Disneyland Max Pass

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  • #99835

    sarahjoe37
    243 XP
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    Looking into our first Disneyland trip. I’m seeing this Max Pass option. What can you tell me about this? It seems that you have to pay for fast passes at DL?

    #99836

    connie96
    200 XP
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    Yes, but… you could look at it like the fast passes are a perk of buying the photo pass package because Max Pass includes both. Or it did last time I read about it. If they still have this option when I finally get out to DL/CA, I’ll buy it! I always buy Memory Maker at WDW (or whatever it’s called these days) so, I’d consider it a normal part of the cost for me and my family. And I’ll use the heck outta those FPs, too! :map: :eticket:

    #99844

    eeyorepoohfan
    499 XP
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    You can still get free FP’s at Disneyland by going up to the kiosk at that specific attraction. To my understanding of it, the Max Pass includes your photos for the day. It allows you to get your FP’s from their app on your phone so you don’t have to physically walk to the attraction to get them. You can only get the Max Pass FP’s once you are physically in the park. Your FP is on your phone and you just scan it at the FP entrance at your return time. I believe you can still just have 1 FP at a time (unless your return window is more than a few hours out). @bexruns and @acamm do you have any other insight. I believe you have both used it in the past!

    #99845

    sarahjoe37
    243 XP
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    Thanks guys for the insight!

    So I’ve been looking and I’m not sure if we’ll do DL… dang it is so much more expensive!

    For 5 days at DL with flights, hotel, and food is like $6,000.

    Versus 7 days at WDW with flights, hotel, dining plan is $4,000….

    I’m torn.

    #99846

    Nascfan
    499 XP
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    MOD

    Wow Sarah. that is a big difference!

    #99847

    Acamm
    316 XP
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    I was at Disneyland for 5 days last Thanksgiving week. We purchased Max Pass for all 5 days…. and I was soooo skeptical…. however I will say this:

    I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED MAX PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I wish WDW would adopt this system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was the absolute best and easiest Fast Pass system EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ll explain my thought process:

    1. with paper fast passes, you have to physically walk to the ride / attraction and pull the paper fast pass and then wait for your time slot which could be 3 hours away
    2. with magic bands / fast passes in WDW …. you have to book them 3 months in advance, and sometimes you literally can’t book the ride you want 30 days IN ADVANCE because everyone else has already taken the slots you wanted or they are all gone already 30 days in advance!!!
    3. with magic bands / fast passes in WDW, after you ride your first 3 PRE PLANNED fast passes, sometimes all of the other fast passes for the rest of the day for the good rides are already taken and you’re stuck having to take a fast pass for Imagination with Figment LOL

    with MAX PASS…
    1. there is no preplanning
    2. there is no fast passes being all taken at 10 in the morning
    3. you can’t book your max pass until you are actually INSIDE OF THE PARK… so everyone is on an even playing field

    We were able to ride absolutely EVERYTHING and sometimes rode the same ride 3x with Max Pass!! It was amazing!! We were able to get MULTIPLE Max Passes for Guardians of the Galaxy, Incredicoaster, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Pirates, etc etc etc…. it literally was the best money spent! We highly recommend it!

    If you have any questions, please let me know!! I’m happy to help! :cool:


    #99848

    sarahjoe37
    243 XP
    SUPPORTER

    Thanks for your insight @Acamm! That actually does sound better. That’s probably why they don’t offer a DAS pass at DL because the Max pass pretty much takes care of that.

    Im still really torn on the cost difference though. Hotel and flight to DL is insane. The flights alone are twice the price.

    So tell me. Is DL worth the cost? I would imagine it has to be, right?

    #99850

    Acamm
    316 XP
    CONTRIBUTOR

    The Max Pass was life changing, and it was the easiest Disney vacation ever because there was no pre-reserving fast passes. We literally rode everything on the fly by whichever Max Pass was closest to the current time. It was amazing!

    Disneyland was very expensive… our airfare from VA, the hotel (Hilton Anaheim was AMAAAAAAAAAAZING…. absolutely worth every penny!!), the meals – we ate at every top Disneyland restaurant in all 3 Disney Hotels and both Disney parks…. everything was very expensive, but we literally didn’t know if we were ever going to go back, so we splurged on quite a bit.

    I would say it was totally ‘worth it’ 100%…. we absolutely loved how small and close the 2 parks were, loved the food, loved the laid back vibe. It was terrific, and we hope to go back soon one day. We fell in love in DCA park… it was totally a mixture between Epcot and Hollywood Studios! LOOOOVED it! @bexruns actually met us in that park, and she was able to show us around and we had the BEST TIME! I hope to repay her one day by taking her around WDW and showing her how to maneuver around and have the maximum experience in the parks! xoxo

    #99854

    sarahjoe37
    243 XP
    SUPPORTER

    I’m glad to hear you thought it was worth the cost. I laid it all out for my husband and he really ain’t “ugh, …that’s too much”. It was honestly almost twice what we were planning.
    We are not “well off” but we are able to save enough every couple years to do a big vacation. But at that cost I think we’d have to move it to like 4 years…

    But that disappoints because I don’t want to have no family vacation for 4 years either.

