Count me as an invisible pass holder guest. I spend evenings in the park when I’m in the area for work, buy dinner, probably buy a pin, and walk around for three hours.
I and my wife used to be one of those people that would come in for a short time to eat at a restaurant hit a ride or two stay for a show and head home. We were there for all the events and, we would do this 3 to 4 times a month. now we don't have passes and we only go to the park once or twice a year. I don't know if we want to get passes again. The magic that made you want to go back often seems to be lessened of late.
I think Disney is selling Magic keys again also because they realize a lots of key holders are not renewing because of the ever increasing prices and rides always going down or going through refurbs. People are evaluating cost value of the Magic key pass. As someone who doesn’t live in California, but still hold a magic key, restrictions aka blackout date makes Disney dictate when I go on vacation with the family which is a real pain at times.
Disney needs to hire you on their board, David to instill some basic common sense on behalf of the locals and little folks like us who love the parks but are tired of all the price hikes and longer waiting times for rides! Excellent video! Thank you once again for sharing your insights
@@larrykramer2761 Well when I take over Disney and usher in the Make Disney Great Again era, there will be lower prices and no more new attractions. I will bring back old things like they never left and ask "What would Walt do?" to get things done. There also won't be a board, either. Instead it will be a cabinet of my loyal supporters as if they were my Death Eaters.
It’s not just the Inspire Key that spends money on food. I was a Believe Key holder and now I’m an Enchant Key holder. Most of the time, I’ll just go to the park to eat something and take in a ride or two. With the new Genie + debacle, that seems all you can do now. I only get Genie + when I’m with single day park people. And I’m usually the one that forks over the money for it because I want to make sure they have a good time.
Thanks for the info Dave. Very helpful in affirming my decision to get rid of my Magic Key. I started out with the Believe Key and used to go to the park for food and merchandise, and got three rides maximum each time. As they kept raising prices each year making it harder for me to get in to the park, I finally downgraded to the Enchant key this last August. I have decided this is it for me. I'm renewing my Knots Berry Farm pass and maybe getting a Universal Studios Pass. So long Disney!
Yeah, we've been in the same boat for the last few months. We let our Keys expire in August, and figured we would pick them back up when we were ready. The October close off came (David forgot to mention that they stopped sales the day the Magic Key lawsuit Disney-provided settlement was officially approved by the plaintiff), and it's interesting to me they are going on sale again around when the final court approval of the class action will be. I'm still expecting *some* operational changes this year, but the last date until the lawsuit would be resolved would be Jan 20th, and then the courts still have to approve the settlement. I could see Disney sticking with the current operations for a while, and then changing it up in the middle of the year depending on what the summer and holiday bookings look like. This lets them see if everyone in SoCal is in the rumored "doom savings" mode or not. We've been loving our Knott's Prestige Passes with Dining and Drink Plan Plus. Feels like we own the park for ~$600. The new lounge is great, and it's just been a great holiday season. We love grabbing a free coffee at the bakery with our drink plans and walking around the parks and getting an included meal. Mine Train and Log Ride are our goto, and we get our included one-time Fast Lane (I think an apt comparison to Genie+ that David forgot on his last video) every visit. For the price, it feels luxurious. Also, the savings. I was spending at least $50-$60 a week at Disneyland and now that's dried up, basically completely - and I get those same offerings included at Knott's. It makes Disney a harder sell for me, personally. Plus, thanks to David's excellent videos, and all the news sites - I still get to engage in what's going on for *free* without even stepping in the park. I think our strategy is going to buy Inspire, but keep them on our account, but not visit until we are really ready (or Jan 10th, 2025 - whichever comes first). The 2024 slate at Disneyland doesn't seem that exciting, and with HM down for a whole year, LL on Pirates, and other "big meh" year offerings (short of Bayou Adventure) - we're just going to let the accounting department enjoy the unclaimed vouchers for their quarterly earnings.
Just renewed Gold Annual passes to Knott’s Berry Farm. Renewed for $130 each. Includes Soak City and no blackout days. Even the cheapest Disneyland AP is too expensive for what you get. Renewing Knott’s AP is about cost of one day at a Disney Park.
Ugh!!! I wish Disney would have given more of a heads up. In December I bought a platinum pass for Universal and this past Tuesday I bought the prestige pass for Knott's. All for under $1000. I think I'm destined to never be an AP again post covid. Lol. Oh well. In a way, I think Disney has forced me to spend my money elsewhere.
100% agree… We have Magic Keys that expire in Feb and we renew because we FOMO (fear of missing out) every year. We don’t want to miss our opportunity. We need a break because we live in Northern California. Glad to see new Keys becoming available. We’re buying new ones instead of renewing so we can take a 6 month break
You're right about guests giving up on getting an AP. I refuse to pay for a regular priced ticket and NOT be able to upgrade at the end of the trip to an annual pass. So instead of going to Disneyland, my hubby and I decided to go somewhere else. So we're planning a trip to Japan. Seriously, with the yen rate, its cheaper to go to Tokyo Disney and Tokyo Disney Sea, we'll get to go to Japan and experience their food and culture as well, AND it's probably going to be just as much if not *cheaper* than a 7 day trip to Disneyland. Disney needs to wake up! Their reservations system sucks too. Walt must be rolling over in his grave with what they've done to his concept of a park where all parents could go and spend quality time with their kids in a clean quality park. So sad. Its all about the money for Disney now...
I’m a annual holder and I hate it because even though I don’t have blackout date I might as well since most dates they don’t have available… they should just get rid of the reserversation system. They would do much better and so would we.. I miss the old passes
I’m an inspire key holder and most of the time I love to eat and shop at Disneyland. I miss the Dream Key and the Premium (California and Florida) annual pass
I just bought $2000 worth of Citizen and Bulova watches at the shop on Main Street USA yesterday. However, I refuse to spend $30 on a Genie+ "upgrade" when the amount I paid for my pass/day-ticket should include unfettered access to the rides, NOT getting punished by going "standby". It's like the amounts being paid to just enter the parks don't count for anything. $200+ per ticket during Christmastime means nothing. It only gets you into insufferably slow-moving queues and burns up the hours of the day 'til they get to kick you out. The Genie+ upgrade adds insult to injury by saying that for only $30 more, THEN you can have the experience we promised you when we were pimping the admission tickets to you in the first place. And then there's the cost of parking...!!!
