Disneyland introduces a limited Fastpass+ system, for a price

January 11, 2017 at 10:57 AM · Repeating what I wrote on Twitter, with MaxPass only allowing one FP at a time, and no advance booking, I'm not seeing $10 value in app management, given the relatively small size of the Disneyland Resort. It's not like I'm walking that far to pick up my next Fastpass as it is.

Also, given the way that Disneyland just is throwing in PhotoPass on the MaxPass and Signature passes, that makes me suspect that pretty much no one is actually paying for that service at the Disneyland Resort.

January 11, 2017 at 11:09 AM · So, it's $10 a day. I can only make one reservation at a time,on the day of once I'm inside the park, and I get unlimited PhotoPass for that day as well.

Can I still go to regular FastPass Distribution centers and pick up a paper FastPass in addition to my MaxPass, or will the system know I've already got a reservation made and I will be blocked out?

It sounds more like a discounted PhotoPass with a couple of electronic FastPass tickets tossed in for good measure.

Seems obvious that this is just a test and adjust step in getting the system up and running. Then they will offer advance and multiple reservations for a higher price. I also foresee including this in the price of a room at an onsite hotel as well. The more expensive the room, the better your access to MaxPass.

Curious - Will Goofy's son Max be the face of MaxPass?

January 11, 2017 at 11:22 AM · I would assume that since you'd need to link your admission ticket to the app to use MaxPass, the Fastpass system would "see" your ticket as having a FP just the same, so you couldn't double dip.

And I cannot imagine that this wouldn't be bundled as a hotel benefit in some way at some point.

January 11, 2017 at 11:34 AM · Does Disneyland offer free wifi in the park as of yet? My last visit you had to be close enough to Grand Californian in order to get internet if you were from another country and didn't have data in the States...
Without wifi, this experience is limited to American visitors.

January 11, 2017 at 11:53 AM · Yet another Iger/Chapek scheme to rip off Disney fans. I refuse to spend another dime at Disney until these greedy pigs are canned. Fire Iger. Fire Chapek. Replace them with someone who cares about customer service and common decency.

January 11, 2017 at 12:15 PM · Unlimited PhotoPass is worth the price even if you take one session. I just paid $39 for six sessions for one day. MaxPass should have a better weekly price for over time the prices catch up.

January 11, 2017 at 12:38 PM · One of the things that I love about Disney is the free fastpass. At least this is not expensive, yet. I suppose that the new marvel and star wars attractions will use only this maxpass.

January 11, 2017 at 1:02 PM · I would buy it, but only for the photo pass feature.

January 11, 2017 at 2:57 PM · So, it just saves you the trouble of having to go to the distribution location? I suppose it's worth it for the photo deal.

January 11, 2017 at 3:10 PM · It has some value: for example Radiator Springs Racers: while people queue to get a paper FP, people using the app can start reserving their immediately after getting into the park, so they get them with an earlier return time. This gives them the opportunity to book a second one earlier and so on. Someone with the app will probably be able to use at least a couple if not more FPs than people using the old system. Is it worth 10$? You decide.

January 11, 2017 at 3:42 PM · As presented currently, I wouldn't buy it. PhotoPass doesn't interest me, so the $10 for MaxPass is more of a convenience fee than anything. If, however, the MaxPass had other perks (such as allowing reservations on attractions without regular FastPass service), I'd definitely consider it if visiting infrequently. Personally, I like the concept behind this idea, but I worry that the currently proposed implementation of it is going to be a disaster. If Disney wants both a free option and a paid option, they need to be completely separate systems or there could be major frustrations for those choosing not to pay.

January 11, 2017 at 4:22 PM · A good use is getting an extra Fastpass for a favorite ride that you can pass along to other family members or friends. Like get an extra Space Mountain ride. Coupled with a Photopass, you can take the convenience to a new level.

I do wonder how Disney can afford to keep around the photographers for PhotoPass if many aren't buying the expensive photos. Perhaps enough are buying them. I wouldn't mind buying them more if they are cheaper. This might just be the opportunity.

January 11, 2017 at 11:09 PM · I could see them charging extra for Fastpasses when Star Wars Land opens, could this be a test?

January 12, 2017 at 5:51 AM · There's one thing I'm not clear on and it would make all the difference for whether I would use this.

Is this $10 for the entire party, or per person? Basically, can I book fastpasses for everyone like Fastpass+ in WDW, or just for myself? Hoping it's the former!

January 12, 2017 at 6:18 AM · Ok, enough is enough - goodbye,Disney, that´s it for me...

January 12, 2017 at 9:14 AM · Disfan, I think you might be on to something. Disney is going to have to come up with some kind of system to queue people getting into SWL. There is no way all 50K DL guests can fit in that area all at once.

This may be an opportunity for Disney to test some virtual queuing. Considering the machines to get a fast pass at RSR had a 30 minute line, image the line for SWL fast passes. For only $10/person (introductory price), you might be able to skip that line.

P.S. Robert, that might make an interesting future article...Where is Disney going to put the Fastpass machines for SW attractions? As Disney found out with RSR, Cars Land wasn't big enough to hold the fastpass queue.

January 12, 2017 at 9:06 AM · Of course this is a benefit for those with smartphones or are on a higher priced phone plan with more data. My family has one of the budget priced plans and I still use a flip phone. My husband tried using the Disney App for wait times on his smartphone and that App burned through his data really fast so he dropped it.
I can see this being a test run for a higher priced Maxpass. However it does have some benefits for the local visitors in that the rides can't be book full like I read about with the Fastpass+ at WDW since visitors have to wait until they are in the park. I just wonder if this will mean that the paper fastpass will be shut down sooner on busy days.

January 12, 2017 at 9:39 AM · You realize the Disneyland FP system is much better than disneyworld right? Because of the 30 or 60 day advance window all good Fp are gone by the day you're there. So when you use your 3 there's nothing good left. At Disneyland I get 5 to 6 FP per day, but only the 3 at Disney world. The $10 fee would be good to avoid having to walk across the park to get the FP and save time to possibly get even more per day.

January 12, 2017 at 12:30 PM · If they charge extra for Star Wars Fastpasses, I actually would be ok with that, because it would be voluntary, I can pay if I want to or not. That's better than blocking out APs for two months from Disneyland, as has been rumored.

January 12, 2017 at 3:30 PM · If this is possibly a test to change or scrap the version in Orlando then I am in favor. Orlando is broken. The current system there has done nothing other than to make the lines longer for attractions that traditionally did not have long waits, and this is year round. We have left WDW and go only to Universal when in Orlando, and I HATE that. Please find a happy medium for WDW, and I hope they are very, very careful with FP+ with the Disneyland crowd.

January 12, 2017 at 7:53 PM · If you are by yourself then $10 a day seems decent for the convenience and photo pass. However, this is $10 per ticket. So I'd be paying $50 a day to use this when going with my wife and kids. No thank you on that upcharge.

January 15, 2017 at 8:30 PM · More unfettered greed from Disney.Eventually people will tire of having their pockets picked from these Corporate barons. Iger has been the death of Disney.