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

3/30/2018

8 Comments

 
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 Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A 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.

Before You Leave Home

How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide
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.
​
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.

When You Arrive at the Park

1) Log into the app.

2) enter the park.

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



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.   
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide

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

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

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

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).

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


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











​

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


 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).

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

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









​

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

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).

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.
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide

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.
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide

What to do if you want to ride different things

How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide
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.

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.
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide
How to Use Maxpass at Disneyland - A Step-by-Step Guide

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.

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.
8 Comments
~Misty
5/29/2018 08:43:02 pm

So if I'm understanding Maxpass correctly it just allows me to get a Fastpass for everyone in my group using the Disneyland app rather than going to the Fastpass kiosk for each ride? It still doesn't allow me or anyone else in my party to have more than 1 Fastpass at a time? Did you feel that the extra $10/day/person was worth it?!

Reply
Jennifer
5/30/2018 05:19:03 pm

Hi Misty

Yes -- you are correct. 1 fastpass per person at a time (unless you are holding for a show i.e. Fantasmic/World of Colour -- those don't cunt) The benefit is time. Not having to run across the park, or if park hopping across 2 parks to get another fastpass. It is not something we get everytime. As a family of 4 it is hard to justify another $40 a day. The advantage of being able to get a fastpass seconds after using one (while waiting to board Big Thunder for instance) is great and we found that we definitely were able to get on more rides than on days we didn't get it. For example we last used it at New Years and the park was VERY busy. For days like that absolutely worth it. If you are doing a multi- day trip maybe purchase it day by day. Try it one day and not the next and see how it works for you. Also schedule your daily photos or your character meets for the day/s you get maxpass to get photos for free. We got great family photos in several locations.

Reply
~Misty
5/30/2018 08:25:32 pm

Thank you so much for your reply, that clarifies it for me. We will definitely have to weigh that as an option perhaps for one or two of our days, as we will be there mid June (busy time), but can't justify it for all 5 days! Thanks for the email too and all the up to date info you put into your site. I am finding lots of great and helpful stuff, especially because its been 14 years since we have been to Disneyland.

Jennifer
5/30/2018 10:01:52 pm

Happy to help. I know tickets are expensive enough as it is. I can see it not being a big deal for someone single but for a family it adds up quickly. June will be great and you can have fun with all the Pixar Fest offerings. I am working on updating a few posts right now, If you follow on Facebook I will always post there when I have updated a post or added a new post. Have a wonderful trip!!!

Reply
Desiree
1/11/2019 01:48:56 am

Hello, we’re planning a trip to Disneyland in early April. Does anyone know if that’s a busy time for the park? I’d like to go in the “off” season, whenever that is. I haven’t been to Disneyland since I was 8 and I’m now in my early 30’s! I’m sure A LOT has changed since then. Haha Also, this will be my kids’ and my hubby’s first time so I want to do this right. Help! :)

Reply
Jennifer
2/14/2019 09:02:59 pm

Hi Desiree

Thanks for reading the blog. It is so exciting to be planning your family's first visit to Disneyland. April is usually a good time to visit Disneyland in terms of weather and crowds. The exception to this would be around Easter. Also going before Star Wars Galaxy's Edge opens is a smart move if you want to avoid crazy crowds.

Hope that helps. If I can help you with any other questions feel free to ask :)

Reply
suzanne
9/10/2019 08:45:53 pm

How do I create profiles for my group? Does each person need a disneyland account? I am going to have the fast passes for the 8 people in my group. I can't figure out how to get each of them on my disneyland app. Do they each need a disneyland account then?

Reply
Jennifer Stuart
9/10/2019 09:48:48 pm

Hi

Are you all a family ? or a group of friends? For my family I have the disney account and I added profiles for my husband and kids. For my friends they have their own Disney accounts. To link them so that you can make fastpasses for the whole group you need to activate your passes by entering the park and then go into the app and scan each ticket into your phone. See step 3 under teh heading "when You Arrive at the Park" above. Then you can make fastpasses for everyone as a group. Hope that helps.

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