Pay extra and wait in a line anyway, it is a slap in the face. Don't pay and good luck on riding the rides, the regular lines are very slow, the prepaid people cutting in front of you over and over again. When the rides breakdown you'll never see a refund on the extra money you paid to ride more....sad. No magic left.
I just did my renewal. I'm from out of state and had been a Believe holder, but I noticed that they seem to increase the blackout dates so I upped it to Inspire. Along with the cost increase for Believe, it's apparent they hate that key.
I have the enchanted key and also am an invisible pass holder guest. My daughter go and have a meal, try the new snacks and drinks and then head to the shops. We may go on the train, monorail or other similar non-genie rides and attractions and just soak it in. If they opened up the passes to evening hours without a reservation, that would be a win for us!
We had AP's for years, but the last time we had them was at the start of Covid. Those were refunded, and we've barely even considered picking up Magic Key passes since then. Having to buy Genie+ on top of the Magic Key has probably been the top reason we've stayed away. AP's have always been a bit of an investment (at least the past 15 years or so, before that they were kind of a steal), but even so, they still felt like Disney was giving some real value to their hardcore visitors in exchange for the annual commitment. Now? Feels like a lopsided deal where the fans are getting squeezed. We still go to the parks 4-6 times a year, but I don't see getting passes again.
Rememer the good old days when we can just enter both parks whenever we wanted and just hopped back and fourth from the two parks? I remember getting the infamous letter from disney saying that they will be "sunsetting" the annual pass and thanked us for our annual pass contribution. I swear, Covid was beyond beneficial for disney. RIP Disney Annual Pass, we will always have the great memories! Cheers!!
Hi David. We are so confused about the tiers for the Magic Keys! A neighbor said “buy a ticket and reservation for the 10th and when they start the M.K. Sale we can upgrade. Deciding which one to get is our biggest challenge.
Imagine: for retirees (can go midweek), people on a budget (students), or people who only go less than once a month (live in socal but not necessarily in orange county) Enchant: for people who want to go on Sundays, have a limited budget, and go about once a month on average (people who live about an hour away) Believe: for people who want to go any day of the week, have a bigger budget, and go about twice a month (think people who live in orange county or 45 minutes or less away) Inspire: for diehard disney fans, that have an (almost) unlimited budget, go to the parks weekly (people who live within 20 minutes of the park)
I'm a CPA, and revenue from a Magic Key sale is required to be recognized over the life of the Magic Key term, so one year. If they activate a Magic Key on Jan 1, they only get to recognize 1/12th of the revenue in January. If they activate it on Jan 28th, they only get 2/365 of the total sale in revenue in January. So the idea that opening the sales gates at quarter end to boost numbers wouldn't actually change much.
My Family and I are Enchant Key Holders and we go 3-5 times a month. We always spend money in the park, dinner, merch ect. But it is funny because we are spilt down the middle, 2 of us "will be the "invisible" guests and the other 2 will spend a lot of time going on rides.
Disney should start offering multiple Add-ons to keys. They could do $300 for no reservations, $300 for everyday genie+, parking for any key, unlimited lighting lanes, etc… They can test which topics people care about the most
I'm going to try for the Enchant key tomorrow. The imagine has no weekends at all, only midweek. The other 2 passes are too expensive because I can only go about once a month since I live in the San Fernando valley not close to the parks.
I wondered when this would be talked about, I was looking because I KNEW, after the new year there would be an offering. Thank You very much Fresh Baked.
My family renewed annual passes every year before COVID. After that, we held off to see how the reservation system worked, and I was still interested in renewing. BUT then came Genie Plus and Lightning Lanes. I will pass on the annual pass.
I just went to the park for the Christmas season, I brought food inside because of the prices now that's not to say I didn't grab a snack but I didn't buy a full meal because of the prices on top of what I paid to get in. But food prices aren't just an issue at Disneyland Sea World and Universal also have food prices that are pretty high for the quality and quantity. Also as for Merch, its pretty rare I buy anything in park now besides when I see an item on sale because the prices for most items in parks are just high and T shirt wise I'm good at this point like I have too many so that also limits which Items I'd buy as well
thanks for the update. I'm still dealing with pirates going onto lightening...ugh--means wait times for those NOT to willing to pony up an extra 40$ per day will be so long my magic key might get me on 2-3 rides in a half day if Im lucky. The cost benefit analysis is getting less and less for continuing to own a key
But who would want them this year? No HM. No Splash....on top of rides breaking down ALL DAY LONG. Have to pay for fastpasses. There was a time where I had to get an AP every other year. I can't even talk myself in getting just 3 day passes for my family.
Literally hundreds of thousands of people would want them, which is why they stop selling them. Most Magic Keyholders realize that having less than 2% of your attractions closed, that G+ is optional and mostly unneeded and NO actual attractions are "breaking down ALL DAY LONG"... It doesn't really make a difference. Plus, when HM and TBA open later this year... and they are NOT selling keys... won't a person without a key feel silly. Yes. Yes, they will.
Just get Knotts AND universal passes, cheaper combined than the beleive key… that includes free food and refreshments with Knotts pass, free parking on both. Y’all won’t regret the choice.
We never got the Dream Key settlement email. Do you think it’s because we took so long to activate? Or because we went to Disneyland during Christmas in 2022? Or because we didn’t renew?
We had 4 passes during this time. 2 got emails, 1 got a post card, the other got nothing. I am not sure how they are determining to send out the information, but it's not consistent.
@@kindragooch5355 We had three. Nothing for any of us. I’m not sure how to contact Disney. I guess I need to dig a little deeper on the website. It’s not that we’d get a lot out of it, but the inconsistency is frustrating. Thanks for your comment. It helps to know I’m not alone.
