Mom skipping with Alice; holding hands; Mad Hatter; Mad Teacups
  • On Jan 5, 2026
    Sayra from CA Asked Please note that experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    My anual pass is up for upgrade. If I upgrade now before my pass expires on the 13th do I have to pay again once that due date? Or is it better to wait on my due date just to pay once.

    Greetings, Sayra! From one Magic Key holder to another, welcome to planDisney. I just renewed my pass, so you've got a friend in me to help. Are you ready to unlock another year of fun at the Disneyland Resort?

    Sayra, the renewal window for a Magic Key pass begins 30 days before its expiration date. During that time, you can select from the available pass types and choose a payment option. Monthly payments are available to California residents, or you can choose to pay in full. If you set up monthly payments, the first one typically processes within 24 hours of the transaction, with subsequent payments billed monthly to the card you provided during renewal.

    I typically advise against waiting until the last day to renew. That's because, if you forget or run into technical difficulties and your pass expires, you wouldn't be able to renew it. Instead, you'd have to purchase a new pass among the available pass types. If you do renew at any time during the 30-day window, your new pass would start the day after your current one expires, which seems to be on the 14th in your case.

    Now, if you are asking to upgrade your pass to a higher tier, that's a little different. Let's say you have the Enchant Key, and you want to upgrade to a Believe Key. You do have the option to upgrade it during the year, choosing from available pass types and paying the difference in full between your current pass and the higher-level pass. However, that cost doesn't change depending on when your pass expires – if you upgrade one month into your pass, it would be the same cost as if you did so in the last month. If you want to move to a higher pass type, do it as part of your renewal or shortly after, not before.

    The Magic Key page on the Disneyland website has a helpful guide for renewing a Magic Key pass. Just follow the steps, and you'll be ready to go in no time! And while you're there, check out the Extras Unlocked page to see other benefits available to passholders. 

    Sayra, you are one step closer to enjoying another year of fun at the Happiest Place on Earth! The Disney Parks Blog has a great roundup of upcoming events and experiences that you can look forward to. I'm counting down the days until the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival begins! If you have any other questions, please reach out – we're always happy to help here at planDisney!

    Your pal,
    Kriss
thumbnail image for Kriss

Meet the Panelist: Kriss, California

Hi, there! I’m Kriss, a wife, mom of two mini Mouseketeers, and lifelong Orange County local. As a Magic Key holder who visits the Disneyland Resort often, you have a friend in me when it comes to tips and tricks for making the most of your magical visit. Plant-based dining, navigating the parks with kids, transportation, pin trading, itineraries for various preferences – I’ve got you covered! Learn More About Kriss

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