Disneyland has reached a settlement with a Magic Key annual passholder who claimed in a class-action lawsuit that the Anaheim theme park misled and deceived its most loyal fans by artificially limiting capacity and restricting reservations, according to court documents.
The complaint filed by Disneyland Magic Key annual passholder Jenale Nielsen of Santa Clara County has reached a settlement, according to court documents. Nielsen’s motion for court approval of the class-action settlement is due Aug. 31.
“We are satisfied that this matter has been resolved,” according to Disneyland officials.
Nielsen is seeking preliminary approval of the settlement in the case that has been working its way through the court process since November 2021. Her attorneys are seeking to indefinitely adjourn the case — including the upcoming court dates scheduled for July 28 and Aug. 14.
The lawsuit alleges that Nielsen purchased a $1,399 Disneyland Dream Key annual pass with no blockout dates in September 2021, but was unable to make theme park reservations for certain dates in November 2021.
Disney denies each and every allegation and assertion in the complaint, according to the company’s response to the court filing.
The $5 million suit filed against Walt Disney Parks and Resorts on behalf of all Magic Key annual passholders alleges Disneyland relegated them to “second class” ticket holders by artificially limiting Magic Key reservations and the number of passholders that can visit on any given day.
The settlement agreement was filed July 20 on behalf of Nielsen and “all others similarly situated,” according to court documents.
“Details about the settlement and what it means for passholders will be announced by August 31st,” according to MiceChat. “We’re keeping an eye on it, but don’t expect to get rich on your payout.”
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Magic Key annual passes went on sale in August 2021 after Disneyland ended its former four-decade-old annual passholder program during the extended coronavirus closures of the Anaheim theme parks.
Disneyland sold out of the top-priced Dream Key in October 2021 amid howls from angry passholders due to the widespread lack of reservations available for the $1,399 pass with no blockout dates.
Magic Key reservations were frequently unavailable when the new annual pass program first launched while the daily ticket calendar often showed widespread availability.
The $1,399 Dream Key with no blackout dates has since been replaced by the $1,599 Inspire Key with blackout dates during the two weeks around Christmas and New Year’s Day holiday season.