I read info on the Disneyland website but would love some help with clarification from magic key holders. I think it was telling me that your year to use the key begins the first time you use it, not the date you actually bought it - is that correct?
i'm going to be new to the magic key system. do you know when new dates in the reservations calendar are going to drop? or do you just have to keep randomly checking?
New dates of available reservations appear on the calendar a couple of months out. For instance, yesterday, on January 3rd, the farthest out available date was April 2nd 2024. Today January 4th, the farthest out available date is April 3rd, 2024! Tomorrow, Jan 5th, the farthest date you will be able to select a reservation for will be April 4th, 2024. I hope that makes sense. Right now every day is available to be reserved in February and March. If you look at January, tonight 1-4-24, there is a Disneyland only reservation open on the 6th (how many spots is not shown) but all the other Saturdays in Jan are sold out. (I have an Inspire Key) The Sundays are all sold out except Jan. the 28th. Friday the 12th and Mon. the 15th are also sold out. The rest of the week days in January are still available. The Reservation Calendar is a living document. Days can go closed or open up at almost any time. Sometimes people deselect given days. Then the Calendar will show a new availability for the day they gave back. That availability will last on the calendar until someone snaps it up. So the answer to your last question is YES! If you want to reserve a day that is not available on the calendar, you can check back whenever you "feel" that it is the right time. Days pop open again at any time. They stay open for as long as it takes for someone to spot it and grab it. It is a chance to hone your gut feelings! 🤔 Last time I went to the Parks, I could only get a reservation for 3 of the five days I wanted. So I reserved those days. I just kept looking back at the calendar on a whim. And. voila, within a couple days I fond availability on the exact two days that I needed and reserved them. So it can be done. It just takes luck and perseverance! I really think that as days get closer, Disney will add more reservation spots to days that have been closed. The idea is to be persistent. So yes, just keep checking . So far, knock on wood, I have been able to get a reservation on every day that I want. Sometimes it becomes available only on the day before! Hope that helps!
Disneyland always seems to put keys on sale when I can lest afford one, and by selling them for only a few days make people think they need one now, therefore they sale out fast, just think if we all would stop panic buying, Disney would leave them on sale a lot longer.
I think you make a really good case here for Disney to consider how they're doing business. They really are pricing people out of spending more money. With 50-100 bucks to feed 2 people we really limited how much we ate at at the park. Most of our meals weren't. They could've doubled how high revenue they got from us if prices were just more reasonable. I will say, I was there new years eve, and it was nice being able to park hop even after 11pm without worry about capacity limits. That being said, they could require reservations on holidays rather than all the time.
I’m torn. Disney is maddening with only making these available for such a limited time. If you buy a MK next week can you wait 6 months to use it and have it work until July 2025? I’m pretty sure the answer is yes but I’m not certain?
I (family of 4) won't be renewing. It isn't the ticket price that bothers me, it is the overt benefit claw-backs Disney continues to enforce. Makes me a bit sour in my stomach to think about. Sad too.
The Disney experience is just not the same when as a patron, I’m on my phone all day while in the park to schedule my day. It’s just not spontaneous and looses the magic we once had years ago. Prices are just too high for magic keys, and single day use tickets. Reservations unfortunately are required because there are just too many people wanting to come to the park. And even with reservations they let in too many people.
Is there a way for me to buy all 4 members of my family a magic key on Wed, or do they all have to log in and wait in this queue individually? Also does anyone know if they activate right away or upon first visit?
I'm another of those invisible folks. Went last night - bought dinner and a couple of snacks. Wandered around a bit. Never got on a ride. I do that at least 3-4 times a month. But not a big merch buyer. Got too much stuff around the house as it is.
If I already have bought one from last April will they give me the chance to renew or do I need to buy it on January, my pass hasn’t run out yet but idk how it works
@@KookieDough You can renew during the 30 days before your Key expires. But don't wait till the last day and forget. Once it expires you cant renew it anymore! Once you renew it, your Key will automatically renew on the last day of the previous Key. It will extend your present Key by one year!
I will finally buy one. Now this will complete my season with Magic Mountain, Knott's and now Disneyland. Sad that I will get more out of the other 2 parks than Disneyland. I have a feeling the price will increase due to the new minimum wage hike to $20.00.
Does the fast food worker $20 minimum wage apply to workers in theme parks though? IIRC it’s only at restaurants that have more than 60 locations nationwide.
Disney gets the data from the MK holders. When you buy merch you almost certainly use your discount. So they know what you bought - and what MKs in general spend in the parks.
About Disney didn’t sell as much as they thought they will this pass year. I always like to buy one item at least for Christmas and it was nothing that appealed to me. They should have a better clothes design team.
It is going to be booked as prepaid revenue, which is a liability. It will be charged as revenue starting when the person uses the key for the first time. So I’m not sure it’s exactly timed with their earnings
My wife and I are among the MK holders who enjoy shopping and eating in the parks. We’re not ones who average more than two or three rides per trip so we’re not clogging up the cues. No, unlike your prediction, we don’t have the Inspire Key. We have Enchant Keys.
Not familiar with the “keys”… is this like the AP before but different categories? Also can you visit the park anytime? Or you still have to do the reservation like the non “keys” folks… help please, thanks!
I need help...I am Going to try to get the enchanted key... My question is if I get the key can I make reservations the same day, For a future date in a few weeks. Also, if I make reservations at disneyland do I have to also make reservations for california adventure if I want to go over there the same day?
All Magic Keys are park hoppers. When making the Reservation you just select your starting park for that day, then after 11 am you can jump to the other park.
Not to be THAT guy, but two days ago you were “convinced” that Disney had no plans to bring back MK sales any time in the future, but today you’re “convinced” they’ll only sell them for a few days. That’s probably true, because that’s what they did before, but I’m probably not going to trust your gut on this one.
If you had to guess, how many times does the average Inspire Key Holder visit the park in a year? If someone went once a month, that would be 12 times a year. At the $1,600 price that is about $130 a visit.
