The new Disneyland Resort pass program is called the Magic Key Program. Details, benefits plus I’ve got money saving tips for you. Passes are now available. These new reservation-based admission passes allow you into one or both of the theme parks Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. There’s lots to cover. Plus I’ve included some frequently asked questions at the bottom. And if you want to know how to SAVE money and upgrade your discounted tickets there’s important information down below so make sure you read all the details! This post contains affiliate links which means I make a little something when you purchase through the link with no extra cost to you.
4 new Magic keys to choose from:
Dream Key $1,399
- Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks every day of the year.
- Hold up to 6 theme park reservations at a time for different dates
- Up to 20% off select merchandise
- Up to 15% off select dining
- Standard theme park parking included (excluding blockout days)
- For California residents after $179 down payment then pay $102 per month for 12 months.
- No blockout dates for this key
Believe Key $949
- Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks every day of the year.
- Hold up to 6 theme park reservations at a time for different dates
- Up to 10% off select merchandise
- Up to 10% off select dining
- 50% off Standard theme park parking included (excluding blockout days)
- For California residents after $179 down payment then pay $65 per month for 12 months.
- Blockout dates in the photo below
Enchant Key $649
- Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks every day of the year.
- Hold up to 4 theme park reservations at a time for different dates
- Up to 10% off select merchandise
- Up to 10% off select dining
- For California residents after $179 down payment then pay $40 per month for 12 months.
- Blockout dates in the photo below
Imagine Key $399
- Only available for Southern California Residents living in zip codes 90000 to 93599
- Reservation-based admission to one or both theme parks every day of the year.
- Hold up to 2 theme park reservations at a time
- Up to 10% off select merchandise
- Up to 10% off select dining
- For Southern California residents after $179 down payment then pay $19 per month for 12 months.
- Blockout dates in the photo below
Key points
Key points To enter a theme park you must have a theme park reservation in addition to a valid Magic Key pass. It’s easy use the Magic Key pass. Step 1 – access the calendar, Step 2 – make a reservation and step 3 – review and confirm. You can make reservations as far as 90 days in advance. Once you enter a park on one of your booked reservation days (or timely cancel a reservation), then you can make another new reservation.
Magic Key holders can visit both parks, select a starting park to begin your day. Choose the both parks symbol if there’s availability you will see both the pink castle and blue Mickey wheel as seen in the photo below. There is a key to reference on the calendar below. Then you choose the park to start in. You can park hop on that day beginning at 1:00 p.m. This reservation for both theme parks only counts as one reservation toward their available reservations.
If you’re planning a visit with friends and family you can add their theme park admission to your account to make theme park reservations as a group.
You will not get a physical pass it will be digital unless you want to pay $20 for a paper version of the pass.
Additional benefits
- Magic Key Terrace at Starcade in Tomorrowland is a reservation-based lounge just for Magic Key holders and their friends and family. It begins on September 1 – Oct. 31, 2021. There are charging stations, a special photo opportunity and other fun surprises.
- Magic Key Holder Month is a month long celebration of Magic Key holders
- First access opportunities
- Downtown Disney discounts on participating locations.
- Magic Key Merchandise, Novelties, Menu Items and more.
- Magic Key Disney PhotoPass Opportunities are special photos spots and other opportunities throughout the year. First one is located behind Sleeping Beauty Castle with Mr. Toad.
- Enjoy an exclusive Oogie Boogie Bash photo opportunity of a fun Hocus Pocus scene will be available on party nights near Silly Symphony Swings.
- New popcorn exclusive bucket with $1.50 refills is coming early September.
- Be among the first to become a Magic Key holder within the first 66 days to celebrate 66 years of Disneyland Resort. These guests will receive a special welcome package that will include unique items, buttons, magnets and more.
How to save money on a Magic Key pass
Buy discounted tickets here through Get Away Today. Purchase them now because there are no blockout dates with tickets purchased through Get Away. Plus you can make a reservation 120 days ahead of time. Then on the last day of your vacation upgrade your discounted tickets to one of the Magic Key passes. Upgrade in the Disneyland app under the tickets and passes screen. When you upgrade, the full value of the ticket is applied as your down payment and you pay the rest of the pass in full.
Here’s an example with a current sweet ticket deal. Purchase a 5 day park ticket through Get Away Today but only pay for a 4 day ticket with the Extra Day Free special that started today! That’s a $20 savings per ticket than the listed price on Disneyland’s website. When you go to upgrade the ticket you’ll receive the Disneyland ticket gate price for the value. You only paid $340 for the ticket but the value is worth $360. So you just saved $20 off each Magic Key that you put towards upgrading.
So pay less and get the full value of the ticket and save money on your new pass. The other advantage of buying tickets ahead of time and then upgrading is availability. So let’s say you plan to purchase the Enchant Key, but your trip is already planned for over Labor Day weekend. Well the blockout days for that pass are on the weekend Sept 4, 5 and 6. But if those are the days you want to go you’d purchase a discounted ticket here and then use a 3 day park ticket to go on the blockout dates because the Get Away tickets don’t have blockout dates. And then on the last day upgrade your ticket to an Enchant Key pass and now you applied the ticket you just used towards a new pass that’s good for a whole year. Monthly payment options are available for eligible California residents purchasing a Magic Key pass.
Where can I purchase a Magic Key pass?
