How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland -- a Step-by-Step Guide

By Jennifer Stuart

We explain how to purchase and use Maxpass, Disneyland's new digital Fastpass system. This is our picture-heavy step-by-step guide.

How to Buy Maxpass

There are two different ways to purchase Maxpass.  (1) You can purchase Maxpass in advance as an add-on when you buy your Disneyland park tickets directly through the Disneyland website, or (2) You can purchase Maxpass on the day you wish to use it after you have entered the park. If you purchase your Disneyland park tickets through an authorized third party dealer or just want to try it out for one or two days, you would need to use method.   Maxpass currently costs $10/day per person (over aged 3).  Each person in your party needs to have Maxpass added to their ticket in order to use Maxpass.

Note: if you have a child over age 3 who is not going to be riding on the rides that you will be using Fastpass for then I wouldn't purchase a Maxpass for their ticket.  MOST Fastpass rides at Disneyland are the bigger thrill rides that younger kids MAY not be tall enough or brave enough to ride yet.  Check out the list of Fastpass attractions here to see if you will want to purchase a Maxpass for your child.

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Before You Leave Home

1) Sign up for a Disney Account here - create a profile for yourself and any other people in your party that will need a Maxpass.  (If your friends already have a Disney account you can link them).

2)Download the Disneyland App to your smartphone.

Insider tip: you may be interested in our post on  why you should download the Disneyland App to learn of more ways the Disneyland App can enhance your trip.
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3)  Buy your Disneyland Park tickets (we always recommend doing this in advance to save time). If you are buying Disneyland Park tickets directly from Disney then you can choose to add Maxpass to your tickets at time of purchase.

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When You Arrive at the Park

1) Log into the app.

2) enter the park.

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3) If you have paper tickets scan the barcode on the back of the ticket into the app by clicking the "link ticket or pass" button.  You will need to repeat this for all of the tickets that you have.  If you haven't pre-purchased Maxpass, the app will prompt you to enter your credit card info to finalize your purchase.   

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 4) You can then create a "Fastpass party" by checking the people in your group you would like to get a Fastpass for.

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6) Browse your choices of available Fastpasses.  You will see  both the name of the attraction and the Fastpass window. (The time you will need to use the Fastpass in).

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8) You will receive a message that your selection has been confirmed.











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 5)  When  you have selected your Fastpass party, the app will ask you which park you would like to get a Fastpass for.  (If you have a one-park ticket it will recognize this and only show you the park you are in).

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7)  Once you make your selection the app will ask you to confirm your choice.









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9)  You can check to see what Fastpasses you have  and the app will show you what time your next Fastpass is.


Insider tip:  If you are holding multiple Fastpasses or are worried about forgetting what time your Fastpass is for, set a reminder alert on your phone.  (The app will not notify you and if you miss it you are out of luck).

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Redeeming your Fastpass

When it is time to redeem your Fastpass head to the Fastpass entrance for the attraction and click the redeem Fastpass button.  A screen will pop up that shows the attraction and a scalable barcode.  You will have a barcode for each pass and can swipe left to get to the next pass.  This screen shot shows the fifth pass in our Fastpass party.  


Insider tip:  Keep your phone out!  Many longer queues have a second scan point so that no one can hop the line.

Make another Fastpass selection

As soon as you have scanned the barcode at the entrance to the attraction you are eligible to make another Fastpass selection.  Use the time in line to your advantage and book another as soon as possible.

Insider tip: Like the regular paper  Fastpass system, if your Fastpass is for significantly later in the day, the system will not penalize you.  You will be able to make a new selection 90 mins after your last.  (120 mins for regular Fastpass). The app will show you when you are eligible to book your next pass. See our post on Fastpass for Beginners for information on where to find this information on the paper system.

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What to do if you want to ride different things

You can split your Fastpass party by checking or unchecking people before making your Fastpass selections.  This screenshot shows that only 2 of our party were going to ride Guardians of the Galaxy. (Because I am a giant chicken and you couldn't pay me enough to ride it).

This can get complicated as you have to keep track of when you can all re-book together, but it can be great when you sometimes want to ride other things. -- We did Toy Story Midway Mania instead.

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Troubleshooting

There are no more Fastpasses available!

Keep checking. People will often cancel Fastpasses that they can't use.  Even very popular rides will sometimes add availability after they have run out, but you need to act quickly. Just keep refreshing the page. Other times you will just be out of luck.

There is no wifi!

Disneyland does have a wifi network.  But it is generally awful.  Do not plan to rely on the wifi at the park to use Maxpass or the Disneyland app.  Coverage is spotty at best and not particularly strong.  If you are visiting from outside of the USA you should plan on getting a data package.

You split the party and are having trouble  making a new fastpass reservation.

Double check the Fastpass booking times for all sections of your party.  If you want to book as a whole party you will just have to wait.

Your app is not showing everyone.

​Try leaving the app.  Close the session and then re-start the app.  It could just be a glitch.  This picture shows that it was not showing 2 of our party as having entered the park.  It resolved with the above method but if the problem persists visit a cast member at City Hall or the information booth.  These are the cast members with the best training to help you with any app problems.

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Big App Problems

If you run into big problems go see a cast member at City Hall or at the main information booths. (Near the Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe in Disneyland or in Carthay Circle at Disney California Adventure). These cast members are so helpful -- and your best bet for help.

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Important to know

Making the best use of the Maxpass system is easier if you have a solid understanding of the Fastpass system at Disneyland.  Read our post of Fastpass for Beginners for more helpful information.  It has been recently updated to include the most up to date information.  This is the link to the Disneyland page with more information about Maxpass.

All photos by Jennifer Stuart

Questions? Comments?  We would love to hear from you.