A Look at the Metrics of the Magic Key Pass Program

With the arrival of the Magic Key pass program at the Disneyland Resort, it is very easy to start comparing it with what was had before. Is it better? Is it worse? Really, all of that remains to be seen once people have purchased and experienced this new program firsthand. By the numbers, here is what the Magic Key pass program looks like in a few different ways.

First off, how does the original Magic Key compare to the Disneyland Annual Pass? Here is a look at both of these options:

Magic Key Details

Magic Key TypeDays Available:Price on August 25, 2021ParkingPark ReservationsMerchandise DiscountDining Discount
Imagine147 Days$399Not included2 at a time10%10%
Enchant219 Days$649Not included4 at a time10%10%
Believe317 Days$94950% Discount6 at a time10%10%
Dream365 Days$1,399Included6 at a time20%15%

Disneyland Annual Pass Details

Annual Pass TypeDays Available Price in 2020ParkingPark ReservationsMerchandise DiscountDining Discount
SoCal Select170$419Not includedn/a10%10%
Disney Flex Pass215$649Not included2 per 30 days10%10%
Deluxe315$829Not includedn/a10%10%
Signature350$1,199Includedn/a20%15%
Signature Plus365$1,449Includedn/a20%15%

As can be seen in the above graphs, the Dream Magic Key is actually $100 less than the Signature Plus Annual Pass. The Believe Magic Key appears to be a mix of Deluxe and Signature Annual Passes. A big difference here is that parking is a 50% discount versus included with Signature and not included with Deluxe. It appears the difference was quite literally split. The Enchant Magic Key versus the Disney Flex Pass have the same prices. However, with the Enchant a guest can reserve four days at a time. Parking is not included for either of these. Finally, the SoCal Select versus the Imagine Magic Key finds that there are fewer dates available and a lower price for the Imagine Magic Key. For all levels of the Magic Key levels versus the former Annual Pass have the same discounts. The updated Magic Key offerings can be found here.

Magic Key/Daily Ticket Break Even Marks

Next, let’s take a look at where it makes sense to purchase a Magic Key versus a single day ticket. Because there is a park hopping option built into the Magic Key program (based on availability), let’s use single day tickets with the park hopping option included for the comparison. This comparison will also be quite literal on where the break even mark is.

Single Day Ticket TypeImagine ($399)Enchant ($649)Believe ($949)Dream ($1,399)
Tier 1 Park Hopper ($159)3569
Tier 2 Park Hopper ($169)3469
Tier 3 Park Hopper ($179)3468
Tier 4 Park Hopper ($194)3458
Tier 5 Park Hopper ($209)2457
Parking was not included in these figures.

As can be seen by the above numbers, the new Magic Key pass program is very similar to the former Disneyland Annual Pass program. While there are some differences, it seems that in terms of the numbers, things have stayed very close. The biggest difference is guests having to book reservations for their visits. With this comes the number of reservations that can be booked.

In the summer of 2022, the Magic Key program was updated with a new level and different options. The following has been updated to reflect the new Magic Keys, new numbers, and new break even marks!

Magic Key/Daily Ticket Break Even Marks in 2023

Single Day Ticket TypeImagine ($449)Enchant ($699)Believe ($1,099)Inspire ($1,599)
Tier 1 Park Hopper ($164)35710
Tier 2 Park Hopper ($179)3479
Tier 3 Park Hopper ($194)3469
Tier 4 Park Hopper ($209)3468
Tier 5 Park Hopper ($219)3468
Tier 6 Park Hopper ($224)2458
Parking was not included in these figures.

While this is a comparison of new and old the question will inevitably be asked of which one is better. Really, that can’t be answered at this point as nobody has experienced the Magic Key pass program and therefore nobody can compare it to the Disneyland Annual Pass program. Perhaps after a year (or many more years), guests will have experienced the Magic Key pass program enough to start being able to compare the two. Even then, it will be very hard to compare as they come from two very different times in Disney history.

The Magic Key pass program will be arriving on August 25, 2021. On that day, guests will be able to both purchase their Magic Key and also use them to visit the parks. What do you think of what you are seeing so far of the Magic Key pass program? Share your thoughts in the comments below.


Comments

11 responses to “A Look at the Metrics of the Magic Key Pass Program”

  1. Great job on this analysis. It’s very useful.

    I’m so relieved that the new plans are similar; I was extremely worried after Iger’s depressing remarks about passholders at the last shareholder’s meeting. We must not be such a bad deal for Disney after all.

    Now I just hope the reservation thing is not a problem, and we can routinely book same-day visits. We like to go later in the evenings when crowds lessen. Long visits are rare for us, and we rarely go when it’s crowded.

    Thanks again for this!

    1. It really will be interesting to see how this all plays out! Seeing it on paper is one thing, experience can be completely different! Hopefully, that is a really good thing! Glad this was helpful!

  2. Silly question but do each member of your family or party need their own key?
    So a family of 4 for Dream would cost a total of $5596 + tax?

    1. Not a silly question at all. Yes, each family member would need their own key. Each key will open each individual’s access to the Disneyland Resort parks. :)

  3. Sarah W Avatar

    They took away parking from the second highest tier, plus maxpass and photo pass. So they dropped prices slightly but took away features. Also, they needed to create a family pass with 1 parking pass but all 4 family members have the same blackout days. I want my kids to have the same days available but they don’t need parking. So overall, I was hoping for a better/more flexible system. This is essentially the same thing with fewer features.

  4. Richard Salazar Avatar
    Richard Salazar

    So the 50% discount on parking is good, however it doesnt correlate to savings when both my wife and I go at the same time. Benefit lost.
    Also the flex was a great deal, based on availability, we never were shutout.

    Back when our kids were younger, we had opportunity to purchase, and did so, the parking pass.

  5. I don’t think the new keys are comparable at all to annual passes. The restrictions placed on limited reservations with the 90 day in advance detail seems to be missing from the equation. If you do the math the most visits you can get with the Dream Key is 18. I visited the park 26 times using the annual pass prior to them being eliminated. While the charts look good on paper, in reality this is a money grab by Disney.

    1. Natasha Avatar

      The pass doesn’t limit you to only going 6 times in 90days it just means how many days you can hold. You can rebook another reservation at midnight the day you visit the park.

      I used to have the flex and in reality with the reservation system there there were rarely days that were completely booked out.

  6. Lisa McKeown Avatar
    Lisa McKeown

    The Dream Key is actually only $50.00 less than the Signature Plus pass. Add n that we lost the max pass, and there is a big difference is price.

  7. The chart doesn’t show the old “Southern California” pass that was discontinued but was grandfathered in for those who kept up the pass payments and renewals. It was a great deal for SoCal residents, so I wonder what the comperison is to the new Magic Key pass?

    1. Yea, I considered adding that but since it wasn’t offered when the parks closed I ended up opting not to. I may have to crunch the numbers and play with that as well!

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