Disney MaxPass reviews

[Travel Junkie]

It's more that we ve become dependent on technology and like convenience where we can have it. I wish we could go back to simpler times where we didn't need smart phones to "survive" but that's the world we live in now. So being that we don't live in 1955 or even 1995 and we re going to have to now scan a ticket or phone before going on every ride I'd rather just scan a bracelet on my wrist. It's a preference. Personally I won't die without the convenience. I burn many more calories going to the gym 4x per week.

It was said in jest, because that was the 3rd or 4th time I had read something about taking a ticket or phone out your pocket being such a terribly tough thing to do. In all seriousness though I would understand if everything was on our wrist already, but you have to grab your phone or credit card or whatever to do just about anything now. The Apple watch pretty much bombed so there isn't some huge demand to have everything on our wrist. It's not like Disney is asking us to do anything different. If it is too much trouble, a lot of people wear lanyards.

In my experience an actual ticket has often been faster and easier than a MB in practice since the touch point can have trouble reading the MB unless you are pointing your wrist a certain way (more people than you think can't grasp that.) The FP+ entrance often gets backed up from people having difficulty getting their band scanned. The primary time saver occurs at the front entrance. It can take forever to get through a DLR turnstile and WDW is a breeze. At FP entrances, DLR is faster. That's what DLR needs. A line to get into the FP line.

 

[jocarol]

The barcode thing will work ok enough here, but the downside to that is it still relies in digging through pockets to get your paper tickets/AP or launching an app on a smartphone.

If they use Bluetooth you won't have to get your phone out.

 

[dweezil78]

Has society really gotten this lazy?

It's not a laziness thing -- it's an operations/efficiency thing. Paper/mobile tickets simply take more time -- people misplace tickets, are unsure how to launch apps/find the barcode, there are connectivity issues, etc...

A chip device like MB solves for a lot of these headaches, helps eliminate bottlenecks at the FP entrance, and moves lines along faster. (Among other things).

 

[Disney Irish]

It's not a laziness thing -- it's an operations/efficiency thing. Paper/mobile tickets simply take more time -- people misplace tickets, are unsure how to launch apps/find the barcode, there are connectivity issues, etc...

A chip device like MB solves for a lot of these headaches, helps eliminate bottlenecks at the FP entrance, and moves lines along faster. (Among other things).

Actually from what I understand MBs have just as much trouble to be scanned. Add that to the fingerprint reader they now require and you have a potential for twice a long.

So in reality anytime you introduce anything more than walking in you have the potential for taking more time. Its called the human factor.

 

[mickEblu]

It was said in jest, because that was the 3rd or 4th time I had read something about taking a ticket or phone out your pocket being such a terribly tough thing to do. In all seriousness though I would understand if everything was on our wrist already, but you have to grab your phone or credit card or whatever to do just about anything now. The Apple watch pretty much bombed so there isn't some huge demand to have everything on our wrist. It's not like Disney is asking us to do anything different. If it is too much trouble, a lot of people wear lanyards.

In my experience an actual ticket has often been faster and easier than a MB in practice since the touch point can have trouble reading the MB unless you are pointing your wrist a certain way (more people than you think can't grasp that.) The FP+ entrance often gets backed up from people having difficulty getting their band scanned. The primary time saver occurs at the front entrance. It can take forever to get through a DLR turnstile and WDW is a breeze. At FP entrances, DLR is faster. That's what DLR needs. A line to get into the FP line.

Well ya the MBs have to work as intended for them to be convenient which sounds like is not the case right now.

 

[dweezil78]

Actually from what I understand MBs have just as much trouble to be scanned. Add that to the fingerprint reader they now require and you have a potential for twice a long.

So in reality anytime you introduce anything more than walking in you have the potential for taking more time. Its called the human factor.

