frequently or enjoy ball games. It's all over-consumption if you want to look at it that way. You can also look at it as keeping DLR afloat. If it wasn't an important source of revenue, they wouldn't have passes. It's not the ticket price they're after, it's the resort spending, and if you're at the resort, you're likely spending money.

 

[joseph821]

There is no such thing as an unlimited pass. I have the top tier and it still blocks you from 2 weeks at Christmas, and you are still required to have park reservations so there is control over how many people can go on a given day. Disneyland (and every other theme park) by nature encourages over-consumption, with or without annual passes. A lot of people, like me, have the top tier pass but live hundreds of miles away and go 3-4 times a year. Is that over-consumption? I don't find it any more so than those who go golfing every weekend or attend concerts frequently or enjoy ball games. It's all over-consumption if you want to look at it that way. You can also look at it as keeping DLR afloat. If it wasn't an important source of revenue, they wouldn't have passes. It's not the ticket price they're after, it's the resort spending, and if you're at the resort, you're likely spending money.

Excellent point. We need to focus on how much all the passholders/Keys spend. The spending generates a lot of revenue. The key (sorry lol) question is how much revenue is DL willing to risk? I suspect not a lot. There will be changes to the key program just how much and how drastic remains to be seen.

 

[Wesley815]

Maybe they will just get rid of an unlimited pass. It encourages over consumption.

It doesn't encourage anything. Should sports teams stop selling season ticket packages for tens of thousands of dollars? Personal responsibility needs to come into play if someone can't control their "consumption" of anything in life.

Technically Disney could sell a billion Magic Keys for $1 each and turn off or on the reservation calendar whenever they want to
(which is issue with the lawsuit)

 

[starlite_]

Maybe they will just get rid of an unlimited pass. It encourages over consumption.

Ppls inability to be responsible isn't Disney's fault.

 

[StormyCA]

I think having a 'heavily blocked' pass for So Cal residents, similar to WDW's 'Pixie Pass' and ONE pass for anyone with blockouts 'somewhere between Inspire and Believe' might work. Both reservation based. I don't think DLR is going to do away with reservations any time soon.

And IMHO, whilst I agree that people should 'police' themselves, if they aren't then it's up to the 'entity' to police their 'property' themselves. Anyone who's seen the overcrowding at Yosemite or the 'tourons' at Yellowstone or other national parks can see what uncontrolled access can do. It's a case of 'save it or wave it (goodbye)' as opposed to 'use it or lose it'.

And people will generally always think 'everyone but me' or 'I'm not the problem, they are' when it comes to things we love. Whilst perhaps someone should think "Hey I've been to DLR 6 times this month/75 times so far this year, maybe I should lay off, not use up reservations and give others a chance" are they really going to do that? Or are they going to think "Man, it's crowded in here! Those MKs/tourists/Grad Nighters need to stay home!".

 

[Foxhound3857]

I guess now I have to consider a Gold or Platinum pass for Universal Studios until Keys open up again, or a Six Flags pass. I was so disappointed to see the Inspire Key taken off the website; I was planning to buy one after Christmas.

 

[starlite_]

I guess now I have to consider a Gold or Platinum pass for Universal Studios until Keys open up again, or a Six Flags pass. I was so disappointed to see the Inspire Key taken off the website; I was planning to buy one after Christmas.

After Xmas they will probably be available again. It's 1/3 of the year away.

 

[Foxhound3857]

After Xmas they will probably be available again. It's 1/3 of the year away.

Is that something I can count on though? A sale happening before 2024 hits? I'm hearing six months minimum to get this legal nonsense sorted out and combed over before they even consider releasing a new batch of Keys.

 

[starlite_]

Is that something I can count on though? A sale happening before 2024 hits? I'm hearing six months minimum to get this legal nonsense sorted out and combed over before they even consider releasing a new batch of Keys.

Who are you hearing this from? We can speculate all we want on how long it will be till they sell them again yet no one but Disney actually knows when that will be. Every comment in this thread is speculation because no one (even ppl who claim to be lawyers) actually have any inside info.

They could have sold out of the inspire keys at any moment before this as well.

I'm just saying that anything and everything can change in 4 months. No need to be disappointed when it's so far away.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Who are you hearing this from? We can speculate all we want on how long it will be till they sell them again yet no one but Disney actually knows when that will be. Every comment in this thread is speculation because no one (even ppl who claim to be lawyers) actually have any inside info.

They could have sold out of the inspire keys at any moment before this as well.

I'm just saying that anything and everything can change in 4 months. No need to be disappointed when it's so far away.

Well, I generally take a lot of voluntary overtime during Holiday season anyway, so if that money can't go towards a Key, I can still plan a 3-4 day trip with my friends where we all split the costs for a room at the Grand Californian.

 

[joseph821]

Well, I generally take a lot of voluntary overtime during Holiday season anyway, so if that money can't go towards a Key, I can still plan a 3-4 day trip with my friends where we all split the costs for a room at the Grand Californian.

Hi. Anything is possible. I do not think new key sales will happen until the Dream Keys settlement is executed and certified by the federal court. Save your money for the key. Sales will happen in 2024. When and how long are to be determined.

 

[MillauFr]

It doesn't encourage anything. Should sports teams stop selling season ticket packages for tens of thousands of dollars? Personal responsibility needs to come into play if someone can't control their "consumption" of anything in life.

Technically Disney could sell a billion Magic Keys for $1 each and turn off or on the reservation calendar whenever they want to
(which is issue with the lawsuit)

Disney selling passes that allows people to come into the parks for $10 a day doesn't encourage them to come more often? Um no. It does. No way Disney should be selling tickets so cheaply. You can buy an annual pass for $2,000 and come to the parks for 350 days a year.