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

[brightlined]

The trick with this thread is that everyone's speculating - based either on personal experience or on personal wishes.

The reality: no one can say for sure why they pulled the Inspire Key or what's going to happen in the future. We can't use this thread to plan for anything three months from now or next year - there's just no information available.

Joseph might be right, but, at face value, I disagree with his reasoning.

The legal issues involved in the lawsuit were specific to the Dream Key. The plaintiffs didn't sue over the MK program rules as a whole, which is why only Dream Key members were included in the class action. If Disney ever thought they'd have exposure because of the other Keys, they would have stopped selling them entirely until all of the legal issues were worked out.

As someone who is also speculating with no hard evidence:

I personally think they pulled the Inspire Key because we're entering the busy Halloween season and they don't specifically need to sell that pass. I've been suspicious that they're waiting to get through the August to October renewal timeframe for the original batch of MK holders from two years ago to see how many folks don't renew (and how many "spaces" might be freed up).

I still expect for MKs to reopen around November like they did last year. And stopping all sales now would help drive the on-rush - "hey, you missed out in September, grab one now". (The only hesitance I have is that nearly all of the renewals were during that timeframe last year - at this point, there's a sizeable group that joined in April - and all of that space wouldn't be available this November.)

That makes more sense to me than anything having to do with the lawsuit.

But, again, that's just my opinion. This thread is purely speculation - we don't really need it to be more intense than that.

 

[starlite_]

Not engaging anymore on this topic any longer.

You are the one that replied twice to my post

 

[Wesley815]

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.

Apologies, my point was more about the reservation system. Meaning no matter if Disney sold a pass for $1 or $10,000 they have complete control over access by simply turning on or off reservations for specific Keys/tickets.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out!

 

[Foxhound3857]

Apologies, my point was more about the reservation system. Meaning no matter if Disney sold a pass for $1 or $10,000 they have complete control over access by simply turning on or off reservations for specific Keys/tickets.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out!

I'm starting to wonder if Disneyland will ever return to 100% capacity at this point. Starting to get the thought that they prefer not to be at full capacity so they can cut costs by understaffing.

 

[LKing]

I'm starting to wonder if Disneyland will ever return to 100% capacity at this point. Starting to get the thought that they prefer not to be at full capacity so they can cut costs by understaffing.

Do you feel that they are understaffed?

 

[starlite_]

I'm starting to wonder if Disneyland will ever return to 100% capacity at this point. Starting to get the thought that they prefer not to be at full capacity so they can cut costs by understaffing.

Well, do you want to have a hard time walking thru pathways? I know I don't.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Well, do you want to have a hard time walking thru pathways? I know I don't.

I don't feel like it's any different right now. The one day that I went in June, which was a Monday, it was bonkers crowded even in the morning, practically elbow to elbow, and when the night show came on it was even worse. And somebody told me that wasn't even full capacity.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Do you feel that they are understaffed?

I honestly don't know. I don't remember seeing many characters walking around, so there's probably a lack of CM's at the moment.

 

[starlite_]

I don't feel like it's any different right now. The one day that I went in June, which was a Monday, it was bonkers crowded even in the morning, practically elbow to elbow, and when the night show came on it was even worse. And somebody told me that wasn't even full capacity.

We have had different experiences. Besides the fact that I went on the weekend and Mondays are supposed to be the busiest of days at DLR in general. I saw tons of characters walking around in August in both parks. Mickey & friends, princesses, villains, pirates, Pixar, Indiana Jones was hanging out at his ride interacting with ppl in line. Various Star Wars characters on Galaxy's Edge.

 

[Foxhound3857]

We have had different experiences. Besides the fact that I went on the weekend and Mondays are supposed to be the busiest of days at DLR in general. I saw tons of characters walking around in August in both parks. Mickey & friends, princesses, villains, pirates, Pixar, Indiana Jones was hanging out at his ride interacting with ppl in line. Various Star Wars characters on Galaxy's Edge.

