Debating Maxpass

[keaster]

We are heading to Disneyland 2nd week of March (we are DVC member and managed to snag a villa at Grand Cal yay!)

Just wondering about Maxpass. Is it a "must have" or would we be okay with the regular paper fastness? The photo pass aspect is not a big deal to us as we don't usually do the disney pics.

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

How many are in your party?

How ride centric are you on your trips?

 

[keaster]

How many are in your party?

How ride centric are you on your trips?

3 of us (me/DH/DD14). We definitely are into the rides! We are there for a week so will probably get a 3 day park hopper as we have other things we want to do in the area.

 

[ludari]

Well, just with the information you provided I would say it's not worth it because if you are staying on property you will get the extra Magic Hours. So not only will you get that extra hour in the park before it opens to the masses you also have time to grab a fast pass for a highly sought after ride plus a show like WOC or Fantastic (depending on what park you are in during Magic Hours).

 

[mom2rtk]

One advantage with MaxPass is that you can get a new FP after 90 minutes instead of 120 with traditional FP (or when you redeem the old one either way). Then there's the obvious advantage of not having to physically go to the machine to pull the ticket.

I would probably spend the $90 to maximize our time in the parks with MaxPass. If the price goes up before your trip, I'd be less likely to do it.

Keep in mind you don't have to add it until the day when you enter the park. So you can wait and see what you think. Or you could go without the first day then add it the other days if you want.

 

[keaster]

One advantage with MaxPass is that you can get a new FP after 90 minutes instead of 120 with traditional FP (or when you redeem the old one either way). Then there's the obvious advantage of not having to physically go to the machine to pull the ticket.

I would probably spend the $90 to maximize our time in the parks with MaxPass. If the price goes up before your trip, I'd be less likely to do it.

Keep in mind you don't have to add it until the day when you enter the park. So you can wait and see what you think. Or you could go without the first day then add it the other days if you want.

That's good to know that we can add it during the trip...so we can gauge how the first day goes and maybe add it after that!

 

[mom2rtk]

That's good to know that we can add it during the trip...so we can gauge how the first day goes and maybe add it after that!

Yes you can. Add it one day, two days or all of your days. Add it mid-morning if you decide you really want a FP from the other park but don't want to hoof it over there. It's your choice at the time.

 

[StormyCA]

I got MP for my solo day 2 weeks ago. It was well worth it. Cut down on walking and just made the day feel 'smoother' as I went from ride to ride. It felt more 'efficient'.

I still can't get over getting a FP for HMH while I was standing in line for RSR!

 

[MacMama0930]

Ohmygosh it’s so worth it! Can’t imagine ever going back...

I am a little worried that the price may go up before our December trip, though. Right now, I find a lot of value in the price tag. It’s easy to just go from ride to ride to ride. Try it for a day and see what you think. You won’t know until you try it.

 

[3TinksAndAnEeyore]

Our family of four used MaxPass for our three days in the park last weekend. It was super easy to use and made getting Fastpasses much smoother and more streamlined. I think my biggest complaint about using MaxPass rather than the traditional FastPass was that, because we paid for it, I felt obligated to make the most out of it. I know that might sound funny, but our family was REALLY focused on FastPass rides this trip. With a teenager and a pre-teen, that’s not that unusual, but usually we spend the time between Fastpasses doing things like seeing Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln or doing the Animation Academy. This time, we were so busy rushing to make our next FastPass ride that we did not spend time enjoying smaller attractions or taking in the atmosphere. That made me a little sad when it was time to leave. Not to mention making me feel exhausted!

 

[FCDub]

Try it for a day and see how you feel about it. You can add it day by day.

 

[Radgirl80]

100% worth it! We got it a week ago for our family of 4. It allowed us to have a fast pass 30 min before the park even opened, as we waited for rope drop. We booked so many that day from all sides of the park! Because of maxpass, we were able to easily get two fast passes each for space mountain and Indiana jones. We were able to do so many rides with no running around for fast passes. I would get it again and again and again.

 

[22Tink]

Totally worth it! My DD and I used MP on our trip in August and I'm sold. My original plan was to just try it for one day but I ended up using it almost every day! I loved how much more we were able to get done using it. We went on Guardians 3 times and Radiator Springs twice in one day plus all of the other rides in between. I can't imagine a trip without it now.

