Ticket and Magic Key Price Increases plus Magic Key Extras Announcements

[OlliePop27]

We wish

They priced the highest prices on the last two weeks of the year

Those days are packedddddd...they just know they can charge more because people love Christmas. Halloween is also higher priced but will be packed....Thanksgiving etc


The 50% for now seems to be in the "off season" like January where sure you can use it but also....I just wont really need to. For me as a MK I normally only go half days so I leave before the park is peak busy, now on times I go with my wife its all day and get it but also when we go its peak times and you need it if you want to ride something in under an hour. Anyway it could affect things but also just wish MK could buy a year long LL pass and once a quarter you got a single LL attraction to use as well but for now its not happening but its what I'd like as at least an option

Interesting perspective, thank you for sharing.

Since they started blocking all passes during the holidays, it's not nearly as crowded as it used to be. Still crowded, but not the shutdown type crowds that happened around New Year's before.

My opinion is that I hope they never offer an annual MK add on for LLMP. I think it's generous to offer 50% off some of the time. If MK's could add it on for an unlimited number of visits, the quality of the experience would diminish for everyone. There are just so many MK holders that it could increase usage to the point where availability goes down for return times, and the more people using LLMP, the longer the standby waits will get. My personal opinion is that the enhanced discount is their way to try combatting the negative press surrounding DAS.

I certainly understand the desire though for LLMP discounts and it is reasonable.

 

[LKing]

Reading this really makes me wish I lived in Southern California. It sounds so lovely to be able to pop in for a meal and maybe a ride or two. I guess I won't complain too much since I am in Northern California and I can drive if I don't want to fly...but still!

To us, DLR is a local park. I guess the best analogy is how someone in SF might visit Golden Gate Park or someone in NY might visit Central Park.

We visit in a very similar way to the way we visit our local beaches. Sometimes we go for a walk. Other times we go to watch the dolphins, beach volleyball, or take pictures of the sunset. I can't remember the last time I actually went in the water.

My opinion is that I hope they never offer an annual MK add on for LLMP. I think it's generous to offer 50% off some of the time. If MK's could add it on for an unlimited number of visits, the quality of the experience would diminish for everyone. There are just so many MK holders that it could increase usage to the point where availability goes down for return times, and the more people using LLMP, the longer the standby waits will get.

I think it would initially make a difference, but after the novelty wears off, people would go back to how they normally visit the parks. Most locals aren't on this board and have no idea of the seemingly crazy, stressful, strategy that some people use to work the LLMP system. Locals aren't likely criss-cross the parks to get on the maximum number of rides. They'll take the LLMP rides they can get in the hours when they are there and, if something isn't available, they won't stress because they can come back and ride it on another day.

 

[OlliePop27]

I think it would initially make a difference, but after the novelty wears off, people would go back to how they normally visit the parks. Most locals aren't on this board and have no idea of the seemingly crazy, stressful, strategy that some people use to work the LLMP system. Locals aren't likely criss-cross the parks to get on the maximum number of rides. They'll take the LLMP rides they can get in the hours when they are there and, if something isn't available, they won't stress because they can come back and ride it on another day.

Good point. It would be just like it was in the old paper FP days. That system always functioned really well, even with EVERYONE having equal and included (no extra cost) access to the system.

You would still have to scan in to the park to use the system, and some locals may not arrive until evening or after park opening.

 

[disneychrista]

They'll take the LLMP rides they can get in the hours when they are there and, if something isn't available, they won't stress because they can come back and ride it on another day.

The bold is my argument on why MK's don't need LL.

 

[Foxhound3857]

Another $100 just for the Imagine Key?

I don't know if I'm going to renew at this point. That's pretty steep for the entry level membership.

 

[disneycat321]

Honestly, same. We've been going to Disneyland since I was two years old. I loved Disneyland, would spend tons of time planning and reading up on all of the latest news. We started going 4+ times per year, and we live more than 2 hours away by plane so that took a lot of planning and $$$. We have no current plans to go back at this point - the first time in my life.

This last trip was just not the same. We had fun, sure, but it just felt different. We've dealt with large crowds just fine (going during UEA and NYE) and didn't feel this way so it wasn't that. I was always ready for another trip. Oogie Boogie Bash, Christmas, birthdays. I am making more money than I did previously, so the cost isn't necessarily prohibitive upon us going.