Actually, cool story on Galaxy's Edge. Since I hadn't been to Disneyland in a good 17 years and it was my birthday, my Sister surprised me with a huge treat; she paid for me to build my own Lightsaber at Savi's Workship (I'll get a picture of it some time). While we were waiting in the queue to be guided in, we were both surprised by the lack of characters walking around and I made a comment along the lines of "Man, I haven't even seen any Stormtroopers walking around."

Sure enough, 30 seconds later, who else emerges from around the corner but Kylo Ren himself and his bodyguards Dumb and Dumber, starts "interrogating" people right in front of Savi's Workshop. I'm not sure if that's a scripted spot for him to stop or if he just picked it out of the blue, but it was pretty unironically funny that he pops up just as we were observing a distinct lack of characters walking around. The CM's had to wait for him to walk away before they finally guided us into the Forge.

 

[MillauFr]

I honestly don't know. I don't remember seeing many characters walking around, so there's probably a lack of CM's at the moment.

I don't get how they get young cast members to work for low wages in Southern California with the high cost of living.

 

[Foxhound3857]

I don't get how they get young cast members to work for low wages in Southern California with the high cost of living.

Doesn't Disneyland have on-campus living of some kind, dorms or studio apartments somewhere on the property for CM's to live, with the cost deducted from their pay?

 

[Wesley815]

Doesn't Disneyland have on-campus living of some kind, dorms or studio apartments somewhere on the property for CM's to live, with the cost deducted from their pay?

No, they don't.

There's a few for College Program Cast Members nearby in south Anaheim-Orange area (traveling from out of state/country) but none for regular hourly CM's.

 

[starlite_]

No, they don't.

There's a few for College Program CM's nearby in south Anaheim-Orange area (traveling from out of state/country) but none for regular hourly Cast/employees.

There is a DLR College Program? I thought that was only WDW.

 

[Wesley815]

There is a DLR College Program? I thought that was only WDW.

They used to have a smaller program at DLR when I worked at the park, although searching around now post-pandemic it might not of come back (or is for local schools only)

Everything online appears to be for WDW only:
https://sites.disney.com/lifeatdisn...-to-make-magic-on-the-disney-college-program/

 

[LKing]

I don't get how they get young cast members to work for low wages in Southern California with the high cost of living.

I know several local college students (UCI, Chapman, CSUF) who work at DLR part time. Their pay is similar to what they would earn if they worked on campus or any other entry level position.

 

[LKing]

I honestly don't know. I don't remember seeing many characters walking around, so there's probably a lack of CM's at the moment.

There are tons of characters right now. Some are in fixed locations and some are walking and interacting. The other day we saw Peter Pan sneaking up behind people in line for the Matterhorn and tickling them with a feather.

I don't believe the cast member to guest ratio has changed dramatically. Less people in the parks means that they need fewer employees. It doesn't mean that they are understaffed.

 

[Foxhound3857]

We have had different experiences. Besides the fact that I went on the weekend and Mondays are supposed to be the busiest of days at DLR in general. I saw tons of characters walking around in August in both parks. Mickey & friends, princesses, villains, pirates, Pixar, Indiana Jones was hanging out at his ride interacting with ppl in line. Various Star Wars characters on Galaxy's Edge.

Here's my Lightsaber by the way.

 

[DLandgirlie]

I'm leaning towards the decision of them re-branding the program for 2024 and/or price increases.
I think new sales will open up 2024.

 

[StormyCA]

I'm leaning towards the decision of them re-branding the program for 2024 and/or price increases.
I think new sales will open up 2024.

I think I'm agreeing with 2024, I'd think the 1st quarter. We're now entering the (arguably) busiest season at DLR. I'd think the last thing they'd want is a possible repeat of the 'no reservations' debacle of the holiday season right after they released the MKs.

Much better to release them during a 'slower' time of the year, when there's (hopefully) less demand for reservations.