You can buy your Magic Key pass online at disneyland.com or on the Disneyland app. They will not be selling Magic Key passes at the ticket booths at the Disneyland resort at this time.
Do I need to purchase my Magic Key pass on August 25th?
It is not necessary to purchase your Magic Key on the first day of sale. There will be many trying and the website or app may have technical difficulties. So if you want to wait a few days you’ll be fine. Magic Keys will not sell out!
If you have any questions about how this all works comment below. I did a post about upgrading annual passes over a year ago that you will find more details. Head over here and read more about this topic.
Hi Shantelle! I have a few questions…
1) I love the idea of purchasing tickets to Get Away Today first, and then upgrading to a Magic Key Pass on the last day! Do you know if the Magic Key Pass “start date” will start on the day I upgrade? Or will it be the first day I used my Get Away Today ticket? Does that make sense? 😉
2) I’m trying to clarify the “… park reservations at a time” bit. So say I have the Enchant Key which allows me “four park reservations at a time,” but I want to “park hop” for four days. Does each park require a reservation if I want to park hop? Meaning that would be considered eight reservations (which would’ve be allowed)? Or can I park hop with having only one park reserved?
3) After I’ve fulfilled my “reserved days,” but I want to go more days (like if I’ve gone for four days in a row because my reservation allowed me to, but I want to go a fifth day), when can I make that fifth day reservation? Do I have to wait until park closing on day four before I’m allowed to make more reservations? Or can I not make it until day five? Do you know how that will work?
Hello let me answer what I know.
1 – The pass will be activated from the first day you used your Get Away Today ticket. The discounted mulit day tickets have to be used within 13 days of the first day of use, keep that in mine too.
2 – As for park hopping what we know so far is that each day even if you park hop you will need to make a reservation for each park but it will act as only one reservation.
3 – You can make your fifth or technically your start of new reservations after you have completed your first day of reservation. So if you reserve M, T, W and Th. You go on Monday and the next morning you can reserve for Friday if it’s available and that’s the day you want to go.
Hope that answers your questions. Refer back to this page to purchase your tickets. I appreciate the support. Let me know if you need anything else.
Ugh, autocorrect! Question 2 in my comment should read “wouldn’t be allowed,” not would’ve. 🤪
Hi Shantelle!
Do you know if we can use a Disney gift card as the down payment for a Magic Key and then make monthly payments with a credit card?
Yes you can use one gift card as a down payment. But I don’t know how the monthly payments work. I’m out of state and don’t have the option.
Sorry, just looking for clarity. We are going end of Sept- 3 day pass ($85 a day I think) on the 3rd day I can get the pass and apply the $255 towards the price.
Yes that’s correct
thank you for all of the information but I’m not quite clear on one thing. if I have a 3-day ticket that I want to upgrade to a magic key, do I have to upgrade to the key before I use the third day of the ticket? or can I upgrade ON the third day of the ticket when I’m already in the park?
thank you!
Upgrade in the app towards the end of that day so you don’t loose your reservation.
Hi Shantelle! If I purchase a 5-day pass through your code for GAT like you mentioned in the example, but I’m not going to the parks until November, can I still upgrade to a Magic Key through the app on the final day of my visit in November, or do Magic Keys need to be purchased by a certain date before my trip?
Yes you can upgrade on your last day of your trip in November. Magic Keys have no deadline when they have to be purchased. Thank you for your support!
Thank you for the info. I want to clarify…do you have to go into the park in order to upgrade your ticket to a pass? I reserved the 25th with a general ticket, but am confused on if I need to physically enter the park in order to upgrade to the pass since it’s purchased online. I can’t make it to the park until the late after noon so I’m not sure what to do. Is a reservation necessary in order to upgrade to a pass? Thank you!
You will upgrade your ticket at the end of the day in the app so you don’t loose your reservation. You can arrive in the park later in the afternoon you’ll be able to get one no problem. They will not run out.
hi Shantelle, thank you so much for the information. i’ve learned so much over the last couple weeks following you on instagram & readings here. my question is: how is california residency established/verified? do i simply need to change the address in my profile in the app? will someone check at the gate the next time i visit? i grew up in san diego and my parents still live there so i’d be using their address. it’d just be nice to get the payment plan rather than putting it all on a credit card now
They will ask to verify you live in CA in order to get a payment plan. If you can’t prove it with something then you won’t be able to do a payment plan.
Hi Shantelle! Thank you so much for all this great information- I love following you on Instagram! I’m headed to Disneyland 10/21 and I have a couple questions.
1) I currently have a 5 day (1 park) ticket. I’ve already made my park reservations for the weekend, but I want to upgrade to a park hopper. Is that a possibility? I’m also planning on upgrading to a Magic Key, but won’t do that until my last day (so I won’t lose my current park reservations).
2) My friend has a 2 day (park hopper) but was planning to upgrade to a 3 day when we arrive. We are worried that the park reservations will be closed for Sunday (10/24) when we upgrade upon our arrival (10/22). What would our options be? Would it be better to purchase new 3 day park hopper tickets?
Thank you so much!
Upgrading on your last day is the correct choice. With the new reservations system your friend will most likely not be able to get a next day reservation especially on a weekend. I would call Disney and ask them what’s the best thing to do. I’d hate to have her spend more money than necessary. Call 714-781-4565 it will be a long wait time call first thing in the morning.