David wrong again on his speculation that Magic keys were going on sale 😂! From now on when David says I don’t think the Magic keys are coming I’ll bet the other way! 😂
Well…do the math. Is a family that comes once a year (or maybe even once EVER) going to spend more than a person who is spending money on food and merchandise all year long?? If that were really true, Disney would have no passes at all for any of their parks and just cater to tourists visits
I hope you’re there for the last day on Sunday for lion King’s departure from Disneyland. If you could watch the last show, it’s probably supposed to be really good in the ending when everybody has to say goodbye to each other on stage I hope you watch it Sunday the last show of lion King, 445
None of this is rocket science. In pre-covid days, well let's say January of 2020. The park ticketing system was actually perfect. We had 5 AP's to choose from. The Flex Pass was available that was based on reservations. You could get an AP any day of the week and you could buy add-ons for your AP. There is no real reason why they couldn't go back to this model. However, this version of Disneyland is creating a false scarcity... you see it in their nonsense lightening lane passes and now we're seeing it in their 'limited availability' of the Magic Keys. Falsely creating a panic in people and making them think they need these or else their experience will suffer. Brilliant.
He addressed this a while back. The podcast isn't a money maker and he had scheduling issues with Ron. Combine those two and you can see why he would choose the part that pays the bills.
When it comes to Disneyland, Disney will never truly get rid of ap's (yes, they're called magic keys, but it's an annual pass). The thing is, when Disney tries not having ap's at Disneyland (minus the holiday seasons where they'll always be busy no matter what), Disney does lose revenue and lose a lot of guests due to Disneyland being a local focused park. I have a feeling we'll see mk's return every 3-7 months so as to keep getting as many locals in as possible.
They could get rid of the keys or AP’s, and the park would still be packed. At some point the pass will be so expensive, no one will buy it. They don’t need the pass to be successful.
@@davidhalcon5594 They actually can't. During the non-peak season APs account for 60-80% of daily attendance. I knew a few who working in accounting from 2006-2015. They said that during the 2008-12 recession if it wasn't for the APs they would have had to close down most the food locations as single day tickets did not account for enough to keep all the various locations open.
I really think you are over thinking this. Disney has a set number of passes they want out there. When the number of passes gets below a certain threshold they go on sale. They did not sell keys over the holidays because why would Disney give a perk to a guest to give away money. Thus, they waited until January. Dream Keys are not coming back. The parks were so packed over the Holidays, why would they allow Magic Keys in decreasing revenue. Keys will always go in this order Believe Keys, go first because they include most weekends. Enchant is next, followed by the So California Pass, then the Inspire like you have. You are right about forcing demand for keys. If you want a key, you buy one because you are not sure when they will go on sale again. We are Enchant Key Holders and are on the fence about renewing as we don't frequent the park enough to justify them.
I used to be so excited about any new news to do with Disney, and upcoming projects. Now, since Disney has gone woke, I no longer feel excited like I used to. I feel the new project will be below expectations, or teaching lgbtq or rascism. Everything I used to love about Disney...it's just no longer the same magic company it once was
Count me as an invisible pass holder guest. I spend evenings in the park when I’m in the area for work, buy dinner, probably buy a pin, and walk around for three hours.
That’s the dream. 🤙🏽
❤
I and my wife used to be one of those people that would come in for a short time to eat at a restaurant hit a ride or two stay for a show and head home. We were there for all the events and, we would do this 3 to 4 times a month. now we don't have passes and we only go to the park once or twice a year. I don't know if we want to get passes again. The magic that made you want to go back often seems to be lessened of late.
I think Disney is selling Magic keys again also because they realize a lots of key holders are not renewing because of the ever increasing prices and rides always going down or going through refurbs. People are evaluating cost value of the Magic key pass. As someone who doesn’t live in California, but still hold a magic key, restrictions aka blackout date makes Disney dictate when I go on vacation with the family which is a real pain at times.
Yes, but at what costs? What price are you willing to pay to pay? What costs are most people able to pay? It’s just all getting too expensive.
Disney needs to hire you on their board, David to instill some basic common sense on behalf of the locals and little folks like us who love the parks but are tired of all the price hikes and longer waiting times for rides! Excellent video! Thank you once again for sharing your insights
They definitely need to put him on the payroll.
do you want lower prices or shorter lines because you can't have both...
@@larrykramer2761 Well when I take over Disney and usher in the Make Disney Great Again era, there will be lower prices and no more new attractions. I will bring back old things like they never left and ask "What would Walt do?" to get things done. There also won't be a board, either. Instead it will be a cabinet of my loyal supporters as if they were my Death Eaters.
It’s not just the Inspire Key that spends money on food. I was a Believe Key holder and now I’m an Enchant Key holder. Most of the time, I’ll just go to the park to eat something and take in a ride or two. With the new Genie + debacle, that seems all you can do now. I only get Genie + when I’m with single day park people. And I’m usually the one that forks over the money for it because I want to make sure they have a good time.
Thanks for the info Dave. Very helpful in affirming my decision to get rid of my Magic Key. I started out with the Believe Key and used to go to the park for food and merchandise, and got three rides maximum each time. As they kept raising prices each year making it harder for me to get in to the park, I finally downgraded to the Enchant key this last August. I have decided this is it for me. I'm renewing my Knots Berry Farm pass and maybe getting a Universal Studios Pass. So long Disney!
Sounds like a solid plan. Have fun!
Yeah, we've been in the same boat for the last few months. We let our Keys expire in August, and figured we would pick them back up when we were ready. The October close off came (David forgot to mention that they stopped sales the day the Magic Key lawsuit Disney-provided settlement was officially approved by the plaintiff), and it's interesting to me they are going on sale again around when the final court approval of the class action will be.
I'm still expecting *some* operational changes this year, but the last date until the lawsuit would be resolved would be Jan 20th, and then the courts still have to approve the settlement. I could see Disney sticking with the current operations for a while, and then changing it up in the middle of the year depending on what the summer and holiday bookings look like. This lets them see if everyone in SoCal is in the rumored "doom savings" mode or not.
