Dear [Name], I hope this note finds you well. I want to bring to your attention an exciting opportunity to upgrade your magic key pass to a higher level. As you know, our magic key pass grants you access to various enchanted realms and unlocks countless magical adventures. With the higher level upgrade, you will gain even more fantastic benefits and an elevated experience. Firstly, you will be able to visit additional mystical locations that were previously inaccessible with the basic pass. Imagine exploring hidden forests, ancient castles, or underwater kingdoms that only a few have ever had the privilege of witnessing.

Magic Key Pass “Ticket Bridging” Trick

If you want to save money on a Disneyland Magic Key Annual Pass and start visiting the parks now, a hack called “ticket bridging” will offer both. This post will explain how and why to take advantage of this trick, and what you need to know before California’s AP program resumes on August 25.

In case you missed it, that’s the date Disneyland’s new “Magic Key” Pass Program launches, replacing Annual Passes (but really is a new AP system, just with a different name). There is a ton to know about Magic Key, most of which is beyond the scope of this post. However, one thing that is worth covering here is a huge hidden hack to use before buying Magic Key.

The details of this are actually explained in the official Magic Key terms & conditions, so perhaps huge “not-so-hidden” hack is more apt. (But how many of you really read through the fine print?!) The following two paragraphs contain Disneyland’s official policy on upgrading from single and multi-day tickets to Magic Keys.

UPGRADES: A Guest wishing to upgrade to a Pass from another form of eligible Disneyland Resort theme park admission media must upgrade on the same day in which the original form of theme park admission media is valid, and must choose a Pass of equal or greater value than the retail price of the original theme park admission media when it was purchased. The difference in prices must be paid in full at the time of the upgrade.

If an upgrade to a Pass is made from a multi-day ticket, the Pass will be backdated to begin on the first day that such ticket was used; if an upgrade to a Pass is made from a lower level Pass, the new Pass will have the same expiration date as the original Pass. Each guest wishing to upgrade their theme park admission media to a Pass must be present at the time of the upgrade transaction. Fully used, or partially used and expired, theme park admission media, complimentary ticket media, special event ticket media and ticket media stating its ineligibility for an upgrade may not be upgraded to a Pass. Upgrades are subject to Pass availability. Downgrades are not allowed.

However, there’s more to it than that–and ways this official policy can be leveraged to immediate benefit and avoiding headaches. According to our friends at Get Away Today, all tickets purchased through them (except the current California Resident Ticket–do not buy those!) can be upgraded to any of the Magic Key Passes for added advantage.

There are several significant upsides to doing this. (Note that we previously touched upon these in our Money-Saving Tips for Buying Disneyland Tickets, but figured we’d expand upon them here.)

First, you can start visiting Disneyland immediately, rather than waiting until August 25 to visit. This is referenced in the explicit terms and conditions of the Magic Key program, but we’ll clarify a little to explain how it works in practice.

You can use a regular multi-day ticket as normal while visiting Disneyland and DCA, and then upgrade at a ticket booth outside the parks or via the app (it’ll almost certainly be easier in-person) on the last day of your visit, so long as that’s on or after August 25, 2021. Since Disneyland tickets are valid for 14 days after first use–and August 25 is less than 14 days from today–this should be easy to accomplish. You could buy a 4-day ticket, use 3 days this week, and then upgrade on August 25. You just need to upgrade before fully using your ticket.

The obvious upside to this is visiting now rather than waiting until late August when the deluge of Disneylanders will purchase their Magic Key passes. As someone who has been watching social media and stalking wait times in the Disneyland app (as one does), I am very envious of anyone who is able to do this and visit the parks this week or early next.

Judging by wait times from the last week, it’s very clear that many Californians are simply waiting until August 25 before visiting Disneyland.

That plus summer tourist season coming to an end plus Los Angeles and Orange County schools going back into session plus renewed travel trepidations means the next couple of weeks will see low attendance. In fact, the next ~10 days could be the lightest crowds at Disneyland since the opening summer of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Maybe even lower. (And that was the best we had seen Disneyland in at least 5 years!)

