I almost spit out my coffee last week when I read that Disneyland has introduced a new annual pass with a top price of $1,600. (Well, $1,599, but who's counting?)
I do not pretend to understand the park's byzantine pass system, which was suspended during the pandemic and reinstated a year ago with a new structure and higher prices before being paused again in May to better control crowds, according to park officials. Last week, Disneyland began selling passes again. But you can't buy one unless you already have one. Did you follow that?
The new passes, called Magic Keys, are offered in four tiers. The least expensive — at $449 — is available only to residents of Southern California. But passholders should not expect to be able to visit the park during the busiest times of year, especially just before and after Christmas.