We've been loving our Knott's Prestige Passes with Dining and Drink Plan Plus. Feels like we own the park for ~$600. The new lounge is great, and it's just been a great holiday season. We love grabbing a free coffee at the bakery with our drink plans and walking around the parks and getting an included meal. Mine Train and Log Ride are our goto, and we get our included one-time Fast Lane (I think an apt comparison to Genie+ that David forgot on his last video) every visit. For the price, it feels luxurious. Also, the savings. I was spending at least $50-$60 a week at Disneyland and now that's dried up, basically completely - and I get those same offerings included at Knott's. It makes Disney a harder sell for me, personally. Plus, thanks to David's excellent videos, and all the news sites - I still get to engage in what's going on for *free* without even stepping in the park.
I think our strategy is going to buy Inspire, but keep them on our account, but not visit until we are really ready (or Jan 10th, 2025 - whichever comes first). The 2024 slate at Disneyland doesn't seem that exciting, and with HM down for a whole year, LL on Pirates, and other "big meh" year offerings (short of Bayou Adventure) - we're just going to let the accounting department enjoy the unclaimed vouchers for their quarterly earnings.
Just renewed Gold Annual passes to Knott’s Berry Farm. Renewed for $130 each. Includes Soak City and no blackout days. Even the cheapest Disneyland AP is too expensive for what you get. Renewing Knott’s AP is about cost of one day at a Disney Park.
Ugh!!! I wish Disney would have given more of a heads up. In December I bought a platinum pass for Universal and this past Tuesday I bought the prestige pass for Knott's. All for under $1000. I think I'm destined to never be an AP again post covid. Lol. Oh well. In a way, I think Disney has forced me to spend my money elsewhere.
Disney didn't force you to do anything. Those choices were 100% made by you. As they say... good things come to those who wait.
Aside from Mr Snotty McSnotface's reply to you, I get what you are saying. The bad service and product drove you away and that is understandable.
100% agree… We have Magic Keys that expire in Feb and we renew because we FOMO (fear of missing out) every year. We don’t want to miss our opportunity. We need a break because we live in Northern California. Glad to see new Keys becoming available. We’re buying new ones instead of renewing so we can take a 6 month break
You're right about guests giving up on getting an AP. I refuse to pay for a regular priced ticket and NOT be able to upgrade at the end of the trip to an annual pass. So instead of going to Disneyland, my hubby and I decided to go somewhere else. So we're planning a trip to Japan. Seriously, with the yen rate, its cheaper to go to Tokyo Disney and Tokyo Disney Sea, we'll get to go to Japan and experience their food and culture as well, AND it's probably going to be just as much if not *cheaper* than a 7 day trip to Disneyland. Disney needs to wake up! Their reservations system sucks too. Walt must be rolling over in his grave with what they've done to his concept of a park where all parents could go and spend quality time with their kids in a clean quality park. So sad. Its all about the money for Disney now...
I’m a annual holder and I hate it because even though I don’t have blackout date I might as well since most dates they don’t have available… they should just get rid of the reserversation system. They would do much better and so would we.. I miss the old passes
I’m an inspire key holder and most of the time I love to eat and shop at Disneyland. I miss the Dream Key and the Premium (California and Florida) annual pass
I just bought $2000 worth of Citizen and Bulova watches at the shop on Main Street USA yesterday. However, I refuse to spend $30 on a Genie+ "upgrade" when the amount I paid for my pass/day-ticket should include unfettered access to the rides, NOT getting punished by going "standby". It's like the amounts being paid to just enter the parks don't count for anything. $200+ per ticket during Christmastime means nothing. It only gets you into insufferably slow-moving queues and burns up the hours of the day 'til they get to kick you out. The Genie+ upgrade adds insult to injury by saying that for only $30 more, THEN you can have the experience we promised you when we were pimping the admission tickets to you in the first place. And then there's the cost of parking...!!!
Pay extra and wait in a line anyway, it is a slap in the face. Don't pay and good luck on riding the rides, the regular lines are very slow, the prepaid people cutting in front of you over and over again. When the rides breakdown you'll never see a refund on the extra money you paid to ride more....sad. No magic left.
Thanks!
You bet! Thank you!
I just did my renewal. I'm from out of state and had been a Believe holder, but I noticed that they seem to increase the blackout dates so I upped it to Inspire. Along with the cost increase for Believe, it's apparent they hate that key.
I have the enchanted key and also am an invisible pass holder guest. My daughter go and have a meal, try the new snacks and drinks and then head to the shops. We may go on the train, monorail or other similar non-genie rides and attractions and just soak it in. If they opened up the passes to evening hours without a reservation, that would be a win for us!
We had AP's for years, but the last time we had them was at the start of Covid. Those were refunded, and we've barely even considered picking up Magic Key passes since then. Having to buy Genie+ on top of the Magic Key has probably been the top reason we've stayed away. AP's have always been a bit of an investment (at least the past 15 years or so, before that they were kind of a steal), but even so, they still felt like Disney was giving some real value to their hardcore visitors in exchange for the annual commitment. Now? Feels like a lopsided deal where the fans are getting squeezed. We still go to the parks 4-6 times a year, but I don't see getting passes again.
Rememer the good old days when we can just enter both parks whenever we wanted and just hopped back and fourth from the two parks? I remember getting the infamous letter from disney saying that they will be "sunsetting" the annual pass and thanked us for our annual pass contribution. I swear, Covid was beyond beneficial for disney. RIP Disney Annual Pass, we will always have the great memories! Cheers!!
Hi David. We are so confused about the tiers for the Magic Keys! A neighbor said “buy a ticket and reservation for the 10th and when they start the M.K. Sale we can upgrade. Deciding which one to get is our biggest challenge.
