Once upon a time, in a small village nestled near a dense forest, there was a legendary magic tree. This tree was said to possess supernatural powers and was believed to grant the wishes of those who discovered it. The villagers called it the "Magic Tree near Ne" due to its proximity to the neighborly village called Ne. The magic tree was a majestic oak, towering above all the other trees in the forest. Its branches extended wide, creating a mystical canopy that emitted an ethereal glow. The leaves shimmered in various shades of green, giving the tree an aura of enchantment.
“I purchased my Keys on Sunday and on Monday as I was park hopping back into Disneyland, my account refused to load my information either on the app or on the website in a browser,” they wrote.
And that Disneyland executives were trying to walk a fine line between discouraging Magic Key sales while not further angering loyal pass holders who were already frustrated by having to make sometime-hard-to-get reservations to use their passes. I think DL should instead use a system where Magic Key holders have a set number of visits per year based on the tier they buy, and simple make reservations in advance.
The leaves shimmered in various shades of green, giving the tree an aura of enchantment. Stories about the tree had been passed down through generations in the village. It was said that anyone who found the tree and correctly answered its riddle would be granted a single wish.
Is Disneyland Making Its Attendance Even More 'Unfavorable'?
August 17, 2022, 4:31 PM · Disneyland hasn't fixed its "unfavorable" Magic Key problem. In fact, the resort may have made the relationship with its most loyal fans even worse.
Disneyland created its new Magic Key annual pass program one year ago. That means the passes of the first people who had bought Magic Key passes were about to expire. For weeks, those pass holders have been begging Disneyland for information on how to renew their passes, since Disneyland had stopped selling all tiers of Magic Key months ago.
This week, Disneyland finally shared that information, announcing that Magic Key renewals would start tomorrow morning. and oh, by the way, the prices are going up between 7% and 16%. And Magic Key's top tier is now gone, replaced by a new top tier that is blocked out for the fist time during the week between Christmas and New Year's.
All this follows last week's social media dust-up over Disney mentioning "an unfavorable attendance mix" at the Disneyland Resort, in its most recent quarterly financial report. Many Disneyland fans saw themselves as being labeled "unfavorable" by Disneyland executives, even though what Disney meant was that Disneyland's per capita ticket revenue suffered when the parks' attendance skews toward Magic Key holders instead of daily ticket buyers.
In a TikTok video last week, I shared my suspicions that the company's desire to skew that mix back toward daily ticket sales was one of the reasons why Disneyland took so long to figure out the terms for Magic Key renewals. And that Disneyland executives were trying to walk a fine line between discouraging Magic Key sales while not further angering loyal pass holders who were already frustrated by having to make sometime-hard-to-get reservations to use their passes. (Some pass holders even sued Disneyland over the new Magic Key program.)
The renewal details announced this week by Disneyland portray a company trying to tiptoe on that line. A mild (in this economy) price increase, coupled with a swap of benefits - new blockout dates for some couple with minor parking discounts for others. And everyone gets a modest discount on the new Disney Genie+ upcharge, even though more useful Maxpass was included at no extra charge in the top tier of the old Disneyland annual pass program.
But Disneyland is never going to change the mix of guests at its California theme parks by tiptoeing around the annual pass problem that Disney itself has created. If the company thinks that too much of its Disneyland attendance is going to Magic Key holders, this week's program changes are only going to make that problem worse.
Increases to daily ticket prices might reduce the number of people who buy daily tickets. But price increases on Magic Key (and Disneyland APs before them), actually end up incentivizing pass holders to use those pass more often. Sure, some pass holders drop out of the program, but even among those who drop a tier, everyone who stays wants to visit the parks more to make up for the price increase and get value from their pass. That ultimately leads to more pass holders visits to the parks.
Disneyland has seen this with almost every price increase over the past two decades. Yet the company seems to behave as if it believes that the next price increase will somehow turn out differently. Yes, reservation requirements allow Disneyland to control the number and mix of visitors coming into the parks on any given day. But the harder it becomes for Magic Key holders to get the reservations they want, the more (justifiably) angry they become. So unless daily ticket buyers show up to sell out available inventory, Disneyland relents and opens spots for more Magic Key holders, pushing the mix back to what Disneyland was trying to avoid.
