Disneyland to introduce MaxPass (New Fastpass & New Fastpass Attractions) - Now with Poll

[Leopardstars]

We are coming from East Coast Canada in November with a group of 7 with 5-day parkhoppers. The idea of paying $350 USD on top of everything else right now makes me ill.

Obviously I'm not a local but was thinking about a DLR trip for a change in the coming years. However this is absolutely useless to foreign travellers if there's no wifi. Oh well, guess I'm running with hoards like WDW days gone by.

These are the reasons I would be disappointed by the MaxPass. For our family of 3 it would be $150 plus the exchange rate. Not only that but roaming/data charges of for international guests are horrible. I'm hoping with the lack of details it won't be in place for our March trip. The only thing that takes the sting out this is paper FastPasses are still available and the same rules will be in place for both.

 

[NaturalNine]

I don't mind the idea of it all but don't see a big enough advantage to pay for it (in our situation)

I don't see why people are complaining about the lack of Wifi and it being an issue? Surely anybody who is not local would still either be on international roaming or alternatively purchase a local sim card? I buy a local sim card each trip, costs me roughly $30 and I get all the data I ever need plus phone calls for restaurant bookings etc. I can't imagine any savvy traveller, in this day and age, not having a data connected mobile phone.

Financially, makes a great deal of sense to Disney, AP Holders won't mind paying $10 if it's of value to them because there is no ticket cost factored into the decision to visit the park on that day. Families travelling to DLR for 2-3 days will greatly increase the efficiency of fast pass usage and save sending one "runner' from one attraction to the next to pull physical tickets.

The only people who it doesnt make sense for is people like us, who are visiting the parks for 10 days total, To add a $400 cost onto the vacation (Family of 4) is a bit steep when other than saving being a runner for the family, offers me no real advantage as I am not in a hurry to get around every attraction within a short period of time.

It may slightly impact the availability of FP, purely because it'll be easier for visitors to book FP at the exact available time rather than sometimes having a few hours between FP expiry and pulling a new one. I wouldn't think the overall difference will be noticeable, and the addition of FP to TSSM and MHorn will be great for decreasing standby lines.

Also: I LOVE that it's not booked days/weeks/months in advance and must be booked from the park. The thing I hated about WDW was the amount of planning involved to maximise FP+, I had spreadsheets for spreadsheets and it meant we had a choice of underutilising FP+ in the parks or being very rigid in our touring plan. Unfortunately, it led to us not maximising our FP+ because we had trouble sticking to such a military style plan and was detrimental to our trip.

It's Win/Win as far as I see!!

 

[az4boys]

I think this is a way of increasing park tickets, without technically increasing park tickets. Like a resort fee. If it ends up being true that Maxpass is included with the Signature but costs extra with the Deluxe FP, then it might force people to upgrade to the Signature. People that were paying $599 for an AP are now going to pay $849. That is a pretty steep increase, without technically increasing the rates. People just "choose" to upgrade.

 

[Darkbeer1]

I don't see why people are complaining about the lack of Wifi and it being an issue? Surely anybody who is not local would still either be on international roaming or alternatively purchase a local sim card? I buy a local sim card each trip, costs me roughly $30 and I get all the data I ever need plus phone calls for restaurant bookings etc. I can't imagine any savvy traveller, in this day and age, not having a data connected mobile phone.

I think you are severely underestimating the "average traveler", and especially a family. Some folks go on vacation to get away from things, and for a foreign visitor, not having network access is sometimes a good thing. Also, many folks here in America have phones that will deal with calls and basic WiFi, but not network access. Of course, the odds are less when you charge over $100 just to enter the park, but still, how about a family, will they split up and how, will say Dad and the little ones go ride Autopia, while Mom and the larger kids go ride Matterhorn? What if they have one phone?