But, it just isn't the same place anymore. Almost no live entertainment besides nighttime shows, limited or no parades, they decimated the food at Rancho del Zocalo (my favorite restaurant at the resort) and any rides you want to go on within a reasonable timeframe require Genie+ ($$). And even with that you still need to pay $20-ish/pp to get on two rides in the resort (yes, you can wait - but 60+ minutes is not worth it). I'm not paying $80 for a 4-minute ride for us, even if it is my favorite.

While this isn't an unexpected increase, it is just another thing to pile on.

I hope people who do want to go enjoy it, but for now and the foreseeable future that isn't us. We'll focus on the Disney cruises to get our Disney fix.

I totally agree with you. It’s so tough to swallow the increased prices because of the diminished experience. Even when I last went in April 2022, I already felt like it was different - I felt like I was getting nickel and dimed to death for less, and it just felt icky. And I know it’s far worse now.

We had a great 5 year run as local APs in the first half of the 2010s (back when parking was included for levels of AP below the top tier and fastpasses were free) and then a few trips after that once we moved to northern CA. What makes me sad is that we now have a daughter who’s almost 1.5, and we’d so looked forward to bringing our children, but it just really stings to look at spending over $1k a day (with an offsite Harbor hotel since we’d never consider the on-site prices on this coast) for something that I know is markedly worse than what we used to experience. Once upon a time, we’d planned on probably annual trips to DLR with our kids, but it’s gonna be every several years for us. The value is just not there and we can have just as much fun making memories elsewhere. We love nature and we live in CA, so there’s no shortage of destinations for that!

 

[Foxhound3857]

I totally agree with you. It’s so tough to swallow the increased prices because of the diminished experience. Even when I last went in April 2022, I already felt like it was different - I felt like I was getting nickel and dimed to death for less, and it just felt icky. And I know it’s far worse now.

We had a great 5 year run as local APs in the first half of the 2010s (back when parking was included for levels of AP below the top tier and fastpasses were free) and then a few trips after that once we moved to northern CA. What makes me sad is that we now have a daughter who’s almost 1.5, and we’d so looked forward to bringing our children, but it just really stings to look at spending over $1k a day (with an offsite Harbor hotel since we’d never consider the on-site prices on this coast) for something that I know is markedly worse than what we used to experience. Once upon a time, we’d planned on probably annual trips to DLR with our kids, but it’s gonna be every several years for us. The value is just not there and we can have just as much fun making memories elsewhere. We love nature and we live in CA, so there’s no shortage of destinations for that!

I have until 2/25/25 to decide. I'm gonna schedule a trip for the 22nd or 2erd and then try for one more in early November before I'm blacked out, then I should have one more shot at late January or early February before it expires.

If I get decent hours at my new job I'll consider renewing it, but I need to know it'll be stable going into 2025 so I can actually take advantage of my pass and have the money for the occasional trip.

 

[DontSpamMe]

Disney is fleecing their most loyal fans and it's a little sickening. The cost for the value in the park does not match at all. Our first trips 2016-2019 were full of things to do. Parades, shows like magic map and frozen. Since covid the entertainment has been lacking to say the least. My theory is Disney the company, is making their most loyal fans pay for the projects that have under performed (Lightyear, The Marvels etc....). It's no mystery the parks have been raking in the $$$$ since COVID. It's just too bad they haven't given us park goers a better value for the mint we all drop to walk through the gates.

 

[SL6827]

Would Disney ever phase out the AP passes entirely at DL?

 

[disneychrista]

Would Disney ever phase out the AP passes entirely at DL?

Very unlikely. If they were to do that they would have never brought them back after they cancelled and refunded AP's during COVID.

 

[Bossy22]

Well they have finally priced us out. My family and I went every 1.5 years pre-covid and it was truly our happy place. We missed it greatly during covid and could not wait to get back (we come from Canada). Finally we made it back the summer of 2022. We did our usual 5 days and got 1/4 of the things done we use to. The fact they now charge for fastpass is bad enough but they have substantially raised the price of park hoppers, it's really unbelievable!!! We looked at the new prices and for our family of 5 to go our usual 5 days, add on genie plus (which we didn't budget for last time at it killed us), add on park hoppers (which we have always done) it would be $5000 CDN dollars just for our tickets. Thats not including hotels, not including food, not including getting there and back. 5 days at DL could cost my family close to $10 000 bucks!!! With our bad CDN dollar, Disney raising prices and then all the add ons that you need to pay so much for now we just can't do it!!! It they do a CDN discount I still think it would be too much! 15% is nothing, it wouldn't even cover the increase this year!!! We are going to try a San Diego trip this coming summer and do Sea world etc. It'll be a slower trip and my ride junkie daughter is not impressed but we can do twice as long a trip for 1/2 the price.

