I Will Not Buy Max Pass On My Next Visit

[Westcoastwild]

Why? FP makes it much easier, especially with the new setup, there really isn't a reason to use the standby queues at all anymore, especially if you have MaxPass as there is no more zigzagging back and forth through the parks to get FPs.

Really, there is nothing wrong with adding more FP attractions, I know some people don't like FP for whatever reason, but overall it makes the parks much more enjoyable and gives more time to enjoy the atmosphere as well instead of standing in a line somewhere.

As for availability, I don't see how it can affect availability when it is the same as a paper FP, there are X number available per hour, they get taken, the system moves on to the next time slot. The numbers don't change, all that changes is how people are getting the FPs, yes there will be a few more pulled, but they have accounted for that in how they have improved the handling of FP and Standby queues. Time will tell, but I think Disney has a hit on their hands.

Mostly it's this:

My "local" park is DL. I went to WDW last year. WDW has fast pass for everything, and it means that even the people eater ride line just drag. It also means that there is no such thing as time kill rides. At DL, even in the afternoon, you can usually walk on to a lot of the less popular kiddy rides. That doesn't happen at WDW and it means you get a lot less done. At Wdw that isn't such a big deal- there's a lot of resort stuff and there are several air conditioned places to hang out. But at DL, it gets hot and it's a tiny space compared to Magic Kingdom. So if I can't walk onto any rides at all, I'm not hanging out in the park. But it's totally possible for me to do a whole trip without fast pass. i can ride stuff multiple times with stand by alone. Standby lines at Wdw move so slow that I don't want to ride multiple times. There is a huge difference in standby with fast pass and without. During extra magic hours at Wdw, there is no fast pass and the standby zips along like DL stand by.

So I actually understand people's concern over this. I don't really want DL to become like MK in terms of fast passes. Right now, I can ride Mr Toad or Small world multiple times- if those were fat pass I might ride them each once.

Honestly, I have to say I was skeptical about if it would be worth it, but we added it to our passes when we renewed, which meant we got 13 months of MaxPass for essentially an extra $6 per month per pass and I have to say so far it is the best money we could have spent, it is great to get a FP for another ride while in line for the one you just used a FP for, pretty much can eliminate most of the wait times if you do it right, meaning you can do much more in less time.

Overall I have noticed that in the past couple of weeks WiFi in the parks has been improving dramatically, try still need to roll it out to all areas of the resort though, but it definitely is getting better.


MaxPass actually fixes this problem, you no longer have to run to get a FP and then go back to use a return time, you use a return time, then get another FP for the next ride. I do think they need to adjust the price point, really it should be free, but overall it is a good system that works quite well and saves a ton of time, especially compared to paper FP


Which is probably what they should have done, I think this was Disney's way of raising ticket prices without actually raising them.

No, I actually like the fact its an upgrade. It means it will be potentially more useful for the people who really want it, and it also means the people who don't aren't hit with a more expensive ticket.

I'm going to try it out of curiousity and because I'm lazy. But I don't pull fast passes at DL much and I wouldn't have been happy if they raised ticket prices specifically to add that.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... A side effect of MaxPass is that it is also reducing issues for those with a DAS, as the waits when you return are shorter and if they have MaxPass as well they can utilize a combination of the two to reduce the number of times they have to go to kiosks to get return times, thus minimizing a lot of the extra distance they were having to do. So really overall the system has already been a massive success...

Can't agree more with this observation. We used MP for the first time this weekend and had the most pleasant parks visit in a very long time because of it. It did minimize our trips to the various kiosks and reduced our wait times considerably (dramatically in some cases -- when the MP return time is almost immediate, there is no need to get a return time from a kiosk). I did not have to walk as much or stand for as long, so saving energy for other things was easier. Admittedly, MP already came with our passes, so we were ambivalent about trying it. PP was no big deal since we'd already had it for a while anyway. But once we realized how MP could help improve a guest's DAS experience, we were sold. For that benefit alone, we would pay for it if necessary to add it to our passes. I realize that, again, this is a much bigger challenge for larger families/groups, but it is worth considering if someone in the group has or needs a DAS. Just my two cents.

 

[DizMe]

I have mixed views on it, but with no personal experience I can't say yet what I will do down the road. For me, though, and the way I visit the parks, it doesn't seem like a big benefit. I'm usually there with my sister or a couple of friends, we're frequent visitors, we don't feel pressure to ride all the rides (sometimes we don't ride any!) and we go mainly because we love the atmosphere. FP has always worked well for us and I don't see that MP would add much except cost. My pass is up for renewal soon and I did consider whether or not to add it on for $75 for the year, but none of my friends plan to get it so it doesn't make sense at this point. I also don't like overplanning what I'm going to be doing on a given day and I get the idea that maybe MP would make me more inclined to do that. As far as Photopass, I have only used it for a picture with Santa even though it comes free with my pass. I've been to DL a million times and am content with my own phone camera pictures.