And as others have mentioned, two big issues, one is Disney and its problems with tech, and the second is Network access, during my recent Christmas visit, it was impossible to get a decent Network signal while waiting for the fireworks and the parades, since so many folks near me where trying to do the same thing (aka killing time while waiting for the event to start). How will the networks handle the onrush of users at Park Opening?

And then there is this "have to be in the park" thing work, yes, there is spoofing, but will specific rooms at the GCH suddenly now become more valuable than others, since it is on the edge of the park, and the system thinks they are actually in the park.

When will the system morph to add value to the Disney Hotel Guests, will they be able to access the system during Extra Magic Hour?

Lots of questions, and not many answers. So far, the best thing I have read is the GetAwayToday article about today's news (and of course, written with help from Disney Marketing, so the info, while not complete, is what Disney is saying about the upcoming changes).

https://www.getawaytoday.com/blogs/2017-01-11/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-disneyland-m

 

[KirstinK]

I could see myself paying for this. There are times I have visited the park with 2 kids and no extra adult to help run around and get fast passes. I know some of you say that you have never run around the parks to get fast passes or deliberately go out of your way to get one - but trust me, a lot of people do this! It would be worth $30 for me to not have to run between parks to get a fast pass and I would imagine that I could save a lot of time as well - and more time for enjoying the parks. And it's not because we are lazy ... and honestly it would save us more than just a tiny bit of walking.
The existing fast pass paper tickets will still be available. This doesn't seem that big a deal to me - Universal charges a ton for their front of the line passes. I don't want to spend that much, so I would never get one. No big deal.

 

[Lyricallie]

I don't mind the idea of it all but don't see a big enough advantage to pay for it (in our situation)

I don't see why people are complaining about the lack of Wifi and it being an issue? Surely anybody who is not local would still either be on international roaming or alternatively purchase a local sim card? I buy a local sim card each trip, costs me roughly $30 and I get all the data I ever need plus phone calls for restaurant bookings etc. I can't imagine any savvy traveller, in this day and age, not having a data connected mobile phone.

Can only speak from what I know, but I'm from the UK and I don't know of anyone who would by a US sim card for a 2 week holiday/or whatever. All the restaurants around have wifi as do the hotels so we would just use that to check in on at home. We definitely did use the wifi in WDW quite a lot as it was use to check queue times and post pictures on FB/check our photopass pictures Also the cost of US sims are so expensive compared to home, I remember when I did the CP being amazed at the price Also I think a lot of travelers would just expect it to have wifi? Anywho, maybe I'm wrong and everyone I know buys a sim when they visit and doesn't tell me!

Edit: Also checked it's £5 per MB for me... expensive!

 

[Frozen2014]

I think you are severely underestimating the "average traveler", and especially a family. Some folks go on vacation to get away from things, and for a foreign visitor, not having network access is sometimes a good thing. Also, many folks here in America have phones that will deal with calls and basic WiFi, but not network access. Of course, the odds are less when you charge over $100 just to enter the park, but still, how about a family, will they split up and how, will say Dad and the little ones go ride Autopia, while Mom and the larger kids go ride Matterhorn? What if they have one phone?

And as others have mentioned, two big issues, one is Disney and its problems with tech, and the second is Network access, during my recent Christmas visit, it was impossible to get a decent Network signal while waiting for the fireworks and the parades, since so many folks near me where trying to do the same thing (aka killing time while waiting for the event to start). How will the networks handle the onrush of users at Park Opening?

And then there is this "have to be in the park" thing work, yes, there is spoofing, but will specific rooms at the GCH suddenly now become more valuable than others, since it is on the edge of the park, and the system thinks they are actually in the park.

When will the system morph to add value to the Disney Hotel Guests, will they be able to access the system during Extra Magic Hour?

