Magic Key Disneyland blockout dates refer to the specific days on which certain types of annual passholders are not allowed to visit the Disneyland theme park in California. Disneyland offers different tiers of annual passes, known as Magic Keys, which give passholders various levels of access and benefits. These blockout dates are put in place to manage crowd levels and ensure a better experience for all visitors to the park. The blockout dates vary depending on the specific Magic Key pass purchased. The higher tier passes, such as the Dream Key, typically have fewer blockout dates, while the lower tier passes have more restricted access. Blockout dates may include holidays, weekends, and potentially certain special events or busy periods.
Magic key disneyland blockout dates
Even after dropping thousands of dollars, most Magic Key Guests still won’t be spending the holidays at Disneyland!
When Walt Disney opened Disneyland in sunny Southern California on July 17, 1955, he declared, “Disneyland is your land.” That was his goal, a place unlike any other in which parents and children, people of all ages, could come and have fun together. For years, Walt Disney Company CEOs and Park management reflected this policy, and while prices increased, there were still ways for the average family to attend and enjoy the place Walt built. However, several shifts have led away from this thinking in recent years.
Two of the most egregious representations of this paradigm shift have been the Genie+ and Magic Key programs. In 1999, the Disneyland Resort introduced a program called Fast Pass. This free service allowed Guests to use their tickets to hold a spot in line and return at a later time to cut down the time it would take to wait for an attraction.
This also eased some of the congestion in what would be called the stand-by lines around the Park. Popular attractions like Star Tours, or Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, whose wait times could get up to four or five hours, were now down to one or two. It was an ingenious innovation that helped more Guests move through attractions within their time in the Parks, and for over 20 years, it was a staple of the Disney Park experience.
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
This was summarily replaced by the pay-to-play Disney Genie+ as part of the Disneyland App, which costs Guests, at bare minimum, twenty-five dollars per person per day at Disneyland, adding yet another expense onto an already expensive trip. This wasn’t the only instance of less bang-for-your-buck treatment at the Happiest Place on Earth: The extremely popular Disneyland Annual Pass program also went the way of the dodo and was replaced with the Magic Key.
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
The Magic Key Pass program has been fraught with problems since the beginning, and Magic Key holders have had no shortage of feedback. One of the issues that have plagued these Guests since the start has been the enormous number of “blockout” dates. This year has been no exception, and starting today, all levels of the Magic Key, Inspire Key, Believe Key, Enchant Key and Imagine Key, except the to-be-discontinued “Dream Key,” are blocked out until the new year.
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
While not offering a Holiday reservation isn’t without precedent, it’s surprising that after paying top dollar for the most expensive and available level of Magic Key, one of the most popular times to visit the Parks will be limited to the majority of Magic Key holders. This may not come as a shock to the average Magic Key holder, who will have known about these unavailable dates since purchase, but it is still another example of how current Guests seem to be getting less for more when it comes to the parks.
Longtime Fans, Former Annual Pass Holders, and all Guests who loved the Fast Pass system are hoping that the newly reinstated Bob Iger will make these issues part of his priority to change and fix in the next year and a half of his tenure to bring back some of that Disneyland Magic.
What do you think of these blocked-out dates? Let us know in the comments below!
Braden Nelsen
The two things most people learn first when talking with Braden is his passion for history, and for Disney. Braden has been a Disney fan from the word go, and if not in the parks with his wife and family, can often be found doing things to incorporate Disney in the day to day, whether that be painting, trying out park recipes at home, or collecting the odd Disney antique!
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BREAKING: Disneyland Magic Key Renewals Opening This Week, All Passes Now Have Blockout Dates
Disneyland Resort will allow renewals for Magic Key passes starting August 18. The Dream Key will not be available and has been replaced by the Inspire pass.
The prices have been raised for each tier:
- Inspire – $1599
- Believe – $1099
- Enchant – $699
- Imagine – $449
All Magic Key passes now have blockout dates, including the top-tier Inspire Key (blocked out between December 21 and January 1). See the full blockout date calendar for each pass tier here. Compare the tier benefits below.
Blockout dates may include holidays, weekends, and potentially certain special events or busy periods. The purpose of blockout dates is to control the number of people visiting the park on any given day. By limiting access to certain passholders, Disneyland can prevent overcrowding and maintain a more enjoyable experience for guests.
Inspire
- 6 park pass reservations
- Free standard parking
- 20% off select merchandise
- 15% off select food and beverage
- Unlimited Disney PhotoPass digital downloads (coming soon)
- 20% off Genie+ (when purchased same-day after entering the park)
The blockout dates are communicated to passholders well in advance to allow them to plan their visits accordingly. It's important for passholders to be aware of the blockout dates associated with their Magic Key pass. They can usually find this information on the Disneyland website or within the Disneyland app. Planning around the blockout dates ensures that passholders can make the most of their annual pass and enjoy the park on days when they have access. In conclusion, Magic Key Disneyland blockout dates are specific days when certain annual passholders are not allowed to visit the park. These dates are in place to manage crowd levels and ensure a better experience for all visitors. Passholders should be aware of these dates and plan their visits accordingly..
Reviews for "Unlock the Magic of Disneyland: Tips for Enjoying the Parks During Blockout Dates with a Magic Key Pass"
1. John - 1-star rating - I was extremely disappointed with the magic key Disneyland blockout dates. Not only were they numerous and inconvenient, but they seemed completely random and arbitrary. I purchased the annual pass with high hopes of being able to visit the park whenever I pleased, but I constantly found myself blocked out on major holidays and weekends. It feels like they are just trying to squeeze more money out of passholders by limiting our access. I was really looking forward to a magical experience, but instead, I feel like I wasted my money.
2. Lisa - 2-star rating - The magic key Disneyland blockout dates were a major disappointment for me. I understand the need to manage crowds, but the number of blackout dates made it nearly impossible for me to use my annual pass. I work during the week and my only free time is on weekends and holidays, which of course were all blocked out. It felt like the only time I could visit the park was during off-peak times when the park was practically empty. I expected more flexibility and access with a magic key pass, and unfortunately, that was not the case. I hope Disneyland reevaluates their blockout dates to provide better value for passholders.
3. Sarah - 2-star rating - I was excited to purchase the magic key Disneyland pass, but the blockout dates really put a damper on my experience. It seems like there are more blackout dates than actual available dates for passholders. It's frustrating to plan a trip to Disneyland, only to find out that your pass is not valid on that day. The blockout dates often coincided with holidays and weekends, which are the times when most people want to visit the park. It felt like a bait and switch situation, where I was promised access to the park but ended up with limited opportunities to use my pass. I would not recommend the magic key Disneyland pass to anyone looking for a flexible and enjoyable experience.