 

[Sue M]

I'm not sure! I do have a roaming plan on my cell phone and it's just my daughter and myself going. So maybe. I think I'll go without first day and see how it goes and make a decision after that. If it was my entire family (4) I wouldn't even consider buying. Way too much $$. And I'm really disliking that they've chosen to add this as an added cost when at WDW it's free. We have a 5 day hopper.

 

[mommy2mrb]

Will be in parks 9/27-10/1 with my DD. Will be getting MP, especially since PP is included. Personally feel it will be great to limit running back and forth to get FP and be able to go at a slower pace as we usually make rope drop and close the park while taking breaks throughout the day and love park hopping if one park gets to busy, so will hopefully be able to get FP in other park.
Can understand people being upset with the cost (it should be free) but IMHO my park time is worth $ too.

 

[DLgal]

Can't agree more with this observation. We used MP for the first time this weekend and had the most pleasant parks visit in a very long time because of it. It did minimize our trips to the various kiosks and reduced our wait times considerably (dramatically in some cases -- when the MP return time is almost immediate, there is no need to get a return time from a kiosk). I did not have to walk as much or stand for as long, so saving energy for other things was easier. Admittedly, MP already came with our passes, so we were ambivalent about trying it. PP was no big deal since we'd already had it for a while anyway. But once we realized how MP could help improve a guest's DAS experience, we were sold. For that benefit alone, we would pay for it if necessary to add it to our passes. I realize that, again, this is a much bigger challenge for larger families/groups, but it is worth considering if someone in the group has or needs a DAS. Just my two cents.

See...I have the opposite opinion. We have a DAS. Because of that, I find MaxPass to have even less value. I mean, if we can use DAS return times for the rides that getting a FP for is difficult (Radiator Springs Racers), and continue to utilize Fastpass (most of the rides we do offer the immediate return times), I see no further advantage to MaxPass. My son with the DAS isn't a thrill ride junkie...he rides Radiator Springs Racers, Big Thunder, Goofy's Sky School, and that's the limit. He won't do Space (tried it once), Guardians, Screamin', Splash, Matterhorn, etc. The rides we go on as a family mostly don't even have FP (Autopia, Small World, Gadgets Go Coaster, Teacups, Little Mermaid, Silky Swings, etc. We basically use DAS for Soarin', Radiator Springs Racers, Toy Story Midway Mania, and sometimes Star Tours. But now with the new FP system and immediate returns, we have been using the DAS less and just planning our FP pulls to coincide with which area of the park we will be spending time in. So last week, we went into DCA, got a return time for racers (90 min later), then headed to TSMM, grabbed a FP (return was 50 min later), continued around the Pier, rode the Fun Wheel (5 min wait), Silly Symphony Swings (5 min wait), Goofy's Sky School (posted 30 min wait--actual was 10 min), Little Mermaid (15 min wait), grabbed a snack and a beer, and it was time for TSMM. Rode that and it was time for Racers. Rode Racers, went to have lunch and grabbed a return time for Big Thunder on our way o lunch. Grabbed a FP for Soarin' before lunch at Smokejumpers Grill (return time was 45 min later). Ate and rode Soarin'. Headed to DL...went to Big Thunder...grabbed an immediate FP for Big Thunder, rode using that, then rode again immediately using our DAS return. Headed to Fantasyland and rode Teacups and Small World. (5 min and 15 min standby, respectively). After Small World, did Autopia (10 min standby). Left after that. This was on a Sunday..arrived around 10:00, left by 3pm.

No MaxPass. Pretty successful day, I think. We could have done a lot more, but it was hot and our kids can only handle about 5-6 hours of park time.

 

[ricardol]

For us, our passes expired two days before MaxPass came out and I called and asked and they extended our renewal offer by a week so we could renew with MaxPass rolled into our monthly payments. So that worked well, we got 13 months for $75 dollars and got $50 off the pass for renewing. It didn't change our expiration date of course, other than the extra month, but still worked out nice for us. But I can see how some would purchase just a day and test the waters first, especially on the really busy weeks that those are.

.

How did you get 13 months in your Annual Pass? Is there something I'm missing here?

 

[bluecruiser]

How did you get 13 months in your Annual Pass? Is there something I'm missing here?

It was a special promotion that Disney offered. Get 13 months for the price of 12. I forget when the promotion started, but it ended earlier this year in mid-February.