Lots of questions, and not many answers. So far, the best thing I have read is the GetAwayToday article about today's news (and of course, written with help from Disney Marketing, so the info, while not complete, is what Disney is saying about the upcoming changes).

https://www.getawaytoday.com/blogs/2017-01-11/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-disneyland-m

Exactly. We are Canadian. We made sure that our hotel has Wifi but we won't have data otherwise. To tell you the truth, if we had it, my husband would be on his phone all the time instead of vacationing with us. So while away, we don't purchase extra plan. Also travel costs money and it's one if the areas we aren't adding costs too.

 

[mom2rtk]

In all of WDW, there are only two attractions, neither of which is a headliner, that regularly have no FPs left at rope drop, and they're not even very good attractions. (Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Frozen Ever After.)

Which also happen to be the two attractions where FP pays off most since they will take the longest to do by standby. Keep in mind that not everyone makes frequent trips to the parks. If they don't get a FP this time, they can't just try again next time.

And don't forget that 2 of the parks are tiered meaning you are already blocked from getting FP access to all the headliners you want. (Yes, I know occasionally headliners pop up same day but it's certainly not something you can count on).

And telling others "Those attractions stink anyway so don't feel bad" doesn't help. They deserve a chance to decide that for themselves.

 

[msb578]

Things must have changed pretty radically since I was there in October 2015, then, because all parks had at least some attractions that had no FPs left in the morning. We did the "throwaway campsite" trick to get extra MBs so we would try to book three new FPs first thing each morning when we arrived at a park. We were never able to get our first choices for all three. The tiered parks were worst, if I recall correctly.

I grok your evangelizing for WDW with the zeal of the converted, but their FP+ system is not all sweetness and light, even for the people who take the effort to exploit the loopholes. In my opinion, the overall experience at DLR will still be better than WDW if for no other reason than the ability to walk across the plaza to the other park. (Of course, there are other reasons WDW is worse, but no need to pollute this thread with that debate.)

Well, I think an important point is that the two are different, and are intended to be different.

To me, WDW is not just park attractions, but also golf, water sports, fireworks and pirate cruises, a wide variety of themed resort hotels, dinner shows, an expansive entertainment district... and more.

In planning a trip to DLR- I get the feeling that's it's rides and attractions to the max (get it?). Other things are completely secondary?

In any case, just pros and cons maybe? Doesn't necessarily need to be better or worse

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, I think an important point is that the two are different, and are intended to be different.

To me, WDW is not just park attractions, but also golf, water sports, fireworks and pirate cruises, a wide variety of themed resort hotels, dinner shows, an expansive entertainment district... and more.

In planning a trip to DLR- I get the feeling that's it's rides and attractions to the max (get it?). Other things are completely secondary?

In any case, just pros and cons maybe? Doesn't necessarily need to be better or worse

If experiencing specific attractions at WDW parks is less of the total experience, they should lower the price of park admission.

 

[mom2rtk]

So they said on the parks blog that this would be included with certain levels of APs.

Park tickets are due for a price increase when..... as soon as a few weeks from now?

I think this was announced now in preparation for folding it into APs in a few weeks. So I bet this thing is ready to go live shortly after. I mean, you can't increase AP prices to cover this and not have it ready to go, right?

 

[starshine514]

Any idea when FPs will be available for TSMM and Matterhorn?

 

[alvernon90]

To me, WDW is not just park attractions, but also golf, water sports, fireworks and pirate cruises, a wide variety of themed resort hotels, dinner shows, an expansive entertainment district... and more.

That is all fine, you are of course entitled to consider the two resorts in their entirety. However, not a single thing in your list is related to the FP systems at the two resorts, which is the specific thing we were talking about in that exchange and in this thread.

 

[msb578]

That is all fine, you are of course entitled to consider the two resorts in their entirety. However, not a single thing in your list is related to the FP systems at the two resorts, which is the specific thing we were talking about in that exchange and in this thread.

