If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a Magic Key for your visits to Disneyland Resort, we’ve got your guide! Below, find out all the details about how this updated version of the former Annual Pass program works.
Wish you could visit Disneyland Resort any time you have a free weekend –or even a few hours free during the week? With a Magic Key, you can visit Disneyland almost any time! The Magic Key program is your pass to year-round fun at Disneyland! With any tier of Magic Key, you can visit the parks again and again –and you may even be able to take advantage of some special keyholder-only perks, too.
Learn more about what the Magic Key program is, how it works, and why it might be the right investment for you below.
What is Disneyland’s Magic Key Program?
Disneyland’s Magic Key program is a way to unlock all of the fun, excitement, and magic of the Happiest Place on Earth time and time again. Instead of purchasing single- or multi-day theme park tickets, a Magic Key gives you one full year of access to Disneyland Resort and all of the incredible attractions, dining, shopping, and more available inside the theme parks.
Photo courtesy of Disneyland
A Magic Key pass provides you with reservation-based admission to one or both Disneyland Resort theme parks. You can make anywhere from two to six reservations at a time, and when you arrive, your Magic Key is your ticket inside.
Plus, there are special perks that come with being a Magic Key holder! In addition to theme park admission, you can enjoy special experiences, savings on food, drinks, and merchandise, and choose your level of pricing and convenience.
What Perks Come with a Magic Key?
In addition to allowing you the freedom and flexibility to visit Disneyland Resort regularly, without purchasing individual tickets, the Magic Key program also includes a host of benefits. From discounts at your favorite park dining spots to special Magic Key merch to Magic Key events, it’s more than just your “ticket” to enter the theme parks.
Photo courtesy of Disneyland
While the perks of the Magic Key program do vary a bit depending on the type of Magic Key you purchase, here’s a look at some of the perks that all keyholders enjoy:
- A discount on Disney dining
- A discount on Disney merchandise
- Discounted or free parking at Disney lots or parking structures
- Access to the Magic Key Terrace at Disney California Adventure Park
- Magic Key embroidery option for Ear Hats
- Special festival and event offerings throughout the year, like Magic Key menu items or novelty items
- Savings on Disneyland Resort Hotels at select times throughout the year
- Magic Key PhotoPass opportunities
- Special Magic Key merchandise and collectibles
Disneyland Annual Pass vs Magic Key: What’s the Difference?
If you’re wondering what the difference is between Disneyland’s Annual Pass and Disneyland’s Magic Key programs, you aren’t alone! The two are essentially one and the same – Disneyland replaced its Annual Pass program with the Magic Key program.
Disneyland ended its original Annual Pass program in January 2021, during the resort’s closure in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests were told that a new program would debut at a later date, and the Magic Key program was revealed later that same year in August. The first Magic Keys went on sale on August 25, 2021.
So, while you can’t buy a Disneyland Annual Pass any longer, purchasing a Magic Key is essentially the same! The perks are slightly different and the program has evolved, but it’s very similar in the way in which it offers frequent visitors a way to visit as often as they’d like, without purchasing individual tickets for each day at the park.
Types of Magic Keys
Photo courtesy of Disney
Much like Disneyland’s previous Annual Pass program, the Magic Key program offers multiple tiers –or types –of membership. You can choose from any of the following tiers (if Magic Keys are not currently sold out at the time of your purchase or visit).
Imagine Key
The Imagine Key is only available for residents of Southern California. You’ll need to provide proof of residence in a Southern California zip code from 90000 to 93599. This is the most restrictive Magic Key, with the highest number of blockout dates. Guests with an Imagine Key are blocked out on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as many Fridays, most of the summer, and during the holiday season in December.
Price: The Imagine Key costs $499.
Benefits: The Imagine Key includes benefits like:
- The ability to make up to two theme park reservations at once
- 20 percent off the purchase price of Disney Genie+
- Up to 10 percent off select merchandise
- Up to 10 percent off select dining
- 25 percent off standard theme park parking at the Toy Story Parking Area (excluding blockout dates)
Enchant Key
Available to all Disneyland Resort Guests, the Enchant Key is open for anyone to purchase (when it’s on sale, of course!). A step up from the Imagine Key, the Enchant Key does come with a significant number of blockout dates. With this Magic Key, most Saturdays (and many Sundays) are blocked out, along with many popular spring, summer, and winter holiday dates.
Price: The Enchant Key costs $849.
