As I have posted in other threads, I was the ultimate FP- runner at DLR and WDW and would criss-cross parks multiple times a day for coveted FPs. With FP+ at WDW of course that is no longer necessary, and for me it was one of the huge advantages of FP+. Like
@GaryDis I am feeling the years gaining on me and I am just not as excited about chasing FP- anymore as I used to be. What that means in practice for DLR is we probably don't do quite as many FP rides as we used used to - unless I have some of the kids with me (all in their 20's now) and they can be the FP runner.
Frankly MaxPass sounds like a great compromise for me personally between WDW's FP+ (which I think would be a mistake at DLR) and FP- (which requires FP running). It is good to see that Disney is keeping their eye on the ball here.
The issue of $10 a day? I wonder where that is coming from. I mean, if they drop paper FPs altogether and MaxPass becomes the only way to do FPs (including FP kiosks at DLR like at WDW) then they would have to do away with the $10 upcharge because everyone need access. They could bump park tickets by $10 a day and then it would be the same thing as an upcharge but would not feel like it since it is built into the ticket.
My suspicion is that Disney is doing a test with the $10 thing and also trying to limit access a bit while they gather data.
A whole other thing goes along with newly implemented "use your park ticket/AP at the FP return line - and not the FP itself" that I have not seen anyone mention here is
data. I have always understood that the paper FPs just were collected and put in a drawer. So Disney had no idea once you personally pulled a FP if you (or anyone) ever used it. Now they will because the FP returns is tied to your park tickets/AP. When that scans for FP they know it is you (aside from the park ticket switching tests folks have reported).
With that I suspect they will let the new system + MaxPass run awhile (a year?) so they can collect data and make some decisions with that data. Ultimately it makes total sense to bring MagicBands to DLR and that seems unanimous by the posters on this thread. MagicBands with a MaxPass system with no upcharge seems like a good fit at DLR. Again, it is good to see Disney keeping their eye on the ball and being willing to understand that FP+ would be a bad idea at DLR.