How Big of a Disadvantage Not Having MaxPass?

[PxyShan]

Hubby and I are the brunt of many friendly jokes with friends and family, but we are still flip phone users (in our defense, we pay $8 a month and I get by just fine with my ipod if I need an App )

How behind the curve will we be without MaxPass? I don't mind being the FP runner, but how dramatically has MaxPass impacted those still using paper FP's?

Any tips or strategies?

Thank you!

When are you going? We're not going until February, and were thinking about purchasing MP, but after reading this MiceChat update - I'm not sure we'll be able to afford it.
http://micechat.com/168562-disney-pixar-pier/
They note right now it has a 25% daily user purchase rate - I don't know where they are getting their stats, but for now 25% is not enough to effect the rest of the FP system I would think.

 

[lcp9]

When are you going? We're not going until February, and were thinking about purchasing MP, but after reading this MiceChat update - I'm not sure we'll be able to afford it.
http://micechat.com/168562-disney-pixar-pier/
They note right now it has a 25% daily user purchase rate - I don't know where they are getting their stats, but for now 25% is not enough to effect the rest of the FP system I would think.

Man, 25% seems AWFULLY high.

 

[NewbieMouse]

Man, 25% seems AWFULLY high.

I thought the same thing - yikes.

 

[Bossy22]

Wow, I hope it doesn't take over. We are hoping (can't afford) not to use Maxpass this November. If they make it so you can't do certain rides without it I will be steamed. I'm all for raising the price and making it for the rich as long as they leave regular fastpass the way it is.

 

[choover2576]

When are you going? We're not going until February, and were thinking about purchasing MP, but after reading this MiceChat update - I'm not sure we'll be able to afford it.
http://micechat.com/168562-disney-pixar-pier/
They note right now it has a 25% daily user purchase rate - I don't know where they are getting their stats, but for now 25% is not enough to effect the rest of the FP system I would think.

We are going in October. We are going for 3 and half days, so based on all the great feedback I thing we should be able to do everything that we want.

Thanks everyone!

 

[MacMama0930]

I thought the same thing - yikes.

That just doesn't seem right. The park isn't filled with So Cal APs yet. If that is an accurate number, it's going to be insane once So Cal APs are allowed back. I was there just last weekend and I can almost promise you 25% of people were not using Max Pass. Honestly, we looked like the only people who knew what the heck we were doing, and fast pass return lines were short. That 25% doesn't include the people pulling regular fast pass which I'd assume would be even more than Max Pass - there's no way 50% of the park were using FPs.

 

[NewbieMouse]

That just doesn't seem right. The park isn't filled with So Cal APs yet. If that is an accurate number, it's going to be insane once So Cal APs are allowed back. I was there just last weekend and I can almost promise you 25% of people were not using Max Pass. Honestly, we looked like the only people who knew what the heck we were doing, and fast pass return lines were short. That 25% doesn't include the people pulling regular fast pass which I'd assume would be even more than Max Pass - there's no way 50% of the park were using FPs.

Maybe they'e hyping it up - "Everyone's using it so you'd better buy it, people!!"

 

[Bossy22]

That makes sense to me.

 

[hookem81]

Most FP redeemers I have seen are using their park tickets not a smart phone to redeem. That doesn't mean they aren't MP users, but is an indicator they may not be. I have been one of the few using my smart phone this week.

 

[Malcon10t]

Our last trip, I noticed a lot of guests with regular (ie not APs) tickets were using the system. We have it on our Premier passes, so we were using it. I have a feeling the 25% is accurate. And I suspect that by Christmas, they will increase the price.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

We have chatted with a number of visitors lately using Maxpass, including quite a few who purchased it without really realizing what it is or how it worked. One family thought they could ONLY get the next ride time that showed up, so it was almost 3:00 and they hadn't used it yet because they never wanted to do that particular ride!

Maxpass is emblazoned all over the maps, there are signs, the app prompts you to buy it when you click "get FP." I think a LOT more casual visitors are using it than people realize. They might not be using it efficiently, but they're buying it!

 

[az4boys]

I think a LOT more casual visitors are using it than people realize. They might not be using it efficiently, but they're buying it!

So maybe 25% are paying for it, but maybe many of them don't really know how to use it? If that is the case, it shouldn't have a huge impact on traditional FP.

 

[BayouQueen]

I just wanted to comment that we used MP and found it quicker to just scan our tickets than to bother fussing with the phone, so I'm not sure you can tell who has paper FP vs MP just by watching what they scan in the reader.

BTW, we absolutely LOVE this new system. It's incredibly efficient and these old legs were not tired at all after 12 hours in the parks.