Benefits: The Enchant Key includes benefits like:
- The ability to make up to four theme park reservations at once
- 20 percent off the purchase price of Disney Genie+
- Up to 10 percent off select merchandise
- Up to 10 percent off select dining
- 25 percent off standard theme park parking at the Toy Story Parking Area (excluding blockout dates)
Believe Key
The Believe Key offers fewer restrictions and increased flexibility for Guests, both in terms of available reservation dates and theme park parking. While this Magic Key does feature some summertime weekend blockout dates, along with periods of high traffic (like the holidays and during spring break), it offers a significant number of open dates for reservations. It’s a great option for those who don’t mind skipping the theme parks during the busiest times of year.
Price: The Believe Key costs $1,249.
Benefits: The Believe Key includes benefits like:
- The ability to make up to six theme park reservations at once
- 20 percent off the purchase price of Disney Genie+
- Up to 10 percent off select merchandise
- Up to 10 percent off select dining
- 50 percent off standard theme park parking at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, Pixar Pals Parking Structure, and Toy Story Parking Area (excluding blockout dates)
Inspire Key
The highest tier of Disneyland’s Magic Key program, the Inspire Key offers the most freedom and flexibility –and it’s an investment suited for the most dedicated Disney fans. With the fewest number of blockout dates (only 14 dates during December are blocked), Inspire Key holders can visit almost year-round. Plus, this particular Magic Key offers increasingly bigger benefits than the other tiers.
Price: The Inspire Key costs $1,649.
Benefits: The Inspire Key includes benefits like:
- The ability to make up to six theme park reservations at once
- 20 percent off the purchase price of Disney Genie+
- Unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads
- Up to 20 percent off select merchandise
- Up to 15 percent off select dining
- Standard theme park parking included at the Mickey & Friends Parking Structure, Pixar Pals Parking Structure, and Toy Story Parking Area (excluding blockout dates)
How to Use a Magic Key to Enter Disneyland Resort
As soon as you’ve purchased your Magic Key, you’re ready to plan your next visit to Disneyland! However, you’ll need to make a park reservation before you arrive.
You can log into your Disneyland account (either on Disneyland.com or in the Disneyland app) to access the Magic Key park reservation calendar. This calendar will show all of the available reservation slots that are currently open to book, either at Disneyland, California Adventure, or both theme parks.
Once you choose a date and a theme park, you’ll confirm your reservation.On the day of your reservation, you’ll need to visit the theme park you made your reservation at first. For example, if you made a reservation for April 1 at Disneyland, you’ll need to scan your Magic Key at Disneyland when you arrive. Once park hopping begins, you’re free to walk over to the opposite theme park!
However, if you plan to arrive after park hopping begins (11:00 AM daily), you can start your day at either theme park.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disneyland’s Magic Key Program
How Do You Buy a Disneyland Magic Key?
You can purchase a Magic Key just like you would a ticket to Disneyland Resort –head to Disneyland.com or open the Disneyland app and select the level, or type, you’d like to purchase.
You cannot purchase a new Magic Key at Disneyland. So, don’t waste your time heading to the ticket booth!
Just note that you can only purchase a new Magic Key if the Key you’d like is currently available (which isn’t always the case!). If your current Magic Key is up for renewal, you can renew even if that particular type of Key is sold out or unavailable for new purchases.
Do Magic Key Passes Sell Out?
Yes, Magic Keys do sell out at Disneyland –and they sell out regularly! However, when a Magic Key pass sells out, it isn’t necessarily gone for good. Disneyland has announced that Magic Keys will be available for sale throughout the year, so you simply need to keep an eye on the website for the latest news and on-sale dates.
Some Magic Key pass types are more popular and therefore more difficult to get, as they often sell out quickly. However, unless Disneyland announces that a particular Key is being discontinued, you can expect that it’ll return at some point in the future.
How Much Does a Magic Key Cost?
The price of a Magic Key depends on which type, or level, you choose. Prices start at $499 (Inspire Key) and go as high as $1,599 (Imagine Key).
Can You Park Hop at Disneyland Resort with a Magic Key?
Yes, you can park hop with a Magic Key! Your Magic Key includes access to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park, with no additional ticket required. However, you will need to wait until 11:00 AM to hop over to the park.
Do You Need a Park Reservation with a Magic Key?
You will still need to make a park reservation after you’ve purchased a Magic Key for Disneyland Resort. Your Magic Key grants you access to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, but you need a valid reservation for the first park you’ll visit for the day.
Log into your account on Disneyland.com or in the Disneyland app, and you’ll be able to see available theme park reservations for Magic Key holders. Reservation availability changes often, so you can keep an eye on the calendar to make changes as needed.
And remember, while you do need a theme park reservation for the first park you plan to visit, you do not need a second reservation to park hop. From 11:00 AM on, you don’t need a reservation to move from theme park to theme park.