Imagine: for retirees (can go midweek), people on a budget (students), or people who only go less than once a month (live in socal but not necessarily in orange county)
Enchant: for people who want to go on Sundays, have a limited budget, and go about once a month on average (people who live about an hour away)
Believe: for people who want to go any day of the week, have a bigger budget, and go about twice a month (think people who live in orange county or 45 minutes or less away)
Inspire: for diehard disney fans, that have an (almost) unlimited budget, go to the parks weekly (people who live within 20 minutes of the park)
I love your channel! Thank you for all the information and insight!
I'm a CPA, and revenue from a Magic Key sale is required to be recognized over the life of the Magic Key term, so one year. If they activate a Magic Key on Jan 1, they only get to recognize 1/12th of the revenue in January. If they activate it on Jan 28th, they only get 2/365 of the total sale in revenue in January. So the idea that opening the sales gates at quarter end to boost numbers wouldn't actually change much.
My Family and I are Enchant Key Holders and we go 3-5 times a month. We always spend money in the park, dinner, merch ect. But it is funny because we are spilt down the middle, 2 of us "will be the "invisible" guests and the other 2 will spend a lot of time going on rides.
Disney should start offering multiple Add-ons to keys. They could do $300 for no reservations, $300 for everyday genie+, parking for any key, unlimited lighting lanes, etc… They can test which topics people care about the most
Second this. I think it's a win win for both visitors and disney
SO basically go back to the way it was? You could add on parking, MaxPass and photopass.
I'm going to try for the Enchant key tomorrow. The imagine has no weekends at all, only midweek. The other 2 passes are too expensive because I can only go about once a month since I live in the San Fernando valley not close to the parks.
Disney needs to add a $2,000 key that includes unlimited genie plus and a dozen pay rides. I'd buy that in a heartbeat.
it would need zero black out days as well
would need to be at least $2,500 otherwise it would sell out too quickly.
I wondered when this would be talked about, I was looking because I KNEW, after the new year there would be an offering. Thank You very much Fresh Baked.
My family renewed annual passes every year before COVID. After that, we held off to see how the reservation system worked, and I was still interested in renewing. BUT then came Genie Plus and Lightning Lanes. I will pass on the annual pass.
I just went to the park for the Christmas season, I brought food inside because of the prices now that's not to say I didn't grab a snack but I didn't buy a full meal because of the prices on top of what I paid to get in. But food prices aren't just an issue at Disneyland Sea World and Universal also have food prices that are pretty high for the quality and quantity. Also as for Merch, its pretty rare I buy anything in park now besides when I see an item on sale because the prices for most items in parks are just high and T shirt wise I'm good at this point like I have too many so that also limits which Items I'd buy as well
thanks for the update. I'm still dealing with pirates going onto lightening...ugh--means wait times for those NOT to willing to pony up an extra 40$ per day will be so long my magic key might get me on 2-3 rides in a half day if Im lucky. The cost benefit analysis is getting less and less for continuing to own a key
But who would want them this year? No HM. No Splash....on top of rides breaking down ALL DAY LONG. Have to pay for fastpasses.
There was a time where I had to get an AP every other year. I can't even talk myself in getting just 3 day passes for my family.
Literally hundreds of thousands of people would want them, which is why they stop selling them. Most Magic Keyholders realize that having less than 2% of your attractions closed, that G+ is optional and mostly unneeded and NO actual attractions are "breaking down ALL DAY LONG"... It doesn't really make a difference. Plus, when HM and TBA open later this year... and they are NOT selling keys... won't a person without a key feel silly. Yes. Yes, they will.
….I’m AVOIDING the park for those reasons in 2024.
Just get Knotts AND universal passes, cheaper combined than the beleive key… that includes free food and refreshments with Knotts pass, free parking on both. Y’all won’t regret the choice.
Agree!!!!
Universal platinum is a steal compared to inspire key. Fast pass included after 3pm and free horror night tickets. Also no blackout dates.
We never got the Dream Key settlement email. Do you think it’s because we took so long to activate? Or because we went to Disneyland during Christmas in 2022? Or because we didn’t renew?
We had 4 passes during this time. 2 got emails, 1 got a post card, the other got nothing. I am not sure how they are determining to send out the information, but it's not consistent.
@@kindragooch5355 We had three. Nothing for any of us. I’m not sure how to contact Disney. I guess I need to dig a little deeper on the website. It’s not that we’d get a lot out of it, but the inconsistency is frustrating. Thanks for your comment. It helps to know I’m not alone.
I read info on the Disneyland website but would love some help with clarification from magic key holders. I think it was telling me that your year to use the key begins the first time you use it, not the date you actually bought it - is that correct?
i'm going to be new to the magic key system. do you know when new dates in the reservations calendar are going to drop? or do you just have to keep randomly checking?
I'd suggest reading the Disneyland Magic Key website for all the specific information regarding the Disneyland Magic Key.
You can see/book 3 months in advanced. I think I understood your question. If not, let me know.
New dates of available reservations appear on the calendar a couple of months out. For instance, yesterday, on January 3rd, the farthest out available date was April 2nd 2024. Today January 4th, the farthest out available date is April 3rd, 2024! Tomorrow, Jan 5th, the farthest date you will be able to select a reservation for will be April 4th, 2024. I hope that makes sense.
Right now every day is available to be reserved in February and March. If you look at January, tonight 1-4-24, there is a Disneyland only reservation open on the 6th (how many spots is not shown) but all the other Saturdays in Jan are sold out. (I have an Inspire Key) The Sundays are all sold out except Jan. the 28th. Friday the 12th and Mon. the 15th are also sold out. The rest of the week days in January are still available.
The Reservation Calendar is a living document. Days can go closed or open up at almost any time. Sometimes people deselect given days. Then the Calendar will show a new availability for the day they gave back. That availability will last on the calendar until someone snaps it up.
So the answer to your last question is YES! If you want to reserve a day that is not available on the calendar, you can check back whenever you "feel" that it is the right time. Days pop open again at any time. They stay open for as long as it takes for someone to spot it and grab it. It is a chance to hone your gut feelings! 🤔 Last time I went to the Parks, I could only get a reservation for 3 of the five days I wanted. So I reserved those days. I just kept looking back at the calendar on a whim. And. voila, within a couple days I fond availability on the exact two days that I needed and reserved them. So it can be done. It just takes luck and perseverance!
