Two VERY big changes are coming to the FASTPASS system at the Disneyland Resort..

FIRST – Two new attractions are being added to the FASTPASS lineup to a total of 16 now! And they are, drumroll please…. the Matterhorn Bobsleds in Disneyland and Toy Story Midway Mania in Disney California Adventure! Boy, am I excited for this news! The Matterhorn and Peter Pan are the two rides in Disneyland that I have to run walk to first thing in the morning so I can try to get on them before the lines get crazy long (*hint hint* maybe someone should add a Peter Pan FASTPASS), and Midway Mania is the same situation for me on the days I go to Disney California Adventure first thing. These rides have consistently long lines no matter when you are at the parks, so I think this is a very smart move in making these great attractions more accessible to guests – especially those that are maybe only visiting for a day or a very short time and might not have time to experience these rides otherwise.

SECOND – Disney is launching a FASTPASS upgrade called the Disney MaxPass! For an introductory price of $10 a day, Disney MaxPass can be added onto your theme park ticket which will gives guests a twofold benefit. For starters the Disney MaxPass will include unlimited downloads of guest PhotoPass pictures, which if compared to the current (separate) Disney PhotoPass+ offering at $39, the MaxPass is already a bargain. Also, annual passholders can choose to add the MaxPass as a yearly option instead day-by-day, if they want.

Next, the Disney MaxPass will gives guests the ability to collect and redeem virtual FASTPASS tickets using the Disneyland App, instead of having to walk to the FASTPASS booth at each location and stand in line to collect a paper ticket. The MaxPass does not allow FASTPASSES to be collected days or weeks ahead of time – only on the day of your theme park visit, AND only when you are at the parks. As soon as you walk in through the gates Disneyland or Disney California Adventure you can collect your FASTPASSES for any eligible attraction in either park. You will still only be allowed to collect one FASTPASS at a time – per the usual FASTPASS rules you can collect your next ticket 2 hours after the previous one expires or 2 hours after you obtained it.

It is important to note that the standard FASTPASS system will still be available at no extra charge to guests who choose to not purchase the Disney MaxPass. If you want to know more about the FASTPASS system, see our all-you-need-know article here.

• PROS of the MaxPass:  If you are totally into the PhotoPass pictures – then the Disney MaxPass is an amazing bargain! And if the photos are all you are after, then really only one person in your party needs to purchase it – what a deal! On the FASTPASS end of it, the The benefit of this aspect of the MaxPass is simply that it saves you some time and energy in running around collecting the FASTPASSES you want. For example, if you are in Disney California Adventure and would really like to take a ride on Splash Mountain (wayyy back there) in Disneyland, you can simply use your phone to collect your FASTPASS for it and continue your time in California Adventure before making your way to Disneyland during your FASTPASS return time.

• CONS of the MaxPass: The cost. Really that’s all I can think of. If you aren’t into the PhotoPass pictures – like myself – it just isn’t worth the significant (when multiplied) added cost for this small extra convenience. If I do the math, and I take my family of four, for 3 days to the parks, and that’s $40 extra dollars a day to a total of $120 added onto our whole visit for the Disney MaxPass. I can think of a lot of extra things I can buy, do, or eat for $120 at Disneyland – and I would probably rather have those things and walk a little extra to get my paper FASTPASS tickets.

This is just my humble opinion folks, if you can afford it, and would love the extra convenience then I think it’s pretty neat that Disney is giving folks the opportunity for a little added luxury. I was frankly more than a little worried that Disneyland would initiate the FASTPASS+ system that they have at Walt Disney World, and I am just not a fan of that at all – so this news of a MaxPass has me relieved!

We don’t yet know what the yearly cost of a Disney MaxPass will be, or when these two new changes to the FASTPASS will take place this year. As more information comes, we will let you know the scoop.

Ok, Disney friends, what is your opinion on the adding Matterhorn and Toy Story Midway Mania to the FASTPASS list? Are you as excited as I am?! And how do you feel about the Disney MaxPass? Would you be interested in paying a little more for this option – yay or nay, and why? Please share with us in the comments or on our Facebook page!