 

[DawnM]

Gaaah! I'm over here not so patiently waiting for MK sales to resume.

Me too!

Ok, so question for all.....the year starts with MK passes when you activate them, is this correct? So, you could buy them in May, but not activate until Aug and they are good through the following August?

I don't want to miss out on MK sales if they pop up but we aren't going to be able to use them for a while.

 

[kikismom]

Me too!

Ok, so question for all.....the year starts with MK passes when you activate them, is this correct? So, you could buy them in May, but not activate until Aug and they are good through the following August?

I don't want to miss out on MK sales if they pop up but we aren't going to be able to use them for a while.

Yep that's how they work. Hopefully next month for resumed sales. I know it's a long shot but I'm still hopeful.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

Yep that's how they work. Hopefully next month for resumed sales. I know it's a long shot but I'm still hopeful.

I'm hoping for next month, too. I've been wanting to get MKs for the family as a Christmas gift for the last couple of years but timing never works out. I let mine lapse hoping to get them all on the same payment schedule even if we aren't ready to use them for a couple of months, but I kind of regret that since it's so hard to predict when the sales will go back up.

 

[AstroBlasters]

The bold is my argument on why MK's don't need LL.

Not everyone that has a MK is a local.

 

[disneychrista]

Not everyone that has a MK is a local.

But they are committed to going multiple times or they wouldn't have purchased the MK.

Just to be clear, I am not saying that MK's should not be allowed to purchase LL. Just that because they are going multiple times a year they don't NEED LL.

 

[StarlitNight05]

But they are committed to going multiple times or they wouldn't have purchased the MK.

Just to be clear, I am not saying that MK's should not be allowed to purchase LL. Just that because they are going multiple times a year they don't NEED LL.

But what about MKs that go a few times a year, but for shorter durations (like 2-3 park days)? We don't have MKs now, but when we had APs we always used Fastpass and Maxpass (RIP). We didn't want to spend our shortened time waiting in queues.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

But they are committed to going multiple times or they wouldn't have purchased the MK.

Just to be clear, I am not saying that MK's should not be allowed to purchase LL. Just that because they are going multiple times a year they don't NEED LL.

I am not sure I understand this argument. Why does anyone “need” or “not need” LL?

It’s really personal and depends on how important it is to the person/family to ride attractions without too long of a wait.

I mean, I am assuming your don’t mean that Magic Key holders don’t “deserve” to have LL because they can theoretically visit more often.

I am saying this as a MK holder who visits often but rarely buys LL because I can’t justify the price. But for half off? I will do it here and there and give my kids an awesome day.

 

[disneychrista]

But what about MKs that go a few times a year, but for shorter durations (like 2-3 park days)? We don't have MKs now, but when we had APs we always used Fastpass and Maxpass (RIP). We didn't want to spend our shortened time waiting in queues.

I am not sure I understand this argument. Why does anyone “need” or “not need” LL?

It’s really personal and depends on how important it is to the person/family to ride attractions without too long of a wait.

I mean, I am assuming your don’t mean that Magic Key holders don’t “deserve” to have LL because they can theoretically visit more often.

I have no issues or problems with anyone getting or not getting LL. And to be very clear NO! I am not saying they don't deserve to have LL, that is stupid to even assume that. All I was saying is that a MK is very different than that once in a life guest who may only get to go on an attraction once and paying for LL to maximize their time makes a lot of sense. A MK or regular visitor will always have another opportunity to experience the attraction. If I was a MK and went multiple times a year I would likely not spend the extra money for LL..

And I will say it again just to be very very clear. ANYONE can buy & use LL. I have no issue with that. My comment was merely about MK having another opportunity to ride an attraction on their next visit. That's it. Nothing more. No need to read into my comment something was not there.

 

[AstroBlasters]

But they are committed to going multiple times or they wouldn't have purchased the MK.

Just to be clear, I am not saying that MK's should not be allowed to purchase LL. Just that because they are going multiple times a year they don't NEED LL.

I still 1000% disagree. Just because we go 3 trips per year doesn’t mean my 10 year wants to stand in 30-40 minute long lines for his favorite rides.

I’ve got 2 ADHD kids, not asking for DAS and never have, but happy to have LL so we can have an enjoyable day that includes an afternoon break. I don’t think we’d go to Disneyland without the LL. To me it’s just part of the cost of the trip.