I really think that as days get closer, Disney will add more reservation spots to days that have been closed. The idea is to be persistent. So yes, just keep checking . So far, knock on wood, I have been able to get a reservation on every day that I want. Sometimes it becomes available only on the day before! Hope that helps!
AP holder since 2018... i didnt renew this year... im over all this. i just miss free fast pass system
The new strategy is they will raise the prices for everyone to see on the 10th
Disneyland always seems to put keys on sale when I can lest afford one, and by selling them for only a few days make people think they need one now, therefore they sale out fast, just think if we all would stop panic buying, Disney would leave them on sale a lot longer.
Why would they drop this in January right after the Hoildays. Like people are broke after Christmas.
They want to sell them to all the folks who got Disney gift cards for Christmas.
Disney is trying to to artificially boost their sales in a historically low time of year.
I saw today on the Disney website it shows a "Dream Key", did they bring it back? It had no block out dates. Do you know if it was brought back?
I think you make a really good case here for Disney to consider how they're doing business. They really are pricing people out of spending more money. With 50-100 bucks to feed 2 people we really limited how much we ate at at the park. Most of our meals weren't. They could've doubled how high revenue they got from us if prices were just more reasonable. I will say, I was there new years eve, and it was nice being able to park hop even after 11pm without worry about capacity limits. That being said, they could require reservations on holidays rather than all the time.
Was waiting for this video. Maybe you can give us a how to buy a pass video since it will be for a limited time.
I’m torn. Disney is maddening with only making these available for such a limited time. If you buy a MK next week can you wait 6 months to use it and have it work until July 2025? I’m pretty sure the answer is yes but I’m not certain?
Yes. You have up to a year to activate it. The date begins on the first day you use it.
I waited 8 hours in the virtual queue only to learn that Inspire, Believe, and Enchant are all sold out! So angry!
That Inspire Key is more expensive for 2 parks than an AP at WDW for 4 parks 😬
I (family of 4) won't be renewing. It isn't the ticket price that bothers me, it is the overt benefit claw-backs Disney continues to enforce. Makes me a bit sour in my stomach to think about. Sad too.
Thank you so much for the message about the Magic Keys David
The Disney experience is just not the same when as a patron, I’m on my phone all day while in the park to schedule my day. It’s just not spontaneous and looses the magic we once had years ago. Prices are just too high for magic keys, and single day use tickets. Reservations unfortunately are required because there are just too many people wanting to come to the park. And even with reservations they let in too many people.
Interesting. Thanks for the update. Fresh Baked!
What does "Available for Renewal Only"? If this is my first time, can I purchase one?
Count me in also as an invisible enchanted key holder as I try to go once a month and always spend quite a bit of money.
Invisible Pass Holder guest here too lol!!! I love soaking the environment and trying the new foods, maybe a ride or 2 and then I go home ❤ lol
Thank you so much. Ive been waiting for this.
I was a believe key holder unfortunately I did not renew. I miss the flex pass
Is there a way for me to buy all 4 members of my family a magic key on Wed, or do they all have to log in and wait in this queue individually? Also does anyone know if they activate right away or upon first visit?
I'm another of those invisible folks. Went last night - bought dinner and a couple of snacks. Wandered around a bit. Never got on a ride. I do that at least 3-4 times a month. But not a big merch buyer. Got too much stuff around the house as it is.
If I already have bought one from last April will they give me the chance to renew or do I need to buy it on January, my pass hasn’t run out yet but idk how it works
if you have one already, you would simply renew in april. no need to buy it again.
@@freshbakedpresentsthank you so much !! 💗
You can renew even if magic keys aren’t for sale to the public. I’m in the same boat as you.
@@KookieDough You can renew during the 30 days before your Key expires. But don't wait till the last day and forget. Once it expires you cant renew it anymore!
Once you renew it, your Key will automatically renew on the last day of the previous Key. It will extend your present Key by one year!
I bought a 4 day park hopper for March for 450. I'm gonna try to upgrade to imagine!!
I will finally buy one. Now this will complete my season with Magic Mountain, Knott's and now Disneyland. Sad that I will get more out of the other 2 parks than Disneyland.
I have a feeling the price will increase due to the new minimum wage hike to $20.00.
Does the fast food worker $20 minimum wage apply to workers in theme parks though? IIRC it’s only at restaurants that have more than 60 locations nationwide.
Spent all day in the que and only inspire key. This SUCKS!!!! 🤬
Does anybody know if I can do monthly payments or do I have to pay it all upfront?
How do you know that they are selling less merch? That’s fascinating! That’s all I do when I’m there. No rides -all shop 🛍️
Disney gets the data from the MK holders. When you buy merch you almost certainly use your discount. So they know what you bought - and what MKs in general spend in the parks.
About Disney didn’t sell as much as they thought they will this pass year.
I always like to buy one item at least for Christmas and it was nothing that appealed to me. They should have a better clothes design team.
Wonder if they are selling them since 2 major rides will be closed and they need to sell more
I love your hats.
It is going to be booked as prepaid revenue, which is a liability. It will be charged as revenue starting when the person uses the key for the first time. So I’m not sure it’s exactly timed with their earnings
I think it's just they want 1 million magic keys, no more, no less. And whenever it falls below their number they just turn it back on
I hope they sell APs again. I missed my renewal window.😢
My wife and I are among the MK holders who enjoy shopping and eating in the parks. We’re not ones who average more than two or three rides per trip so we’re not clogging up the cues. No, unlike your prediction, we don’t have the Inspire Key. We have Enchant Keys.
Not familiar with the “keys”… is this like the AP before but different categories? Also can you visit the park anytime? Or you still have to do the reservation like the non “keys” folks… help please, thanks!
Basically the new AP. Yeah there are different tiers with different benefits and black out dates
@@jimbobaggins27 thanks!
