The Disney parks are magical places that provide an escape from the anxiety and stresses of every day life into a world of “yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy.”
And what could be better than having practically unlimited access to these parks?
Well, as the Genie says in Aladdin, there are a “few provisos, a couple of quid pro quos” that Passholders have to navigate. In addition to having to fork out a healthy chunk of change (because passes don’t come cheaply), and also keeping up the Park Pass Reservation system, Passholders will also have to understand and navigate around Block Out Dates.
Disney enforces park block out dates on certain passes at both Disney World and Disneyland to help manage the crowds and capacity at each park. Typically, the cheaper a pass is, the more block out dates it will have. Disney controls the amount of each type of pass it sells and also controls how many park pass reservations are available for passholders — in an effort to ensure that there is space and capacity for guests who have individual park tickets.
In an earnings call in 2022, then-CEO Bob Chapek stated that Disney is trying to balance guest attendance between Annual Passholders and those who don’t visit as frequently. He said, “We want to make sure that our superfans who love to come with annual passes and use [the parks] as their personal playground — we love that. We celebrate that. But at the same time, we’ve got to make sure that there’s room in the park for the family from Denver that comes once every five years.”
So, now that we know a little more about what Block Dates are and why Disney has them in place, let’s take look at which Annual Passes and Magic Key Passes those block out dates affect.
2023 Disneyland Magic Keys Block Out Dates
Inspire Key
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- January 1st, 2023
- December 20th-31st, 2023
Believe Key
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- January 1st
- February 18th, 19th
- March 18th, 25th
- April 1st- 9th
- May 27th, 28th
- July 1st, 4th, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
- October 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 21st, 28th
- November 4th, 10th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, 25th
- December 2nd, 9th, 16th, 17th, 20th-31st
Enchant Key
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- January 1st-5th, 14th-16th
- February 18th-20th
- March 11th, 18th, 25th
- April 1st-9th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
- May 6th, 13th, 20th, 26th-29th
- June 2nd-4th, 9th-30th
- July 1st-31st
- August 1st-13th, 19th, 26th
- September 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
- October 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th
- November 4th, 10th, 11th, 18th-26th
- December 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th-31st
Imagine Key
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- January 1st-8th, 14th-16th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th
- February 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 17th-20th, 25th, 26th
- March 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 17th-19th, 24th-26th, 31st
- April 1st-9th, 14th-16th, 21st-23rd, 28th-30th
- May 5th-7th, 12th-14th, 19th-21st, 26th-29th
- June 2nd-30th
- July 1st-31st
- August 1st-20th, 25th-27th
- September 2nd-4th, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th, 30th
- October 1st, 5th-15th, 19th-22nd, 26th-29th
- November 4th, 5th, 10th-12th, 18th-30th
- December 1st-31st
2023 Disney World Annual Pass Block Out Dates
Incredi-Pass
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- None
Sorcerer’s Pass
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- November 22nd-25th
- December 20th-31st
Pirate’s Pass
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- January 1st
- January 14th-16th
- February 18th-20th
- March 11th-18th
- April 1st-15th
- May 27th-29th
- July 1st-4th
- September 2nd-4th
- October 7th-9th
- November 17th-25th
- December 20th-31st
Pixie Pass
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- Weekends
- January 1st & 2nd
- January 16th
- February 18th-20th
- March 11th-19th
- April 1st-16th
- May 27th-29th
- July 1st-4th
- September 2nd-4th
- October 7th-9th
- November 17th-26th
- December 20th-31st
So, before you dive into your piggy bank, take a look at the block out dates and make sure you know WHEN you want to visit the Disney Parks to know which pass will be the right one for you.
For more tips on Disney tickets and vacation information, stay tuned to AllEars!
6 Times When a Disney World Annual Pass Is Worth It
Do you have a Disney Parks Pass? Which one? Let us know in the comments below!
Retired cast member blackout days for July and August