    Maybe I just need to get a second job. Or sell a kidney! LOL :P

    #99859

    Julia
    210 XP
    SUPPORTER
    CONTRIBUTOR

    i would do WDW if it were me. not only is it cheaper, but you get two extra days!

    #99861

    SEJ101
    499 XP
    CONTRIBUTOR

    I’m here to jump in too with some Maxpass facts! :goofy: I used it for one day on my trip last May! It’s so worth it! And just like all that’s stated above, you can get more with Maxpass. To control people’s Fastpass amount, you’re required to wait a certain amount of time until you can get your next FP. With Maxpass, the wait is something around a half hour shorter!

    #99976

    dngnb8
    125 XP
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    CONTRIBUTOR

    I grew up at DLR, been there well over 100 times since 1965, maybe 200. I would warn against comparing DLR to WDW. Totally different experiences. That would be like comparing a Corolla to a Camry, they are just different beasts.

    DLR is smaller, because of this, less time is needed. IMHO, one needs 6 days to effectively enjoy WDW, only 3 are needed for DLR. At DLR, 2 days are all you need to fully experience Disneyland. If you take the Walk in Walt’s footsteps, 2.5 days. DCA for the most part (unless you have really young children) is 2/3rds a day. I plan my DLR trips to arrive in the evening on Monday. I do downtown Disney or just crash. Tue, Wed, Thurs are in the parks all day. These are your lower park population days. I check out Fri morning and spend the morning in World of Disney (about 3 hours) , then around noonish I grab lunch and I leave to go home. This gives 3 full days open to close at the parks, plenty of time for DLR. If you’re doing areas surrounding DLR, or doing the Knotts, Universal, Sea World combination, add 3 days. Start with Sea World, and end at DLR. The other parks are highly overrated if you ask me. Knotts Berry Farm’s draw to me is that Walt assisted the Knotts family with their park design and process. Overall, I would rather spend time at the beach. I suggest Manhattan, Redondo, Malibu, or Venice. I grew up at Redondo Beach so I am biased.

    Remember, WDW was designed based on the flaws discovered from DLR. Tony Baxter described DLR as quaint. I agree. It is a microcosm of WDW. DCA does have a hybrid EPCOT/Studios feel to it, with Disney Springs slapped just about between the two locations. That is because there is no room to bring WDW to DLR. Remember, Walt only walked in DLR and only for about 10 years. Being a park historian, this is a big difference.

    If you are doing DLR once, I would suggest spending the extra cash and stay at the Disneyland Hotel. This should be a historical building IMHO. If money is a major component, good neighbor hotels will save you loads. I typical stay in one that is across the street. The Walk in Walt’s footsteps tour gives you insight to how Walt saw the park. It aint cheap, but what is at Disney. If you relish park history like I do, this tour is like a drug.

    Because DLR cannot control the whole experience like WDW food and transport works differently. IMHO, there is only 1 food place that is an absolute must (Blue Bayou, see my comment on the NO square article). Most of the other food service is very good, but not outstanding. In fact, I usually get a room with a fridge and go to the Target superstore just down the road and get sammy fixens and bring them to the park. The cost savings are quite substantial. If you are going full food at restaurants, I suggest the Trattoria at DCA, Rancho Zocalo (Mexican), the French Market are solid at Disneyland. If you go around the corner by the NOS RR station, they sometimes have Beignets, and they are killer. Frankly, I would go to Tony Romas outside the park. Good BBQ, and the onion loaf is an absolute must. I just subscribe to staying at a Good Neighbor Hotel across the street, then you don’t need to spend the extra $15 per person for the Anaheim Pass and avoid waiting for a bus.

    If you can, fly in/out to John Wayne airport. The traffic from LAX or Burbank to DLR is maddening and will add at least an hour to your travel time, maybe much more.

    If you have any distinct questions, I would be more then happy to assist.

    #99982

    Breesmommy5
    216 XP
    SUPPORTER

    Wow ! I wish WDW would do the max pass !

    #99994

    Jloosh78
    236 XP
    SUPPORTER

    I don’t use the word hate very much but WDW’s fast pass system has earned the title! There is just no spontaneity anymore. How does one know 3 months out which park and which ride and what you’ll feel like eating riding or visiting? The max pass sounds awesome. I just wish we were not so dependent on our phones. I’m on vacation! I don’t want to have to be tethered to the device I’m tethered to the other 51 weeks of the year.

    #100001

    sarahjoe37
    243 XP
    SUPPORTER

    @dngnb8 Thank you so much for your insight! That really is helpful. I don’t want to never experience DL, I just wasn’t expecting the price tag. Considering it’s smaller I figured less cost. But you are right that it is mostly hotel and flights that are the biggest cost. What hotel do you stay at across the street? I would love to stay at Disneyland Hotel, but, my oh my, its a budget killer.

    As I get a little further into plans I’ll probably try to pick your brain much more.

    And yes, the more I hear about MaxPass the more I’m a little jealous! I mean, when we do WDW we do use the DAS pass. But we still have to physically walk up to the ride and request a fast pass return time, so it’s really just the old school fast pass they renamed as a DAS pass. But that alone has saved us so much by not dealing with middle of the endless line melt downs with my son. (and me!!)


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