MaxPass / Digital Fastpass - Discussion Thread

[mom2rtk]

This would really surprise me as it would diminish the value of MaxPassm

 

[az4boys]

If I had to guess...

The instant FP is a test for Max Pass users.
They will allow Max Pass users to use instant FP.
More of an incentive to pay for Max Pass.

But

Non-Max Pass users will go back to the 40 minutes or 2 hour window.

I don't see this happening simply because they would have to post two fast pass return times. One for those with Maxpass and one for those without. People are confused enough with the current system as it is now. Having 2 different return times would not help.

 

[az4boys]

I wondered about that, too. We pulled the second FP just to see if it would work. When it did (surprise!), we tried for a third. After that, we didn't want to push our luck. It might have been a glitch, but we weren't going to question it (!).

Other people reported the opposite experience after fast passes were first linked to admission tickets. They couldn't get a fast pass for the same ride until the first one had actually been used. Before fast passes were linked to tickets, the return window just had to be opened because there was no way of knowing if it has been used or not. Either it was a glitch or they are tweaking the system again! I say take advantage of it either way, but I hope they are done tweaking the system before we come.

 

[Niltiac]

I don't see this happening simply because they would have to post two fast pass return times. One for those with Maxpass and one for those without. People are confused enough with the current system as it is now. Having 2 different return times would not help.

I also don't see it happening, but if it did I don't think the two return times would be confusing. I believe they've said before that if you have maxpass for the day, that's what you have to use, and you can't switch back to using paper fp later in the day. So the app would know if you have MP or not and would show the appropriate return time. The physical signs would show the paper fp return time. There's no reason for the MP users to be going out of their way to look at the signs since they don't need to physically be at the ride to pull FP.

Come to think of it, if Disney doesn't want people buying MP for one member of the family just for photopass, this would be a way to discourage it, since it would be near impossible to coordinate FP for a family to ride together if the paper and MP return times don't match. I'm still not convinced, but it's a possibility.

 

[mom2rtk]

I also don't see it happening, but if it did I don't think the two return times would be confusing. I believe they've said before that if you have maxpass for the day, that's what you have to use, and you can't switch back to using paper fp later in the day. So the app would know if you have MP or not and would show the appropriate return time. The physical signs would show the paper fp return time. There's no reason for the MP users to be going out of their way to look at the signs since they don't need to physically be at the ride to pull FP.

Come to think of it, if Disney doesn't want people buying MP for one member of the family just for photopass, this would be a way to discourage it, since it would be near impossible to coordinate FP for a family to ride together if the paper and MP return times don't match. I'm still not convinced, but it's a possibility.

If they're really going to insist that MaxPass people stick exclusively to that system, then they better improve on what I've seen posted so far about the reliability of their wi-fi system. I certainly wouldn't expect being able to pull FP from both systems, but I would sure like the option of using the paper system if the wi-fi was being difficult and I couldn't connect.

 

[Delilah1310]

If I had to guess...

The instant FP is a test for Max Pass users.
They will allow Max Pass users to use instant FP.
More of an incentive to pay for Max Pass.

But

Non-Max Pass users will go back to the 40 minutes or 2 hour window.

I see this being complicated from a technology standpoint. Granted I have no idea how DLR's system works on the back-end, but to so something like this, DLR would have to keep to separate databases but also somehow merge them to ensure that the total number of FP being issued by both didn't exceed the max number for any given window. It's a complication to the system that I don't think they would need to take.

I think the incentive to pay for Max Pass is simply the convenience of not having to criss-cross the park (plus the photopass perk). It allows you to maximize your time and stay with your family/group.

However, I could see there being a FEE for non-hotel guests, but the MaxPass INCLUDED with tickets purchased by those staying at Disney properties.
Still not sure how it might work with APs, though.

It's a very exciting time to be headed to Disneyland!

 

[Prof Drake]

We're here now, and it's remarkable. Arrived after lunch yesterday, and there was no way around the waits for our first rides, Jungle Cruise and Pirates, but then sent a runner for Big Thunder, Mansion, and Splash FPs (because Splash FPs were starting to run late for our little kids). Holding all those, we were able to walk onto the first two, ride Pooh (10 minute wait), do a little shopping, eat dinner, and ride Splash -- basically no more waits the rest of the day. We'll see how today goes!

 

[NorthernCalMom]

How do you redeem a Fastpass when you're not in the park that contains the attraction the FP is for?

We've been doing that a lot, especially when the parks were still disconnected. My husband would do rides with the kids in CA, while I would dash to DL to get FPs for all of us for something with later return times (usually Space Mountain). Once the return window opened, we were usually ready to hop to DL as a family.

I wonder if this new "you can only get FPs for the park you're in" will also be enforced for the planned Max-pass. This would make it a whole less attractive to us.

 

[disneychrista]

I wonder if this new "you can only get FPs for the park you're in" will also be enforced for the planned Max-pass. This would make it a whole less attractive to us.