The only solutions I see to this "unfavorable" problem are these:
1) Give up and admit that Disneyland is not Walt Disney World. Admit that Disneyland is a locals' park and go all in on adjusting the business model for the park to accommodate the majority of visits will be coming from pass holders.
2) Drop Magic Key and stop trying to offer any form of traditional annual pass program. Honor loyal visitors with a bulk discount or rewards program. (Remember when you could buy a 10-day ticket where the days never expired?) Make everyone buy date-specific tickets or open-ended ticket packages with required reservations to use the tickets.
Pick one of these two extremes, then deal with it. Maybe the new total blockout on Magic Key during the busy Christmas week is Disneyland's first step toward option 2. We'll see.
But trying to play to both sides of a dilemma - like Disneyland otherwise seems to be doing now - is only making everyone frustrated with this whole process. And Disneyland should be the place where we can go to escape frustration - not to have to wallow in it.
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Many villagers, young and old, had embarked on journeys through the dense forest in search of this magical wonder. One warm summer's day, a young girl named Lily set out on her own quest to find the magic tree. With determination in her heart and a sense of adventure, she ventured deep into the forest, following the whispers of ancient folklore. After hours of wandering through moss-covered paths and overgrown bushes, Lily stumbled upon a clearing bathed in sunlight. In the center stood the magnificent oak tree, as if waiting for her arrival. It seemed to emit an energy that made her heart race with anticipation. Lily approached the tree cautiously, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. She could feel the magical energy emanating from its very core. Taking a deep breath, she summoned the courage to speak. "Oh magical tree, I come seeking your wisdom and blessings," she said, her voice filled with hope. As if in response, a gentle breeze rustled through the branches, whispering secrets only known to the tree. A soft voice echoed in Lily's mind, posing a riddle to unlock the tree's power. Lily pondered the riddle, her mind racing with ever-increasing excitement. After moments of deep contemplation, she confidently answered the riddle, her voice filled with conviction. "True happiness can only be found within oneself," she proclaimed. The surroundings suddenly shimmered, and a brilliant light enveloped Lily. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth and energy surge through her being. When the light finally subsided, Lily found herself standing before the same magic tree, but now she felt a sense of fulfillment unlike any other. With a wide smile on her face, Lily realized that the tree had granted her the truest wish of all - the wisdom to understand that happiness lies within oneself. From that day forward, Lily became a symbol of hope and inspiration to the villagers. They learned that true magic does not lie in the external world but within each individual's ability to tap into their own inner power and find happiness. And so, the legend of the Magic Tree near Ne continues to inspire generations, reminding them that the greatest magic of all is the magic they carry within..
Reviews for "The magical experiences of those who have encountered the nearby magic tree"
1. Jane - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with "Magic tree near me". The concept seemed interesting, but the writing felt lazy and uninspired. The characters were one-dimensional and the plot was predictable. The dialogue was also quite unnatural and forced. I found myself skimming through the pages, hoping it would get better, but unfortunately, it never did. Overall, I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
2. Mark - 2/5 - "Magic tree near me" had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story multiple times. The writing style was also confusing and disjointed, making it difficult to fully immerse myself in the world the author was trying to create. Additionally, the character development was lacking, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters. Overall, while there were some interesting elements, the flaws of this book outweighed the positives for me.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Magic tree near me", but it ultimately left me feeling unfulfilled. The plot had a lot of potential, but it lacked depth and complexity. The story felt rushed and underdeveloped, leaving many unanswered questions. The world-building was also lacking, and I found it difficult to fully visualize the setting. Furthermore, the writing style was generic and lacked originality. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for a truly captivating and immersive reading experience.
4. Michael - 2.5/5 - While "Magic tree near me" had an interesting concept, it failed to live up to my expectations. The pacing was uneven, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. The character development was also lacking, and I found it difficult to care about what happened to the protagonists. Additionally, the dialogue felt stilted and unnatural, making it hard to engage with the story. Overall, while it had some redeeming qualities, "Magic tree near me" fell short of being a truly enjoyable read.