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Let’s Discuss the New Disney Annual Pass

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Disneyland and Walt Disney World executives have indicated a desire to overhaul their respective theme park annual pass systems for years now.

In 2021, both theme parks finally did just that, unveiling new annual pass options. Disneyland even went so far as to change the name of the program.

We have a lot to process here. So, let’s talk about the new annual passes at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.

The Disneyland Options

Technically, the Happiest Place on Earth no longer sells annual passes. So at Disneyland, you’ll purchase something called a Magic Key instead.

Don’t let the name change confuse you. That’s a branding decision more than anything else. You’re still purchasing theme park admission for a calendar year.

The Magic Key program comes in four forms. Only one of them is available to guests outside the state of California, though.

I presume that most of you don’t live in California, but let’s quickly look at the other two options.

The cheapest Magic Key, the Imagine Key, costs $399. You can pay for it outright or make a down payment of $179. Afterward, Disney would bill you $19 monthly.

For that price, you receive:

  • Theme park access on many (but not all) weekdays
  • 10 percent discounts on food, drinks, and merchandise
  • Ability to hold up to two Park Passes simultaneously

Disney states that the Imagine Key is “only available for Southern California Residents living in zip codes 90000 to 93599.”

The next step up is the Enchant Key, which costs $699 or $179, followed by monthly payments of $40.

The Enchant Key grants the holder the following privileges:

  • Theme park access for most (but not all) weekdays and some weekends
  • 10 percent discounts on food, drinks, and merchandise
  • Ability to hold up to four Park Passes simultaneously

Disney has posted the blockout calendar for all its Magic Keys. You can get a better idea about theme park access on this page.

The Other Two Magic Keys

All California residents can purchase the second-best Magic Key, the Believe Key. It costs $949 or $179 plus $65 per month.

The Believe Key grants you the following amenities:

  • Theme park access for most (but not all) days of the year
  • 10 percent discounts on food, drinks, and merchandise
  • Ability to hold up to six Park Passes simultaneously
  • 50 percent discount on standard parking

You’ll have your choice of many more visitation dates with the Believe Key compared to the Enchant or Imagine Key.

However, many Saturdays remain unavailable, and some of the busiest weeks on the annual calendar include total blocked-out periods.

DVC members who don’t live in California have only one option, and it’s the most expensive one, the Dream Key.

This option costs a hefty $1,399. However, you can pay one flat fee of $179 plus a recurring monthly charge of $102.

For that price, you receive superior amenities. They are:

  • Theme park access for every day of the year
  • Up to 15 percent discounts on food and drinks
  • Up to 20 percent discount on merchandise
  • Free standard parking
  • Ability to hold up to six Park Passes simultaneously

As a reminder, you can book a Park Pass for any day when you have a coinciding official Disney resort reservation.

So, the Park Pass options I list are in addition to any DVC hotel booking you’ve made.

If you purchase during the first 66 days of the Magic Key program, you’ll receive a “special welcome package.” The clock started on August 25th, but you still have some time.

Also, please be aware that Magic Key owners have received some unannounced perks.

To wit, from September 20th through October 7th, you can ride Haunted Mansion Holiday after the park closes on specific dates.

Walt Disney World’s New Annual Passes

Disneyland announced its new program first. Walt Disney World followed suit soon afterward.

Florida’s version has altered some of the amenities. The PhotoPass and the Water Parks and Sports options now cost $99 each.

So, if you had both of those in the past and want to keep them, you must add $198 plus tax to the prices I’m about to discuss.

Also, two of the four passes are only available to residents of the Sunshine State.

Disney has priced the least expensive option, the Pixie Dust Pass, at $399. Purchasers can make a down payment of $205 and then pay $19 monthly.

For that price, you receive:

  • Theme Park access on most (but not all) weekdays
  • Ability to hold up to three Park Passes simultaneously
  • Free standard parking at the theme parks
  • Up to 20 percent discounts on food, drinks, and merchandise

The new annual passes also come with the somewhat vaguely defined “access to bonus reservations.”

This means that Disney will sometimes show dates on the annual calendar when you can book a Park Pass that won’t count against your allotment.

Let’s say that you already have booked three Park Passes on the Pixie Dust Pass plan. If you notice a bonus reservation date, you can book it, too!

You can also evaluate the blockout dates at this link.

The next tier of the new system is the Disney Pirate Pass. Yarr. It costs $699 or $205 plus monthly payments of $45.

The amenities are:

  • Theme Park access on most (but not all) days
  • Ability to hold up to four Park Passes simultaneously
  • Free standard parking at the theme parks
  • Up to 20 percent discounts on food, drinks, and merchandise

Here are the applicable blockout dates.

The DVC Annual Pass Options

Realistically, as a DVC member who doesn’t live in Florida, you’ll only have two options among the new annual passes.

One of them is only available to Florida residents and DVC members. It’s the Sorcerer Pass, which costs $899 or $205 down plus $63 monthly.

For that price, you’ll receive:

  • Theme Park access on most (but not all) days
  • Ability to hold up to five Park Passes simultaneously
  • Free standard parking at the theme parks
  • Up to 20 percent discounts on food, drinks, and merchandise

Remember to add $99 plus tax to the price if you want either PhotoPass or Water Parks and Sports or $198 plus tax for both.

So, yes, the price of the new equivalent to the former Gold Pass has gone up considerably. You do gain more control over what you’re willing to pay for, though.

Also, keep in mind that any DVC reservations you’ve made don’t count against your five Park Pass allotment, which is a nice bonus.

Still, you’ll face these blockout dates with the Sorcerer Pass. The only way to avoid that concern is to go all-in and purchase the Incredi Pass.

Disney charges $1,299 plus tax for this annual pass. You can make the $205 down payment and then add recurring monthly charges of $99, though.

For that money, you’ll receive:

  • Theme park access for every day of the year
  • Ability to hold up to five Park Passes simultaneously
  • Free standard parking at the theme parks
  • Up to 20 percent discounts on food, drinks, and merchandise

The main difference between the Incredi Pass and the Sorcerer Pass comes down to blockout dates. The Sorcerer version has them, while the Incredi Pass does not.

Final Thoughts

You have plenty to process here, and there’s no wrong option. I mean, you’ll be at Disneyland or Walt Disney World a lot no matter which annual pass you pick.

Personally, I’d owned the Gold Pass for a while before upgrading to Platinum Plus a couple of years ago.

In looking at these options, I’m leaning toward the Sorcerer Pass, which downgrades me down to the former Gold Pass level again.

My family doesn’t spend Thanksgiving or Christmas at the parks, which is the primary benefit of the Incredi Pass at the moment.

Whatever you choose, please remember this vital piece of information. You ALWAYS have the option to upgrade your existing tickets at a Disney theme park.

So, if you buy a lower-tier option and decide you aren’t satisfied, you can upgrade later.