Are Disneyland Magic Key Passes Worth It? Pros, Cons, & Value Calculator
- Alyse Ainsworth
- Oct 25, 2024
- 5 min read
Updates 10/23/2024:
Disney Announced - Price increase + Disneyland Magic Key Passes will go on sale Nov. 6th, 2024. If you're a Disneyland enthusiast, you've likely considered becoming a Magic Key pass holder. We recently took the plunge and purchased the Believe Key when they went on sale in February. For us, it has already been worth every penny. However, whether or not a Magic Key is right for you and your family depends on several factors, including how often you visit, your travel distance, and your budget. Here’s our experience and some tips to help you decide if it's worth it for you.
Factors to Consider Before Buying a Magic Key
1. How Often You Already Visit:
If you’re like us and were already visiting Disneyland two to three times a year, a Magic Key can offer significant savings and added benefits.
2. How Often You Will Visit:
Think about your future plans. Will you visit more frequently if you have a pass? The more you use it, the more value you get.
3. When You Will Want to Visit:
Check the blackout dates and reservation availability for the pass tier you’re considering. Make sure it aligns with your preferred visiting times.
4. Travel Distance:
We have always wanted to be Magic Key holders, but when we lived in Utah, traveling 12 hours by car or needing to book a flight was not feasible. When we moved to Arizona, the distance from our home to Disneyland became something we could easily manage by car.
5. Discounts:
If you often find yourself wishing for discounts when asked by cast members at checkout, a Magic Key might be for you. The pass includes discounts on food and merchandise, which can add up over time.
Magic Key Pass Levels
Disneyland offers different levels of Magic Key passes, each with its own set of benefits and limitations. Here’s a brief overview:
1. Dream Key:
- No blackout dates
- Ability to hold up to six reservations at a time
- 20% off select merchandise and 15% off select dining
- Price: $1,749
2. Believe Key:
- Some blackout dates
- Ability to hold up to six reservations at a time
- 10% off select merchandise and dining
- Price: $1,374
3. Enchant Key:
- More blackout dates
- Ability to hold up to four reservations at a time
- 10% off select merchandise and dining
- Price: $974
4. Imagine Key:
- Available to Southern California residents only
- Most blackout dates
- Ability to hold up to two reservations at a time
- 10% off select merchandise and dining
- Price: $599
For more details and to learn about the current availability, you can visit the Disneyland Magic Key page.
Our Favorite Things About Being Magic Key Holders
1. Flexibility and Convenience:
We love the flexibility to make reservations and pop in and out of the park. For instance, we made a last-minute park reservation for a Friday evening. We rolled into town, checked into our hotel, got ready, and went out for dinner. Afterward, we stopped by the park to watch the fireworks before heading back to rest. This kind of spontaneity is priceless for our family.
2. Less Pressure to Ride Everything:
Without the pressure to get on every single ride, we’ve started to notice and experience other magical aspects of the park. We enjoy the food, parades, characters, and special events. For example, during the Food and Wine Festival, our kids loved the Super Kitties cupcake decorating party.
3. Ticket Presales:
One of the other perks is the ability to purchase tickets for special events before the general public. We’ve snagged tickets for Pride Nite and the Oogie Boogie Bash. Now, if only they offered discounts for Magic Key holders on these events!
4. Discounts:
The food and merchandise discounts are great, though not huge. But it’s nice to be able to say “yes” to discounts instead of “I wish” when asked by cast members.
5. Value Over Time:
We are only halfway through our annual timeframe and have visited the park three times already (2-3 days at parks each visit) with at least two more visits planned. The pass has already paid for itself, and we still have more magic to enjoy.
Cons of Magic Key
1. Expense
The main downside to Magic Keys is how expensive they are. Unless you have money to throw around, you really need to plan how you will pay for that large amount in advance since payment plans are only available for California residents. We put money aside each month knowing we will want to renew.
2. Travel and Accommodations
Since we are from out of town, we have to plan travel and accommodations. We live close enough to drive in (under 6 hours), and we have spent a decent amount booking hotels or Airbnbs.
3. Blackout Dates and Reservation Availability
Another con is the blackout dates or the lack of available reservations. Make sure to check these details before purchasing a pass to ensure it fits your visiting schedule.
4. Waiting for Sales
If you are not renewing, waiting for the passes to go on sale can feel like it takes forever. We waited from September to February for the passes to become available.
Is Your Magic Key Pass Worth It? Calculate the Value
To help you decide if your Magic Key pass has been worth it, you can use this simple calculation. Here's how you can determine the value based on the average cost of a one-day ticket and the cost of your Magic Key pass.
Step 1: Determine Your Costs
Magic Key Pass Cost:
Inspire Key: $1,749
Believe Key: $1,374
Enchant Key: $974
Imagine Key: $599 (Only available for Southern California residents living in zip codes 90000 to 93599)
Average Cost of a One-Day Ticket::
The average cost of a one-day ticket to Disneyland is approximately $160.
Step 2: Calculate the Break-Even Point
To find out how many visits you need to make your Magic Key pass worth it, divide the cost of your Magic Key pass by the average cost of a one-day ticket.
Formula: Magic Key Pass Cost / Average Cost of One-Day Ticket = Number of Visits to Break Even
Inspire Key: $1,749 / $160 ≈ 11 days
Believe Key: $1,374 / $160 ≈ 9 days
Enchant Key: $974 / $160 ≈ 6 days
Imagine Key: $599 / $160 ≈ 4 days
Step 3: Calculate Your Savings
To see if you've already made your pass worth it, count how many times you have visited the park this year. Multiply that number by the average cost of a one-day ticket and compare it to the cost of your Magic Key pass.
Formula: Number of Visits * Average Cost of One-Day Ticket - Magic Key Pass Cost = Savings
Example Calculation: (this is using pricing from when we purchased)
For us, we have the Believe Key and have spent 11 days in Disneyland so far this year:
11 visits * $150 = $1,650
What it would have cost: $1,650 - What we paid: $1,249 = $400 in savings so far
Conclusion: Is the Magic Key Worth It?
For us, the Believe Key has been worth it. The key factors to consider are how often you plan to visit, when you want to visit, how far you live from Disneyland, and how much you value the included discounts and perks. If you’re a frequent Disneyland visitor or plan to be, a Magic Key can offer great value and enhance your overall experience.
If you’re considering becoming a Magic Key pass holder, weigh these factors and decide what’s best for your family. For us, it has added a lot of magic and flexibility to our Disneyland adventures, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision.
Not quite ready to make that kind of investment (because lets be real... it can be pricey) then I recommend checking out Disneyland Discount Tickets on Undercover Tourist. They always have deals on Disneyland tickets.
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