 

[cmwade77]

Can't agree more with this observation. We used MP for the first time this weekend and had the most pleasant parks visit in a very long time because of it. It did minimize our trips to the various kiosks and reduced our wait times considerably (dramatically in some cases -- when the MP return time is almost immediate, there is no need to get a return time from a kiosk). I did not have to walk as much or stand for as long, so saving energy for other things was easier. Admittedly, MP already came with our passes, so we were ambivalent about trying it. PP was no big deal since we'd already had it for a while anyway. But once we realized how MP could help improve a guest's DAS experience, we were sold. For that benefit alone, we would pay for it if necessary to add it to our passes. I realize that, again, this is a much bigger challenge for larger families/groups, but it is worth considering if someone in the group has or needs a DAS. Just my two cents.

It certainly won't replace the DAS, as it will still be needed for attractions that don't have FP, but it makes a huge difference, honestly the suggestion that guest services had given of just use FP never worked previously for us, but with the new system it will most of the time. As I said there will still be times where a DAS is needed, even for some attractions that do offer FP, but over all it greatly reduces the need for a DAS, in fact I haven't gotten a return time the last two times we have been in the parks.

And to that end, doing two weeks in a row at the parks has been unheard of for us in a very long time, but the new system really has helped reduce the energy needed and allowed us to stay longer and be able to go more often as well.

The immediate return times really do indeed eliminate the need to go to kiosks and get return times, even when they are 15-20 minutes out, I can work with that.

 

[cmwade77]

It was a special promotion that Disney offered. Get 13 months for the price of 12. I forget when the promotion started, but it ended earlier this year in mid-February.

Actually, it ended for new pass purchases in February, the promotion is still going on if you renew before your pass expires and if you renew before your pass expires you get an additional discount depending on the pass level you are renewing to, for us it was $50 off.

In our case our pass was expiring July 17th, about two days before MaxPass was coming out, we knew that we most likely wouldn't purchase it if it wasn't rolled into our monthly payments, so I called Disney and asked if they could extend the renewal offer until after MaxPass was introduced so that we could add it to our monthly payments and they did so. Our passes still expire August 17th, not the 21st when we renewed, but still worked out very nicely.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

See...I have the opposite opinion. We have a DAS. Because of that, I find MaxPass to have even less value... No MaxPass. Pretty successful day, I think. We could have done a lot more, but it was hot and our kids can only handle about 5-6 hours of park time.

If the combination of DAS and regular FP (bonus: free!) works the best for your family's needs and touring style, then great! But that doesn't mean that that combo works the best for everyone. And that's where having another option like MP is really helpful. Guests need to know their needs and their touring styles and how those can vary in the parks, especially on crowded days. Then they can choose whichever options will work the best for them. If that means DAS and regular FP, great. DAS and MP? Terrific. DAS alone without anything else? Go for it. For my family, whatever provides us with the option to enjoy the parks fully within our limitations provides value. YMMV and that's fine.

It certainly won't replace the DAS, as it will still be needed for attractions that don't have FP, but it makes a huge difference, honestly the suggestion that guest services had given of just use FP never worked previously for us, but with the new system it will most of the time. As I said there will still be times where a DAS is needed, even for some attractions that do offer FP, but over all it greatly reduces the need for a DAS, in fact I haven't gotten a return time the last two times we have been in the parks.
And to that end, doing two weeks in a row at the parks has been unheard of for us in a very long time, but the new system really has helped reduce the energy needed and allowed us to stay longer and be able to go more often as well...

Totally agree. For my family, MP made such a difference in our experience and enjoyment in the parks. The option and ability to conserve energy by avoiding walking to kiosks and standing in lines more than necessary made more of a difference than I had expected. Obviously, whether MP + DAS will benefit someone totally depends on each person's specific needs. But if someone is a good fit for this combo, then I think that MP is worth a try (at least for one day).

 

[cmwade77]

See...I have the opposite opinion. We have a DAS. Because of that, I find MaxPass to have even less value. I mean, if we can use DAS return times for the rides that getting a FP for is difficult (Radiator Springs Racers), and continue to utilize Fastpass (most of the rides we do offer the immediate return times), I see no further advantage to MaxPass. My son with the DAS isn't a thrill ride junkie...he rides Radiator Springs Racers, Big Thunder, Goofy's Sky School, and that's the limit. He won't do Space (tried it once), Guardians, Screamin', Splash, Matterhorn, etc. The rides we go on as a family mostly don't even have FP (Autopia, Small World, Gadgets Go Coaster, Teacups, Little Mermaid, Silky Swings, etc. We basically use DAS for Soarin', Radiator Springs Racers, Toy Story Midway Mania, and sometimes Star Tours. But now with the new FP system and immediate returns, we have been using the DAS less and just planning our FP pulls to coincide with which area of the park we will be spending time in. So last week, we went into DCA, got a return time for racers (90 min later), then headed to TSMM, grabbed a FP (return was 50 min later), continued around the Pier, rode the Fun Wheel (5 min wait), Silly Symphony Swings (5 min wait), Goofy's Sky School (posted 30 min wait--actual was 10 min), Little Mermaid (15 min wait), grabbed a snack and a beer, and it was time for TSMM. Rode that and it was time for Racers. Rode Racers, went to have lunch and grabbed a return time for Big Thunder on our way o lunch. Grabbed a FP for Soarin' before lunch at Smokejumpers Grill (return time was 45 min later). Ate and rode Soarin'. Headed to DL...went to Big Thunder...grabbed an immediate FP for Big Thunder, rode using that, then rode again immediately using our DAS return. Headed to Fantasyland and rode Teacups and Small World. (5 min and 15 min standby, respectively). After Small World, did Autopia (10 min standby). Left after that. This was on a Sunday..arrived around 10:00, left by 3pm.