If you are renewing a magic key this month, can you upgrade to a more expensive key? I have the inspire and want to get the enchant. Thanks David!
If that new key is on public sale when you renew, yes.
You can renew into whatever key you want. You can upgrade, downgrade, or stay the same.
I need help...I am Going to try to get the enchanted key... My question is if I get the key can I make reservations the same day, For a future date in a few weeks. Also, if I make reservations at disneyland do I have to also make reservations for california adventure if I want to go over there the same day?
All Magic Keys are park hoppers. When making the Reservation you just select your starting park for that day, then after 11 am you can jump to the other park.
I want to give them money, but the reservation system sucks. We wanted the "Snow-ears" but they only had them the day before the Hoildays began.
The food is over priced for the quality. Great video!!
Not to be THAT guy, but two days ago you were “convinced” that Disney had no plans to bring back MK sales any time in the future, but today you’re “convinced” they’ll only sell them for a few days. That’s probably true, because that’s what they did before, but I’m probably not going to trust your gut on this one.
Trusting ANYONE, other than Disney... is never a wise decision.
Is there any basis to even think they wouldn't bring back MK sales? Like it just seems like pointless speculation to fill up content.
I'll have to try and get the Inspire Key... 🤘
Is a Churro really $7 bucks now?
Yes and Costco is getting rid of churros
$5.50 last time I got one about a month ago
El Pollo Loco has delicious churros ... just sayin' 😉
You can get the exact same ones Disney uses at Smart and Final and make them at home for cheaper. 😎
If you had to guess, how many times does the average Inspire Key Holder visit the park in a year? If someone went once a month, that would be 12 times a year. At the $1,600 price that is about $130 a visit.
An inspire key needs to got AT LEAST 12 times for it to be a really good value
Happy New Years Yall
David wrong again on his speculation that Magic keys were going on sale 😂! From now on when David says I don’t think the Magic keys are coming I’ll bet the other way! 😂
If they aren’t selling magic keys, can you still upgrade your 5 day park pass to a magic key?
you can upgrade a ticket only if they are actively selling keys.
I wish Disney would bring back flex pass!!😢
I highly doubt magic key holders spend more money in the parks than people on vacation.
Well…do the math. Is a family that comes once a year (or maybe even once EVER) going to spend more than a person who is spending money on food and merchandise all year long?? If that were really true, Disney would have no passes at all for any of their parks and just cater to tourists visits
I have an imagine key…we go for food and merch….
That’s so Baked!
I went from imagine key last year, to inspire key this past (current year) and I’m probably going back to imagine key.
I hope you’re there for the last day on Sunday for lion King’s departure from Disneyland. If you could watch the last show, it’s probably supposed to be really good in the ending when everybody has to say goodbye to each other on stage I hope you watch it Sunday the last show of lion King, 445
None of this is rocket science. In pre-covid days, well let's say January of 2020. The park ticketing system was actually perfect. We had 5 AP's to choose from. The Flex Pass was available that was based on reservations. You could get an AP any day of the week and you could buy add-ons for your AP. There is no real reason why they couldn't go back to this model. However, this version of Disneyland is creating a false scarcity... you see it in their nonsense lightening lane passes and now we're seeing it in their 'limited availability' of the Magic Keys. Falsely creating a panic in people and making them think they need these or else their experience will suffer. Brilliant.
Going to be ready and waiting on the 10th. Stacking all my gift cards!
wow you can do that
So, Disneyland is making the parks more crowded with LESS attractions available in the short term and NO plans for the foreseeable future.
Talk to me when they get rid of the reservations AND the STUPID “lightning passes.”
Off topic, but will you ever do the FB Podcast again? What’s up with Ron?
He addressed this a while back. The podcast isn't a money maker and he had scheduling issues with Ron. Combine those two and you can see why he would choose the part that pays the bills.
No money yet...
Yeah. Magic Keys aren't worth it. Too expensive!!.
When it comes to Disneyland, Disney will never truly get rid of ap's (yes, they're called magic keys, but it's an annual pass). The thing is, when Disney tries not having ap's at Disneyland (minus the holiday seasons where they'll always be busy no matter what), Disney does lose revenue and lose a lot of guests due to Disneyland being a local focused park. I have a feeling we'll see mk's return every 3-7 months so as to keep getting as many locals in as possible.
They could get rid of the keys or AP’s, and the park would still be packed. At some point the pass will be so expensive, no one will buy it. They don’t need the pass to be successful.
@@davidhalcon5594 They actually can't. During the non-peak season APs account for 60-80% of daily attendance. I knew a few who working in accounting from 2006-2015. They said that during the 2008-12 recession if it wasn't for the APs they would have had to close down most the food locations as single day tickets did not account for enough to keep all the various locations open.
Hey Fresh Baked!!
I really think you are over thinking this. Disney has a set number of passes they want out there. When the number of passes gets below a certain threshold they go on sale. They did not sell keys over the holidays because why would Disney give a perk to a guest to give away money. Thus, they waited until January. Dream Keys are not coming back. The parks were so packed over the Holidays, why would they allow Magic Keys in decreasing revenue. Keys will always go in this order Believe Keys, go first because they include most weekends. Enchant is next, followed by the So California Pass, then the Inspire like you have. You are right about forcing demand for keys. If you want a key, you buy one because you are not sure when they will go on sale again. We are Enchant Key Holders and are on the fence about renewing as we don't frequent the park enough to justify them.
Maybe. But let me just say that I'm not here all by myself coming up with stuff out of the air. There us external input.
i really hope i don't get snubbed again this year
I feel like they watch your videos
I want my Annual Pass back =(
Whats your limit, David?
I used to be so excited about any new news to do with Disney, and upcoming projects. Now, since Disney has gone woke, I no longer feel excited like I used to. I feel the new project will be below expectations, or teaching lgbtq or rascism. Everything I used to love about Disney...it's just no longer the same magic company it once was
And then they will be sold out again within a hour😂
Yep $2k.