Is Disneyland’s MaxPass Worth it?

February 24, 2020

Perhaps you are familiar with the Disneyland FASTPASS system, which allows you to skip the main queue by making a FASTPASS reservation and returning to the ride within a one-hour window to skip most of the line. That free system is still in place, but Disneyland has another option, a paid service called Disney MaxPass.

MaxPass allows you to make FASTPASS reservations for rides and some shows from your smartphone. It also gives you free downloads of all of the Disney PhotoPass photos you have taken in the parks (including ride photos!).

Here are the basics that you need to know about MaxPass:

The price for MaxPass is per ticket, per day. Right now it is $20 per ticket per day.
You must download the Disneyland mobile app and link your park tickets to use MaxPass.
All FASTPASSes (traditional paper or through MaxPass) are electronically linked to the user’s park ticket.
You cannot use MaxPass or start making reservations until you have entered a theme park for the day — all riders in the party must have entered a park that day to be included in the reservation.
You can make reservations for anyone whose ticket is linked to your account in the app.
Once you have entered a park, you can be anywhere inside or outside of the parks when you make reservations.
MaxPass includes unlimited downloads of PhotoPass photos taken any day MaxPass is active.
You can hold more than one FASTPASS reservation at a time, but there are waiting periods during which you will be temporarily ineligible to make a ride reservation.
Shows like Fantasmic! and World of Color are now available on MaxPass (shows do not have any waiting periods after booking and do not affect your ability to reserve rides).

A big question around MaxPass is is it worth it? In my experience with it, I think it is totally worth it! Here’s why:

You can see all available rides and return windows in one park at once — no walking involved.
You can reserve another ride in a much shorter time window. As soon as you scan your ticket at a ride, you can immediately reserve the next ride while you wait for your current ride — traditional FASTPASS users have to wait, ride the ride and then walk to a distribution machine.
The return windows offered through MaxPass are often sooner than the traditional FASTPASS windows that are being distributed at the same time.
The length of the maximum waiting period is shorter with MaxPass (90 minutes versus 120 minutes with traditional paper FASTPASS).
MaxPass users have free PhotoPass photos available for download and sharing.
Ride photos! Some of the best expressions are caught on the ride cameras!
You can make FASTPASS reservations from anywhere! In line, at a restaurant, on the Monorail, in a hotel room … and park hoppers can make FASTPASS reservations from the other park, as long as you have entered a park for the day.
It makes reserving as a group much easier.
You can start making FASTPASS reservations before rope drop during early entry for Magic Morning or Extra Magic Hour

For most people, I think Disney MaxPass is worth it. Guests who are making shorter visits — one- or two-day visits, especially during busier times — will benefit from the time-savings and ability to do more in a short time. MaxPass definitely saves time and allows users to ride more attractions than other guests. Getting all of the PhotoPass photos is worth it too! If you wanted to purchase all of the PhotoPass photos you have taken in the parks, including the ride photos, it would cost a lot more than the cost of MaxPass.

If you aren’t interested in riding most or all of the rides that offer FASTPASS, or if you don’t plan on having any PhotoPass photos taken, then MaxPass probably wouldn’t be worth it for you.

Have you used Disney’s MaxPass before? What are your thoughts? If you’re wanting to plan a visit to the Disneyland Resort, contact me today! My name is Sara Solberg and I’m a travel agent with Amazing Magical Adventures, a Disney earmarked agency. I can help you plan a magical Disney vacation and my services are FREE.

Let our friends at Destinations to Travel help you book your next Disney Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.

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Sara

Sara is a travel agent with Destinations to Travel, a Disney Earmarked agency. She lives in Alaska with her husband and 3 kids. Due to her extreme dislike of winter, she travels often to warmer destinations during the colder months. She visits the Disney parks and resorts frequently with her family and loves helping other families plan magical vacations. Contact her here for help with your vacation!