No MaxPass. Pretty successful day, I think. We could have done a lot more, but it was hot and our kids can only handle about 5-6 hours of park time.

It will vary from person to person, but I have learned that running to and from the kiosks was wearing me out more than I thought.

Really by combining MaxPass with a DAS allows me to eliminate the extra back and forth, doing Fastpass (paper ones) increased the back and forth and caused us to expend even more energy. For some parties this won't be an issue as they may have some one who is capable of being a runner, but for use we don't have that, so MaxPass really eliminates that issue. But again everyone's needs will be different, so whatever works best for you.

 

[DLgal]

It will vary from person to person, but I have learned that running to and from the kiosks was wearing me out more than I thought.

Really by combining MaxPass with a DAS allows me to eliminate the extra back and forth, doing Fastpass (paper ones) increased the back and forth and caused us to expend even more energy. For some parties this won't be an issue as they may have some one who is capable of being a runner, but for use we don't have that, so MaxPass really eliminates that issue. But again everyone's needs will be different, so whatever works best for you.

I can totally understand how those with mobility limitations would benefit hugely from MaxPass. We thankfully don't deal with that...my kids have lots of stamina, so it works for us to do lots of walking (and frankly, my youngest is super lazy at home so walking at Disneyland is sometimes the most exercise he gets in a week!)

We would also be all over MaxPass if our kids were willing to ride EVERY E-ticket ride. They are just not daring so it holds little value right now. Although, I do plan to add MP to just my AP, since I go solo frequently while they are at school and it will definitely help me maximize those few hours I get.

 

[707MickeyGirl]

Many of them will drop $10 for day to test it given how crowded those two weeks get, especially knowing that if they like it they can go to the ticket booth that day and pay the extra $65 to add it to their pass, there are even reports that APs may be able to combine each day they have bought it and apply it towards the $75 upgrade, so once they have bought it for 7 days they may choose to add it if that proves to be the case.

I can confirm that this is not exactly a rumor - you do get your money back if you've purchased daily MP on a PH and then convert to an AP. I had a 5-day PH for my granddaughter this past week, and once the blackout day had passed (Saturday) I upgraded her to a Deluxe AP to use for our November trip. I had paid $50 for 5 days of MP for her PH, and they refunded the full $50 to me. They could not apply it to the cost of the AP - they simply charged me for the AP plus MP, then refunded me the $50.

 

[GrrArrgh]

I'll get it for our next visit because it will only be three people for 2 or 3 days. If we went more frequently, I wouldn't, but we need to be efficient with our time if we want to do very many rides and trudging around to get fastpasses is not only inefficient, it really contributes to aching feet by the end of the day. Our last visit was our first with our daughter, who was 4, and I just could not manage to get us very many fast passes at all. Also, keeping track of all those slips of paper was super irritating. Cannot wait to be able to do it all on the phone when we go again in November. Next, give me a magic band or an app on my watch so I don't even have to pull out my phone and I'll be delighted.

 

[Winnowill]

Our girls trip in March, we're getting it - the other mom and I will just be paying $60 each for ourselves and daughters for three days. It's worth it for that price (assuming that's still the price). I don't know if I'd pay for it on a five-day park hopper for our family of three.

 

[GeneralTso]

We are AP holders and absolutely will buy up. Are you kidding? Anything to reduce a wait and make it easier. When we go to Universal we purchase the upgraded pass there too. It makes a huge difference. Disney trips are a big investment. Throwing a few extra dollars at an already expensive trip for a big benefit makes sense to me. I'm also not pricing out churros and wondering how cheaply I can feed a family. That's a whole different situation.

 

[mich311e]

Our next trip to Disneyland isn't until May 2018. I will absolutely buy MP since we'll only be there for a partial day and a full day. We'll have a big break until our next visit because I'm waiting until after Star Wars Land opens to buy APs again. So I'll need all the Disney I can get in those 2 days next year!