Gabby Miller | Head Editor
January 11, 2026
If you have ever been to Disney, you know the magical joy it creates for each guest. From meet and greets with your favorite characters to a wide selection of merchandise to delicious food and drinks, Disney truly has it all, living up to its title of the “Happiest place on Earth.” In recent years, their prices have skyrocketed with a one day entry fee ranging around $104-$224. With this big price tag only letting one person in the park, many guests end up spending $1000+ for their families to visit Disney, especially after the added food, merchandise, and oftentimes Fast Passes.
However, Disney offers 5 special Magic Key Passes that are good for a whole year.
The cheapest pass is the Imagine Key Pass for $599 and pays for itself in just 4 visits, meaning after you go 4 times, each time you go is basically free! Senior and Imagine Key Pass holder, Kai Wells explained how “tickets are so expensive on their own, and buying a pass is a more cost effective choice.” Wells also added how “you get a discount on almost all of the merchandise and some food,” adding to the benefits of this cost-effective choice. Key Holders, depending on the level of pass, are able to reserve anywhere from 2-6 park dates at a time, making planning easier and allowing them to go as many times as they want, truly getting their money’s worth.
With the frequency that the pass holders attend Disneyland, holders have found that they are able to enjoy their visits more, not feeling rushed, as they know they will return shortly. Senior and Imagine Key Pass Holder, Sydney Ingersoll described one of her “favorite things about having a Disney pass is being able to go regularly so every time [she] does go, it doesn’t feel like it has to be a trip where [she] crammed everything in- it can just be an enjoyable time with friends.” Ingersoll reported that she will go multiple times a week sometimes, and most of her visits are half days, so they feel refreshing and not overwhelming like a typical Disneyland trip would.
Disneyland is the most magical place on Earth and, despite its high prices, it offers many deals and the Magic Key Passes are arguably the best offer they have! As an Imagine Key Pass Holder myself, I cannot recommend investing in a pass more. The discounts, reservations, and excitement you get from going so often makes the price totally worth it. It started as a bonus side quest–to make my senior year better–and has now turned into the highlights of my senior year: going with friends, making memories, and feeling like a kid again.
Passes open back up on January 13th where you can purchase them directly from Disney’s website.
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