Hi there, Chad!
Thanks for visiting the Disney Parks Moms Panel. I'd be happy to assist you.
One of the things I love most about Disneyland Resort vacations is that we can be spontaneous and still have an unforgettable time. Unlike the FastPass+ system at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, you do not need to reserve any FASTPASS selections prior to entering the park gates meaning everyone will have a fair chance at getting FASTPASSES for any given day once you arrive. With a little one who often changes his mind, I find this perk priceless since we don't always know what we want to experience until we are in the parks.
There are two ways to obtain FASTPASS selections for attractions. First you can make use of the complimentary FASTPASS benefit by walking to an attraction, scanning your park ticket, and getting a return time to utilize the FASTPASS queue. Underneath your return time, you will be also given a time when you are able to make your next FASTPASS selection. You can continue making your FASTPASSES in this manner, one at a time, throughout the day for no charge.
The next way to make FASTPASS selections is with
Disney MaxPass on the Disneyland app. This paid daily feature (per Guest) is a way to digitally select your FASTPASS return times right from your mobile device. You still will make selections one at a time throughout the day but won't have to physically walk to an attraction to do so. We cannot live without MaxPass! It has truly changed the way we visit the parks for the better by saving us time in lines and letting us experience more attractions than ever. Plus, this feature also includes unlimited downloads of your PhotoPass pictures taken that day! If you are only visiting for one day I HIGHLY recommend purchasing Disney MaxPass to truly maximize your time.
I hope this helps, and please return with any other questions!
-Jennifer