Fair enough- I guess I did take it a bit off topic.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

This whole thing still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it's not what Walt would've done. It creates classes based on wealth
I travel with my boyfriend, with just the two of us paying our own way, we can easily afford the max pass if we decide it's worth it for us.
But it's basically a class system disguised with a photo pass. Sure, staying onsite adds benefits like extra hours but nothing is lost to regular guests, indeed, you could argue off site has several advantages. There are a few things you can buy into like dessert packages but it has little to no impact on those who don't participate.
I am not sure I am comfortable grabbing fast passes via phone, saving tons of walking, enjoy more of the park leisurely, while zipping by big families with little kids who can't afford it.
It feels unDisney.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Any idea when FPs will be available for TSMM and Matterhorn?

When they are ready... Pretty much Disney learned from the TSMM story last year that made the rumor mill. They are going to start visible work at the two attractions to get them ready, plus the new readers to be added to all current FP attractions. So word will get out, and Disney decided to try and spin the news in as favorable light as they could

I presume at least a couple of months,if not longer...My guess, May after Easter Break, to let them try and get the system start happen in a slower time.

 

[Aladora]

This whole thing still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, it's not what Walt would've done. It creates classes based on wealth
I travel with my boyfriend, with just the two of us paying our own way, we can easily afford the max pass if we decide it's worth it for us.
But it's basically a class system disguised with a photo pass. Sure, staying onsite adds benefits like extra hours but nothing is lost to regular guests, indeed, you could argue off site has several advantages. There are a few things you can buy into like dessert packages but it has little to no impact on those who don't participate.
I am not sure I am comfortable grabbing fast passes via phone, saving tons of walking, enjoy more of the park leisurely, while zipping by big families with little kids who can't afford it.
It feels unDisney.

Except that when Disneyland first opened, the number of attractions you could ride was based solely on how much you paid. Your basic entry got you into the park and access to 9 attractions. If you wanted to ride more than that, you had to pay for a ticket for each attraction. At least now the cost is for unlimited attractions per day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not sure if I will cough up the $200 CAD ($150 USD) extra it would cost our family of 3 for a typical 5 day trip but to say that it's not what Walt would have done is just not true.

I hope that they have this as an additional perk of staying onsite, especially after they have taken the GCH shortcut away from PPH and DLH guests but I would not bet on it.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Am I right in thinking there is no wifi in the parks also I wonder are the paperpass FP atttractions included to book via the app or just TSMWM and the Matterhorn do you think?

 

[Darkbeer1]

Except that when Disneyland first opened, the number of attractions you could ride was based solely on how much you paid. Your basic entry got you into the park and access to 9 attractions. If you wanted to ride more than that, you had to pay for a ticket for each attraction. At least now the cost is for unlimited attractions per day.

When the park opened on July 18th, 1955, the basic admission was $1, and the rides were sold separately. The 9 attractions that we free were things like the Main Street Arcade, where you could watch others place coins in the games, and sponsored halls.

In October of 1955, after a very successful summer, Walt and his staff looked into ways to make things run more smoothly, and the ticket books were introduced.

http://www.mousemonthly.com/how-much-did-disneyland-cost-when-it-opened-compared-with-today/

It wasn't until Magic Mountain opened up in Valencia, that Disney looked into creating an "all-exclusive" ticket, first offered as a special ticket to folks like the Magic Kingdom Club, which was designed for local groups to get a discount, to compete with the new player in town, who started the main "unlimited rides" option in Theme Parks. By 1982, Disney dropped tickets all together, after a few years of having both options available.

 

[Darkbeer1]

Am I right in thinking there is no wifi in the parks also I wonder are the paperpass FP atttractions included to book via the app or just TSMWM and the Matterhorn do you think?

The announcement stated that both the Matterhorn and Toy Story Mania! would have traditional FP stations (aka Paper versions).

When MaxPass goes live, all FP attractions (except the Shows, aka World of Color and Fantasmic!) will be offered via the app, and the paper version.

The reason the Shows will remain Paper only has to do with logistics, as the new system will have special readers at the entrance point, and well, the shows have spread out entry zones, and those entrances can be adjusted due to crowd size.