Suffice to say, we’re very envious of anyone who can visit in the next 10 days, and are hopeful that a slow scale-up in the Magic Key program results in the beginning of Halloween Time likewise being relatively slow. Doubtful it’ll be this good, though!

Second, you won’t be subject to Magic Key blockout dates while using your multi-day tickets.

This means that you could purchase regular multi-day tickets and use them on weekends–which would otherwise be blocked out–before upgrading to the Imagine Magic Key pass, for example. This is a strategic advantage you could use for the start of Halloween or Christmas seasons if you wanted to wait a bit before buying into the Magic Key program.

Third, you can purchase regular tickets, make theme park reservations immediately, and will be able to do so up to 120 days in advance (that’s an extra 30 days over a Magic Key).

Personally, I don’t think Magic Key reservations are going to be difficult right away or for the off-season–it’s going to take some time before adoption of the Magic Key is high–but who knows. There might be a lot of pent-up demand among locals who have been waiting to visit Disneyland until the AP program relaunched. This will give you a headstart on making those reservations and peace of mind.

Finally, you’ll save money. Per Get Away Today, you will be able to apply the full ticket value of discounted tickets towards any Magic Key Pass.

Here’s a quick illustration of the savings and process. Let’s say I buy a 5-day Park Hopper for $391. When upgrading to a Magic Key, this ticket is credited its full gate price, which is $415 . I want to purchase the Enchant Magic Key Pass, which is $649. Out of pocket, I will pay approximately $234 to price bridge the difference. (Obviously, these numbers will differ based upon what you purchase–and if any price increases occur between the time this is published and whenever you’re reading it.)

“Price bridging” has been a known hack for years when it comes to upgrading to Annual Passes at Walt Disney World. In fact, we’ve had a Ticket Bridging for Walt Disney World Annual Passes article for years.

Historically, the process in Florida has worked–but not always easily. Some Cast Members have been unfamiliar with price bridging since it’s seldom used, so it occasionally took some effort. Previously, we never had success being credited full value when ticket bridging at Disneyland, but had heard from some readers who were successful.

Our assumption is that it will now work similarly to how it’s always worked at Walt Disney World, meaning discount Disneyland tickets purchased from any authorized ticket seller (which means it would also work for tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist) will receive full ticket value.

As for tickets purchased from AAA, Safeway, Sam’s Club, Costco, or other Southern California grocery stores…we really have no clue whatsoever. The whole “price bridging” component of ticket upgrades is very much unofficial, subject to change, and your mileage may vary. In our view, this is the least compelling reason to ticket bridge–for now. Once August 25 rolls around and we can confirm its success rate, we’ll update accordingly.

Literally any one of these benefits would be reason enough to buy multi-day tickets now and “bridge” to a Magic Key in-person while visiting Disneyland at a later date. The totality of these upsides is huge–as is not dealing with Disneyland’s online system, which will undoubtedly be chaotic when the Magic Key program first launches.

Actually, perhaps that last point is the biggest advantage of all. Let’s say you want to begin using your Magic Key for the start of Halloween Time and are concerned about reservation availability, so you plan on buying a Magic Key first thing on August 25. Knowing what we know about Disney IT and recent Disneyland virtual queues, “first thing” could actually be after midnight on August 26. Buying regular tickets and making your theme park reservations–then upgrading to a Magic Key at a Disneyland ticket booth in September–will save you considerable time, headaches, and (maybe?) money. It’s a no-brainer.

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!

Your Thoughts

Will you be purchasing regular tickets and upgrading them to the Magic Key passes? Looking forward to taking advantage of the low crowds at Disneyland up until then? Thoughts on the advantages of using ticket bridging rather than buying a new AP outright? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

How to Upgrade Your Disneyland Tickets to the New Magic Key Pass

It’s a new program that will replace the old Annual Passholder program at Disneyland! Now, we have more information about how you can upgrade your Disneyland tickets to the new Magic Key program!

If you already have admission to Disneyland, you can upgrade them to an Annual Pass with the Magic Key Program.

Disney California Adventure

You can upgrade your tickets to a Magic Key Pass on the first day that you have tickets for. So if you have tickets to Disneyland for, say, August 25th (when the program starts), you can go in on that day to upgrade them.

