Greetings, Karen!
Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question. I'm so glad you decided to already purchase
Disney MaxPass for your upcoming trip. During the busy
holiday season, I think this service is a MUST. It will save you so much time waiting for attractions while also maximizing the experiences you will have during your vacation.
One of the things I actually love about Disney MaxPass is that you do not make your Disney FASTPASS selections via the Disneyland app until after you enter the park for the day. This means that at park opening, everyone has the same chance at obtaining FASTPASS selections for the day. It also lets us be a little more spontaneous if we don't know exactly what attractions we want to experience. With a toddler it's hard for us to always plan our days with that much detail since we never know when he will nap or want to eat. My biggest piece of advice is to arrive early in the morning. Once you scan your ticket through the gates, you can start immediately booking your Disney FASTPASS selections one at a time. I recommend booking popular attractions like Radiator Springs Racers and Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! as soon as possible as these can run out of FASTPASS times sooner than other attractions.
Don't forget to take plenty of Disney PhotoPass pictures as these are available to download with your Disney MaxPass purchase. They make perfect keepsakes to remember your holiday vacation.
I hope this helps, and I wish you a wonderful winter trip to the Happiest Place on Earth!
-Jennifer