 

[Malcon10t]

We also found it is faster to use our tickets instead of phone.

 

[BriannaRuth]

We are here now and I'm not using Max pass. If it has made a big impact I cannot tell. As of 1 PM we had pulled fast passes for star tours, space, buzz, Indy, BTMRR, Splash We have used all of them except for Indy by 130. And we have not used space because it has been down most of the day but that is now an anytime any ride pass. We also rode Matterhorn without a fast pass. We went right after going on peter pan and Alice it was a walk on

 

[cmwade77]

You absolutely can have a great time without MaxPass, but it can help a lot as well, just depends on what you like.

Here are some advantages of MaxPass that aren't obvious when you read the literature:

• If there is early entry you can book your first FP as soon as your ticket is scanned into the park. Obviously this only matters if you are going in before rope drop or have early entry available to you.
• You can book your next FP as soon as you use your current one (even while in line for that ride, just has to be past the first scanner) or when the app says you can get another one, whichever comes first.
• If the return time is a ways away, you have a shorter wait to get your next FP than those without MaxPass (I believe it is 90 minutes with MaxPass vs 120 without)
• Those with MaxPass are able to claim cancelled FPs, so while an attraction may be out of paper FPs, you might still be able to get one, just keep checking the app.

Something else to consider is how much is it worth to you to not have to have someone running to an attraction and back to get FPs?

Also keep in mind that MaxPass offers digital downloads of all PhotoPass and on ride photos, if this is the only part that interests you though, just buy MaxPass for one person and associate all PhotoPass cards with that account, they can then share the pictures.

I totally agree with this. We were there a couple weeks before MP started. Instant fast passes were so fun, but I was amazed at the number of people who don't even try to use the fast pass system. So, out of those that do use the FP system, a much smaller percentage might be using MP.

I definitely agree with this, for example last week we went on Buzz and there was a 30 minute standby line, but the FP was available for use immediately (paper or MaxPass), yet people were still getting in the standby line, I just don't get it, especially there, using FP you don't even miss any of the themed queue, just the part of the queue that is outside.

 

[cmwade77]

Most FP redeemers I have seen are using their park tickets not a smart phone to redeem. That doesn't mean they aren't MP users, but is an indicator they may not be. I have been one of the few using my smart phone this week.

We have MaxPass on our passes (they expired two days before MaxPass came out, so we were able to get our renewal offer extended so we could renew with MaxPass and so we got 13 months worth of MaxPass out of our $75 thanks to the special renewal offer of an extra month) and we almost always use our tickets when returning because it is much faster and easier than opening the app, pulling up the barcode and scanning it.

It is definitely going to be interesting to see what happens starting the 21st to crowds and how well MaxPass is working, but I don't foresee a huge influx of passholders buying MaxPass, seems to me that the demographic that buy the lower level passes wouldn't tend to spend $75 a year for MaxPass, especially when they are already going on the slower days. I could be wrong, but I kind of doubt it.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

2 Quick questionswe are going to Disneyland tomorrow and California Adventure Tuesday. I am going to get Maxpass and give it a try. We are here from RI and likely not to be back soon. Also, with only 2 park days, I want to optimize them.
Here Are my questions-
1. Do all 4 of us need the app?
2. We already have our tickets from AAA. My understanding is I present those at the turnstile and will be given regular tickets. Is that correct? Also, then do we enter them into the app or can I do that with the AAA voucher?

Thank you so much!

 

[cpster]

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of non-frequent visitors are buying it thinking it's the only way to get a fast pass. Before Maxpass lots of visitors thought FP cost additional money. I was often asked how much it was as I was walking through the FP queue. Now comes the App with the Get Fast Pass button. Click on that and it's so easy to think you have to pay $10 extra per person per day. There's nothing saying you can pull them for free in person. Maybe that explains the high purchase rate? I'm an AP holder and coughed up the $300 to add it for our family of four. I still think Signature passes should have gotten MP for free though. I do love the flexibility and being able to spend more time with my family instead of being the FP runner. Only time will tell if the return times stay good though.

 

[cpster]

2 Quick questionswe are going to Disneyland tomorrow and California Adventure Tuesday. I am going to get Maxpass and give it a try. We are here from RI and likely not to be back soon. Also, with only 2 park days, I want to optimize them.
Here Are my questions-
1. Do all 4 of us need the app?
2. We already have our tickets from AAA. My understanding is I present those at the turnstile and will be given regular tickets. Is that correct? Also, then do we enter them into the app or can I do that with the AAA voucher?

Thank you so much!

No to #1. For #2 I'm not sure. Have you tried entering them now?