Big FASTPASS changes coming to Disneyland® Resort!

By David Platt, your Mouse Master specialist

Big news from Disneyland® Resort today: Toy Story Midway Mania® in Disney California Adventure® Park and Matterhorn Bobsleds in Disneyland® Park will both be getting FASTPASS service soon! In addition, Disney is unveiling a new 'MaxPass' option later this year that will allow park guests to book and redeem FASTPASSes using the Disneyland Park mobile app on their phones. 

I’m particularly excited about having FASTPASS at Toy Story Midway Mania. This attraction is consistently one of the longest lines in the park, and, with no previous FASTPASS option available, guests arriving at park opening had to make a choice: rush to get a FASTPASS for Radiator Springs Racers before they run out, or rush to get in line for Toy Story Midway Mania before the line grew too long. Having a hot new FASTPASS option available at Disney California Adventure Park could also alleviate start-of-the-day FASTPASS demand for Radiator Springs Racers, allowing those FASTPASSes to remain available later in the day than they are now. 

The new MaxPass option is an interesting concept-- it doesn't replace the traditional FASTPASS option, but enhances it. Traditional paper FASTPASSes will still be available, but for a small fee (initially $10/day, which also gives you unlimited PhotoPass downloads), guests can use the mobile app to book FastPasses. This new option could eliminate a LOT of walking-- you could be at Splash Mountain, for example, and book a FASTPASS clear across the park at Space Mountain! If it works similarly to the way you book FastPass+ at Walt Disney World® Resort, you could also book your next FASTPASS immediately after redeeming your last one, allowing you to obtain your next FASTPASS much more quickly. 

I do have some reservations about the 'nickel-and-diming' aspect of the additional fee, but in my opinion the fee isn't exorbitant, particularly since PhotoPass downloads are included. I’m also concerned that the initial announcement says the $10 fee is an introductory price, which probably means they’ll raise the price later. 

See the original Disney Parks blog announcement.