For locals, or those who aspire to visit as often as one, the Walt Disney World Annual Passholder and Disneyland Resort Magic Key programs create opportunities to experience the Disney magic over and over again. Long-time passholders say they love the chance to visit frequently, discounts, and other benefits. What they like most, they say, is the traditions and memories annual passes make possible.
Two planDisney panelists share their families’ stories.
A Purchase that Becomes a Decades-Long Family Tradition
From Wilma Norton, a Walt Disney World Annual Passholder
The decision to buy our first Walt Disney World annual passes in August 1997 came down to the value and flexibility they offered our family. As we planned a five-night visit to celebrate our daughter’s fifth birthday, the Florida Resident annual pass gave us the chance to enjoy multiple park days and keep the magic going with future visits. It must have been a good decision—we’re still annual passholders today.
We figured we would visit a few more days in the months ahead and get the most for our money.
Oh, were we right! During the rest of 1997 and through our second daughter’s first Walt Disney World visit as a 2-month-old in August 1998, we spent something like 20 more days in the theme parks.
We’ve never looked back. We have been passholders almost every year since and estimate that we have visited the theme parks more than 600 days.
As Florida residents who live about 90 minutes away, we love the flexibility an annual pass gives us, plus the convenience of monthly payment options available exclusively to Florida residents.
We’ve had several versions of annual passes through the years, always choosing the one that was best for our family’s schedule at the time. All annual passes offer the benefits we appreciate most: ability to park hop; resort, merchandise, recreation and other discounts; and included standard parking.
How We Maximize our Annual Pass:
- Wake up on Saturday morning in an EPCOT mood? Off we go.
- Birthday or anniversary? We use our passholder discount to book a resort room and a celebration dinner.
- Want to see all the holiday decorations in the four theme parks? We call our passholder friends and meet up for a four-parks-in-one-day tour using our park hopper benefit.
- Out-of-state friends or family at Walt Disney World? Sure, we’d love to join you and show you all our favorite Disney things.
- New ride or attraction opening? We’re there for the passholder preview when available.
The main difference between the Pixie Dust, Pirate, Sorcerer, and Incredi-Pass is the number of days you can access the parks. Florida residents can choose from all four pass types, while guests who live outside of Florida may purchase the Incredi-Pass.
After our daughters were grown, my husband and I upgraded to the Sorcerer Pass, which allows us admission to the parks more than 350 days a year. While park reservations are required on many days, Annual Passholders also have opportunities to visit without one, such as on select Good-to-Go Days or when entering the parks after 2 p.m. (except Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom).
When we bought those first annual passes back in 1997, we had no idea how much Walt Disney World and the friends and memories we would make there would mean to us over the next three decades – as parents of young children, then empty-nesters and a retiree. Disney magic, indeed!
Unlocking the Magic Key Program
From David Quintanilla, a Magic Key Holder
Growing up, our family’s visits to Disneyland Resort felt sporadic (at least to my kid brain). I have a distinct memory of spotting the Matterhorn from the freeway and asking my dad when we would be back. “One of these days,” he’d say. As an adult, I decided I wanted “one of these days” to come around as often as possible. Thanks to the Magic Key annual pass program, it does.
The Magic Key program is the annual passholder offering at Disneyland Resort, designed to unlock an entire year of magic. Key holders enjoy reservation-based admission to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park and can hop between the two parks during their visit, plus enjoy discounts and special experiences sprinkled throughout the year. With four different pass levels available, families can choose the Key that best fits their visit style and schedule.
The program currently includes the Inspire Key, Believe Key, the newer Explore Key, and (for Southern California residents) the Imagine Key. Each level offers its own collection of perks, but all Keys include discounts on food and merchandise, which is great when snacking in the parks or shopping while visiting.
Key holders also enjoy access to unique dining items, merchandise, photo opportunities, and special events. For example, during the 25th anniversary celebration of Disney California Adventure park, Magic Key holders were invited to an extra experience featuring backdrops celebrating the history of the park and Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse dressed in their original opening-day outfits!
My wife and I have been lifelong fans of Disneyland, and our monthly visits have become a meaningful way to relax and reconnect, especially while enjoying a peaceful afternoon loop on the Disneyland Railroad. She’s a teacher in our Northern California town, which means our travel windows are typically weekends and school holidays. For us, the Inspire Key has been the perfect fit since its introduction, allowing us to plan visits during those peak times with confidence.
Between our regular monthly trips and our annual week-long adventures with our daughters, the pass has more than justified itself. And honestly, knowing we have time set aside to wander, decompress, and share a plate of fried pickles at Carnation Café makes it feel priceless.
The Magic Key program makes it possible to keep the magic of Disneyland just one reservation away, throughout the year. Whether someone hopes to explore both parks from rope drop to closing, pop in for a quick ride on the Haunted Mansion, or linger over sunset views at Lamplight Lounge, the flexibility is there. With a Key that matches nearly every visit style, it truly feels like having “one of these days” whenever you need it.
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