I believe this will be a perk of MP.

 

[Winnowill]

When we were there 6/11-6/16, DD9 and I had gone to DL while DH got in line at DCA to get FPs for GotG. He was told then (and this was before you scanned tickets to redeem FP, when they were still issuing actual Fastpasses) that, yes, for other rides you COULD get FPs on tickets that had been scanned into DL but not DCA, but GotG FPs required admission scans to DCA. So DD and I went to DCA, scanned in (using the linked tickets on my phone), texted him that we were there, and immediately left and went back to DL. We might have been able to get FPs without, but didn't want to risk it.

 

[Niltiac]

If they're really going to insist that MaxPass people stick exclusively to that system, then they better improve on what I've seen posted so far about the reliability of their wi-fi system. I certainly wouldn't expect being able to pull FP from both systems, but I would sure like the option of using the paper system if the wi-fi was being difficult and I couldn't connect.

I agree, and I'm not 100% sure I'm remembering correctly. When they first made the announcement I read through the comments where people had asked questions, and I thought someone had asked about switching back to paper passes should their phone die, and the answer was that you could not switch between the systems. If you can switch between the systems, then I don't see it being feasible for them to have different return times for paper vs MP. But if everyone is locked into one system or the other, I could see them having different return times.

 

[Jerryp49]

I believe this will be a perk of MP.

From Natalie Price ( I believe is a CM ) on another blog site :

That is one of the selling points for purchasing a MaxPass. You can buy it in advance of your visit to the resort, but it won't become active until you enter through the turnstile of one of the parks. Once you do that, you can book a Fastpass for any ride in either park. There is an exception; MaxPass won't become active until the "regular" opening hour of the parks. So Magic Morning folks won't be able to start grabbing up those Fastpasses an hour early

And :

Originally posted by Jerryp49 View Post

So only people with MaxPass can book for either park and those without will have to be phyically in the park in which they are pulling a FP for the ride in that park?

Yes. MaxPass works with the Disney app, which allows you to book anywhere in the resort. You just need to enter one of the parks to activate it. Without MaxPass, you'll need to go to the Fastpass kiosk for each ride in order to get one.

 

[Jerryp49]

Interesting observation from Marklodi on another blog site , especially the crackdown on cheaters :

And people are putting their tickets away after the first touch point. No, hold these out. Many of the lines (though not all) have a second touch point, usually where the FP line merges with the standby, and you will scan your admission tickets again.. This is to prevent line jumpers and I can tell you it works. Saw this first hand and was thrilled when these kids were warned they could be ejected from the park

 

[leholcomb]

Interesting observation from Marklodi on another blog site , especially the crackdown on cheaters :

And people are putting their tickets away after the first touch point. No, hold these out. Many of the lines (though not all) have a second touch point, usually where the FP line merges with the standby, and you will scan your admission tickets again.. This is to prevent line jumpers and I can tell you it works. Saw this first hand and was thrilled when these kids were warned they could be ejected from the park

They have always had two checkpoints. One at the entrance and another at merge. The only difference now is that they are touch points.

 

[AC7179]

Is MP still expected to debut in July?

 

[Princess_Kirky]

I read on another board that someone asked a CM and that the system will let you in 5 minutes early and 15 minutes late. Haven't tested that myself yet obviously.

I can confirm the 5 minutes early as of last Thursday... Not sure about the late one...

 

[dina444444]

I can confirm the 5 minutes early as of last Thursday... Not sure about the late one...

I can confirm the late. I was between 10-15 min late for a space mountain fastpass and the circle thing did turn green when I scanned my AP.

 

[megankj]

Interesting observation from Marklodi on another blog site , especially the crackdown on cheaters :

And people are putting their tickets away after the first touch point. No, hold these out. Many of the lines (though not all) have a second touch point, usually where the FP line merges with the standby, and you will scan your admission tickets again.. This is to prevent line jumpers and I can tell you it works. Saw this first hand and was thrilled when these kids were warned they could be ejected from the park

I also suspect this enables Disney to monitor the length of the FP line in real time. Where the old system had to distribute based on predicted capacity (i.e., an average number of FPs per time slot), now they can monitor the FP line and possibly issue more FPs as long as it's not building up a wait. It's probably how the Instant FPs have come to be.

 

[Davin_Felth]

Mice Chat is saying MaxPass is coming next week (among other rumors).

http://micechat.com/166257-miceage-disneyland-rumor-update-bye-bye-buggies/

 

[PurpleKomodo]

Mice Chat is saying MaxPass is coming next week (among other rumors).

http://micechat.com/166257-miceage-disneyland-rumor-update-bye-bye-buggies/

It would seriously be awful for them to debut this system next week with no notice. We arrive on Wednesday next week with our first park day being Thursday. There are 7 people in our group. MaxPass would add up and we would need time to save and decide if it was worth spending money on. I feel like it would be in bad taste to just throw it out there without any prep for people who have already had trips booked for that time months ago.