I've been there three times since MB and never had or saw an issue. Not to say it doesn't happen, but by now they've worked out a lot of the kinks. Also, they don't scan fingerprints at FP scanners. You've always had to scan fingerprints at the main entrance -- the only difference now is that you cannot redeem a FP with a MB that has not been scanned at the entrance. People were bringing multiple bands into the park each with their own set of FPs, now it has to be attached to an active ticket. That's the only difference now, to crack down on that.

 

[TP2000]

I'm old and remember the ticket books. And the various park ticket booths that sold individual tickets.

And then there was the hallowed shoebox in the liquor cabinet in the den that kept all the unused A and B Tickets that you would raid the night before you went to Disneyland. It was like winning the lottery if you found a D Ticket in the shoebox.

The ticket system used to bog down and cause backups too. Tour groups would have their leader hand over 28 C Tickets all at one time, and the attendant would lock the turnstile until everyone was accounted for. Dads would stop the world at the turnstile and scrounge through their camera bag for the ticket book that was somewhere, maybe in this box of film? People would try and get the attendant to take two B Tickets for a D Ticket ride. Etc., etc.

I think Fastpass is silly, and causes more headaches than it is worth. But the old ticket books used to be messy and inefficient too. Probably the best era was from the mid 1980's to the late 1990's when all you had to do was get in a shuffling line of people to go on whatever ride you wanted.

 

[Disney Irish]

I've been there three times since MB and never had or saw an issue. Not to say it doesn't happen, but by now they've worked out a lot of the kinks. Also, they don't scan fingerprints at FP scanners. You've always had to scan fingerprints at the main entrance -- the only difference now is that you cannot redeem a FP with a MB that has not been scanned at the entrance. People were bringing multiple bands into the park each with their own set of FPs, now it has to be attached to an active ticket. That's the only difference now, to crack down on that.

And the kinks will be worked out with the MaxPass/FP+ scanning at DLR as well. There is a learning curve in any new tech that is used.

I don't see this as some big inconvenience to guests. They have two options, use their ticket/AP or use their phone (not much different to now). Once guests get used to it, especially AP, it'll become second nature without even thinking about it.

 

[Kman101]

I've had an issue with the finger scanner lately but it's not due to the MB and there's a bit of a trick to it, you hold your band for a few seconds and then place your finger on the scanner not all at the same time. And if your finger is sweaty it won't scan well, that's been my only issue with it. I know many have had issues with the bands not unlocking their doors, not working one day after working the day before ... but I've had key cards not work either. The band isn't the worst thing in the world but to each their own I don't even remember I'm wearing it most of the time.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I'm old and remember the ticket books. And the various park ticket booths that sold individual tickets.

And then there was the hallowed shoebox in the liquor cabinet in the den that kept all the unused A and B Tickets that you would raid the night before you went to Disneyland. It was like winning the lottery if you found a D Ticket in the shoebox.

The ticket system used to bog down and cause backups too. Tour groups would have their leader hand over 28 C Tickets all at one time, and the attendant would lock the turnstile until everyone was accounted for. Dads would stop the world at the turnstile and scrounge through their camera bag for the ticket book that was somewhere, maybe in this box of film? People would try and get the attendant to take two B Tickets for a D Ticket ride. Etc., etc.

I think Fastpass is silly, and causes more headaches than it is worth. But the old ticket books used to be messy and inefficient too. Probably the best era was from the mid 1980's to the late 1990's when all you had to do was get in a shuffling line of people to go on whatever ride you wanted.

Excellent recap, and I also remember how troublesome coupon books were. The one benefit of coupons is that the system did a pretty good job of dispersing people throughout the park, certainly better than the way things are now. Back then the only way to ride HM multiple times, for example, was to pay for each ride after your coupon book was out of E tickets.

 

[Disney Irish]

Well it looks like the new scanners are working today and look really easy to use:



(Click the pic to see the video)

 

[mickEblu]

Well it looks like the new scanners are working today and look really easy to use:



(Click the pic to see the video)

I'm getting tired just imagining that person pulling that annual pass out of their pocket.