Guest Relations in Disneyland

The rules for upgrading are as follows:

• Your pass must start on the same day as the tickets you already had. You can upgrade on the first day of your ticket.
• Everyone who wants to upgrade their tickets needs to be present when you do so!
• You need to choose a Pass of equal or greater value to the tickets you had before. You will need to pay the difference in full when you upgrade.
• If you upgrade to a Pass from a multi-day ticket, your Pass will begin on the first day of the ticket.
• If you’re upgrading to a higher level Pass from a lower level one, your new Pass will have the same ending date as the original one.
• Some tickets are ineligible for upgrades, such as fully used tickets, partially used and expired tickets, complimentary tickets, and any others that state they are ineligible for upgrades.

The new system works very similarly to the old Annual Pass system, with tiers of tickets available for different prices. Keep following AllEars for more information on the new Disneyland Annual Pass System!

Click Here to Find Out When the New Magic Key Pass Will Go On Sale!

Are you planning to get the new Magic Key Pass? Tell us in the comments!

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Magic Key Passes for Purchase Announced at Disney: Read all about the Prices, Tiers, Perks and more

Imagine exploring hidden forests, ancient castles, or underwater kingdoms that only a few have ever had the privilege of witnessing. Additionally, upgrading your key pass will provide you with enhanced magical powers. You will be able to perform more advanced spells, transform into mythical creatures, or even communicate with celestial beings.

UPDATE: ALL MAGIC KEY PASSES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON APRIL 11, 2023

Disney announced today that all four Magic Key passes (i.e., Inspire, Believe, Enchant and Imagine) will be made available for purchase on April 11, 2023 ! Here is your chance Mouseketeer friends to enjoy the magic of Disney all year round. You can purchase your pass no earlier than 9 am PST! Sign up here to get your personal reminder to your inbox with the link to take some of the stress out! 💁🏻‍♀️

This upgrade will unlock a whole new realm of possibilities for your magical journey. Furthermore, as a higher-level key pass holder, you can partake in exclusive magical events and gatherings. These gatherings bring together fellow enchanters from all corners of the realm, providing fantastic networking opportunities and a chance to exchange knowledge and wisdom. To upgrade your magic key pass, simply visit our enchanted website or contact our dedicated customer service team. They will guide you through the process and ensure a seamless transition to the higher level experience. Please note that this upgrade is available for a limited time only. We encourage you to seize this opportunity to elevate your magical adventures and unlock the full potential of your key pass. Thank you for being a valued member of our magical community. We look forward to witnessing the incredible experiences and adventures that await you with the upgraded magic key pass. Best regards, [Your Name].

Reviews for "Evolving Your Magical Abilities: Upgrading Your Key Pass to Harness Greater Forces"

1. John - 1 star - I was extremely disappointed with the "Upgrade magic key pass to higher level" option. Not only did it not provide any additional benefits or perks, but it also ended up costing me more money. I was expecting to get access to exclusive areas or skip lines, but none of that was included. It felt like a complete waste of money and I would not recommend it to anyone.

2. Sarah - 2 stars - The upgrade magic key pass to a higher level was underwhelming. I thought it would enhance my overall experience at the theme park, but it did not live up to my expectations. There were barely any advantages to having the upgraded pass, and I feel like I wasted my money. I would suggest saving your cash and sticking with the basic magic key pass if you're considering visiting this park.

3. Mike - 1 star - The upgrade magic key pass to a higher level was nothing more than a marketing gimmick. I paid extra for this upgrade, expecting some special treatment or benefits, but it was a complete letdown. There were no additional perks or advantages that justified the higher cost. It felt like a complete rip-off, and I would strongly advise others against wasting their money on this upgrade.

Overall, these reviews highlight the disappointment and lack of value that customers experienced with the "Upgrade magic key pass to higher level" option. The lack of additional perks or benefits left them feeling like they wasted their money, leading to low ratings and negative reviews.

Unlocking Hidden Potential: Upgrading Your Magic Key Pass for Maximum Power