Since the introduction of the Magic Key program at the Disneyland Resort, some fans have been left less than impressed.
The Orange County Register‘s Brady MacDonald reports that some Magic Key passholders have been upset with the lack of availability for reservations. With the debut of the program coupled with the anticipated heavy holiday crowds, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are completely booked for Magic Key reservations for the rest of 2020. Additionally, the rest of October is also unavailable, making it difficult to spend Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure.
Meanwhile, single-day tickets remain available for many of these days. Disneyland officials cite the difference being due to Magic Key members planning further in advance than other guests.
Guests have taken to social media to vent their frustration, according to MacDonald. Jane Friday wrote on Instagram, “the Dream Key is more like a Nightmare Key. It’s an unbelievable amount of money to spend to have nothing but weekday reservations available.” Magic Key prices range from $399/year for the Imagine Key, which has the most blackout dates, to $1,399/year for the Dream Key, with no blackout dates. Even without blackout dates, Dream Key passholders can still find themselves on the outside looking in based on how many reservations are available, as Dream Key passholder Mariam Antonian discovered, saying “it’s getting worse and very upsetting.”
Disneyland officials claim that most keyholders have said that they’re able to get as much access to the two parks as they expected to when they signed up.
The Magic Key availability schedule is fluid, as Disney can add more reservations as they see fit, meaning once “sold out” dates may become available again, but for now, it seems Magic Key is still undergoing growing pains as it continues to develop.
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If something like this we’re to happen to Disney World I would never renew my out of state ap.
Get rid of Bob Paycheck and this all goes away. Right now he’s Disney’s worst nightmare.
This is not growing pains, this is 100% by design. It’s not a bug, it’s a feature.
They are either trying to discourage folks from buying into Magic Key thinking that they will transition to buying single or multi day tickets when they want to go, which will in the long run net Disneyland more money. Or they are reserving more spots in DL for single or multi day ticket purchasers since Disney makes more money off of them. Even better for Disney if you bought a Magic Key pass and still buy a day ticket when there aren’t any Magic Key reservations left so that folks can go with friends and family that aren’t Magic Key holders during the busy seasons. The same thing will happen at WDW.
There is no longer any such thing as a pass, either in DL or WDW, that doesn’t have blackout dates. This is the proof. Disney will charge you top dollar for a pass with no blackout dates that they will then turn right around and devalue with the lack of reservations.
Chapek is a money man and is running the parks as such. He doesn’t care about pissing off the most dedicated fans of the parks because he only looks at the bottom line. What he’s forgetting/not adding to his calculations though is the fans that buy the annual passes are the biggest cheerleaders and supporters for the parks. Lose their support and when folks ask them for advice on whether or not to go and what to do at the parks these frustrated pass holders will have more and more negative things to say which will eventually cause a loss of business. Especially when combined with all the previously free perks that have been taken away or had a fee added to them.
If anyone doubted how full of shit Disney management is:
“Disneyland officials claim that most keyholders have said that they’re able to get as much access to the two parks as they expected to when they signed up.”
Don’t be so quick to judge. Maybe most keyholders expected to never be able to get in. If so, expectations met! Lol.
It’s way too packed on weekends anyway. I only go during the week and make reservations like 3 weeks ahead. Wish they’d hurry up with the Genie+ service.
It’s been the same in Disneyland Paris since the park has been open after second closure. AP can’t get in during week-ends and school vacations cause they can’t book an access. Many have already abandoned their AP, and many plan not to renew their subscription.
What’s extra frustrating, is that there are ample reservations open and available, if you’re buying a day ticket. So, for instance, my sister, her husband, and my 4 nephews are coming to LA in mid December. They can buy tickets and go, and park hop; but my wife and I with Dream Keys, cannot join them using our $1400 pass. We have to fork out another $220ish, each, should we want to join our family at the parks that day.
If reservations are open, reservations should be available, if your pass would have allowed for it given the tier.