 

[Deleted member 107043]

I would seriously consider getting a holder and a badge reel.

 

[Disney Irish]

I'm getting tired just imagining that person pulling that annual pass out of their pocket.

This is really no different than the old system. You had to pull out your ticket/AP to get the FP in the first place. This just closes that loop, you use that same ticket/AP to redeem it instead of using a silly paper FP.

Most APs I've seen wear a lanyard, usually with pins around it. So that solves the pulling in and out of your pocket.

 

[Curious Constance]

I'm getting tired just imagining that person pulling that annual pass out of their pocket.

I'm the pack mule for my family in the parks. I keep our tickets in my wallet which is in a zippered compartment in the backpack I lug around all day. Scanning your park ticket is no different than scanning a Fastpass, so that's no different. But I do have to mess with our tickets several times a day now which increases the amount of times I need to take them in and out of my wallet. I'm highly paranoid about losing our park tickets. THIS INCREASES MY ANXIETY!!!!!

In all seriousness though, it would be a lot easier pulling out my phone, which could be in my pocket, than having to dig in my backpack to find my wallet, and then dig in my wallet to find out tickets. Then having to shove it all back in afterwards while everyone is waiting for me to keep moving ahead so they can have their turn. What I really dislike is having to scan not once, but twice in most lines now. As if scanning it in the beginning isn't enough, they have you do it again later in the line, so I have to hang on to all of that while going through the line, then trying to shove it all back in when I'm supposed to be getting into a ride vehicle. My daughter wondered if they do that to deter people from jumping into the Fastpass line after the first check point.

I'd much prefer just pulling out my phone and scanning that. I can easily put that back in my pocket quickly, without having to touch the 25 pound bag on my back.

 

[Curious Constance]

I know I could wear a lanyard, but I have serious issues with being mistaken for an Annual Passholder.

 

[drizgirl]

My daughter wondered if they do that to deter people from jumping into the Fastpass line after the first check point.

That's exactly why they do it. And why they used to just look at the paper FPs at the entrance and have you hand them to a CM further down the line.

 

[Curious Constance]

That's exactly why they do it. And why they used to just look at the paper FPs at the entrance and have you hand them to a CM further down the line.

Stupid, dishonest people.

 

[mickEblu]

I'm the pack mule for my family in the parks. I keep our tickets in my wallet which is in a zippered compartment in the backpack I lug around all day. Scanning your park ticket is no different than scanning a Fastpass, so that's no different. But I do have to mess with our tickets several times a day now which increases the amount of times I need to take them in and out of my wallet. I'm highly paranoid about losing our park tickets. THIS INCREASES MY ANXIETY!!!!!

In all seriousness though, it would be a lot easier pulling out my phone, which could be in my pocket, than having to dig in my backpack to find my wallet, and then dig in my wallet to find out tickets. Then having to shove it all back in afterwards while everyone is waiting for me to keep moving ahead so they can have their turn. What I really dislike is having to scan not once, but twice in most lines now. As if scanning it in the beginning isn't enough, they have you do it again later in the line, so I have to hang on to all of that while going through the line, then trying to shove it all back in when I'm supposed to be getting into a ride vehicle. My daughter wondered if they do that to deter people from jumping into the Fastpass line after the first check point.

I'd much prefer just pulling out my phone and scanning that. I can easily put that back in my pocket quickly, without having to touch the 25 pound bag on my back.

Hahah pack mule. Yea the phone seems like it would be easier than tickets. Especially since it sounds like you ll be able to link all your family tickets on one phone.

The scanning twice thing is annoying. This is where magic bands come in handy

 

[Disney Irish]

Hahah pack mule. Yea the phone seems like it would be easier than tickets. Especially since it sounds like you ll be able to link all your family tickets on one phone.

The scanning twice thing is annoying. This is where magic bands come in handy

You need to get over this MB thing, its not coming.

But seriously you don't know how many times I've seen kids line hop all over the place once inside the queue. If this prevents that more then I'm all for it.