 

[gottalovepluto]

You're only doing 3 days and you've got hoppers- get MaxPass. At 3 days you'll be hitting the parks at a good pace and you'll really be able to get bang for your buck out of it. MP FP window to pull a new FP opens 30 mins earlier than if you are pulling the paper FPs, nice time saver right there.

I didn't really "get" the value of MP either until I actually experienced it and compared it to my previous trips. I see you do WDW! I'm gonna try an example, it may or not make sense .... Disneyland is much smaller than WDW so it should be easy to walk over and pull FPs manually, right? Wrong. So wrong. Because Disneyland is so small there is not enough space in the walkways to handle the crowds so it can take you 20 mins to get to HMH (Haunted Mansion Holiday) from when you enter the parks if crowds are medium-high level. Those are 20 mins you could have spent going to another ride or doing something else if only you could have clicked a couple things on the app and snagged those HMH FPs. Also, after you pull the HMH FP you have to walk to whatever it is you were going to do, lets say Pirates since it's nearby. All in all MP could have saved you about 30 mins in just this instance. Time is $$$, especially on vacation where you have precious little time.

 

[Frozen2014]

We were at Disneyland end of August. First day we tried paper FastPass and then we got MaxPass for the remaining 3 days. Comparing them both, I am a huge supporter of Maxpass. It's so much more efficient and comvenient. One good example is if you are park hopping...you can be finishing off at Disneyland and then sign onto the app and grab a FastPass for RSR before hopping. Or another example where we wished we had MaxPass on day 1...we wanted to go on Toy Story. It's at the other side of DCA and we weren't able to get one due to timing.

Also...if you are coming 2nd week in March, then it's probably busy. I'm Canadian and think that's our March break.

Here is a link to my report (post 43) where I have an entry on comparing the 3 FastPass ways (FastPass+, legacy and via MaxPass)

https://www.disboards.com/threads/c...yland-in-aug-2017-amazing-trip.3631804/page-3

 

[twodogs]

We are very ride focused, but we do use PP so that made the cost of adding MP less painful since we would have gotten PP anyway. Here is my thread from last month on what we accomplished ride-wise in our 3 park days.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/w...20-17-9-23-17-a-lot-and-some-mp-tips.3637270/

For me it is absolutely worth it. And especially as OP said, March is prime spring break time (that week is our spring break here in Texas), so it is even more useful during high crowds.

 

[Laurasue13]

100% worth it for us We are a family of 4 (Dh, DD is 7, DS is 3) and just went with 5 day hoppers and stayed onsite. Saved a lot of walking for little legs and got us on rides MUCH quicker (often immediate passes were available with Maxpass but not traditional FP. We could scan in our MP and then book new ones almost immediately. One day we were only in the park until 11:30 so we decided not to get it. I felt "naked" all morning. I'm not sure I'll ever go back. Made all the difference for days with crowded parks and lots of lines. Even nicer to be able to pull Radiator Springs passes while enjoying morning attractions in DL.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Worth it! SO MUCH yes!!! BUT - that app drove me nuts! I can't tell you how many times it crashed, or where I would have full signal up until I launched the app then suddenly couldn't connect - very frustrating! Personally, I gave up on even trying to connect to the wifi after the first day. We rode GotG 6 times in one day, 2 days in a row and were able to get the Monsters version both days right at 3! The line to grab those FP especially the after dark one was insane! It was great that we could be over by Soarin' and snag the coveted MAD! (Also, I just have to plug how ridiculously awesome that ride is!!) The photopass bundled in is icing on the cake!

 

[eeudj]

Quick question as I am wondering if I should purchase as well.. not trying to get off topic..How much time after your MP is active can you use it? Is there a 1 hour window for it to be used or anytime after the assigned time TIA!!!

 

[smartlabelprint]

Quick question as I am wondering if I should purchase as well.. not trying to get off topic..How much time after your MP is active can you use it? Is there a 1 hour window for it to be used or anytime after the assigned time TIA!!!

From what I've heard you can book your first FP as soon as you get MP loaded up and paid for.

OP. I'd lean toward MP if you're not going to sacrifice something else on your trip for it. Especially since it's spring break time. We have young kids so we're getting it next trip because it's just too much time crossing back and forth. They're ready for naps by the time we can go back for the ride. LOL