[ADVISORY] WDW - MagicBand-Only Testing Begins at Disney's Pop Century Resort

[The Hub]

Why isn't anyone questioning this statement? This person has only been on the Dis since September and has not come back to join the discussion. Maybe it's not true?

Perhaps this person has not come back to join the discussion because they had to go to the parks to go to work and make magic for his guests? Maybe. Although I am a new member here, being for two months, all of my posts have been much more informative, useful, reliable and courteous than all of yours. For what its worth, it is true. I am the first Cast Member to report this news anywhere, check the timestamps. There isn't any need to question it. Here's your proof.

Edit: If comments like yours continue, I may reconsider passing along information that I consider useful to thousands of guests planning their vacations.

 

[wn01aa]

Staying at POP from Dec.14-23. Am thinking about changing resorts, but am debating how fast they will implement this to all resorts. If I change to AOA or one of the All Stars, Disney might start rolling this out weekly to all resorts after the first week of POP and I would be in the same spot again. Maybe I will wait till after November 19th to see the next shoe to drop

 

[Mad Hattered]

Perhaps this person has not come back to join the discussion because they had to go to the parks to go to work and make magic for his guests? Maybe. Although I am a new member here, being for two months, all of my posts have been much more informative, useful, reliable and courteous than all of yours. For what its worth, it is true. I am the first Cast Member to report this news anywhere, check the timestamps. There isn't any need to question it. Here's your proof.

Edit: If comments like yours continue, I may reconsider passing along information that I consider useful to thousands of guests planning their vacations.

Thanks, Hub. Please disregard most comments these days. Thanks for your information. I think they should just be happy that someone is trying to keep them informed. And in case you haven't noticed...there's a certain rift in the fabulousness.

 

[momimouse27]

Perhaps this person has not come back to join the discussion because they had to go to the parks to go to work and make magic for his guests? Maybe. Although I am a new member here, being for two months, all of my posts have been much more informative, useful, reliable and courteous than all of yours. For what its worth, it is true. I am the first Cast Member to report this news anywhere, check the timestamps. There isn't any need to question it. Here's your proof. Edit: If comments like yours continue, I may reconsider passing along information that I consider useful to thousands of guests planning their vacations.

Hub, please excuse any posters that suggested you might have been misinformed. Clearly, this is true, especially since it's now been confirmed by a phone call. Thank you greatly for the info.

Well, after all the reading I'm wondering ...what if I just don't link my military passes to the MB? Then will I just be using them like normal tickets? Or will they attempt to link them when I buy them?

I am pretty PO'd that the limited time my kids will be able to spend with their dad might be affected by FP+, which is something that's been a great convenience in the past.
Also, to the people who are saying to stop being 'Debbie downers', this is something real that will affect our vacation. I will still have fun, but the situation is unfair.

 

[Planogirl]

For the same reason you stated earlier. Or maybe it was Ariel…

Someone said already … Watch people leave Pop in droves. They don't want to lose business so they'll take their chances that only a few complain.

Again, better to ask forgiveness than permission. It's better for them to make it up to the few customers who actually complain than to broadcast it to the masses.

It wasn't me. I'm floored by all of this.

Perhaps this person has not come back to join the discussion because they had to go to the parks to go to work and make magic for his guests? Maybe. Although I am a new member here, being for two months, all of my posts have been much more informative, useful, reliable and courteous than all of yours. For what its worth, it is true. I am the first Cast Member to report this news anywhere, check the timestamps. There isn't any need to question it. Here's your proof.

Edit: If comments like yours continue, I may reconsider passing along information that I consider useful to thousands of guests planning their vacations.

I for one am incredibly grateful for anything you share. It's ridiculously hard to get information nowadays and these posts help like you can't imagine. That is IMO true magic.

 

[Viva Las Disney]

the fact that now not only are those staying off site able to pull more FP's, or FP's at different parks per day

I'm sorry you have to deal with all of this, especially at the last minute, but this made me chuckle because for weeks I've read numerous complaints from offsite guests how unfair it is that they don't get FP+ and that all the E ticket FP- are gone by 10am because they are all going to FP+.

The good news is recent trip reports are it's slow and lines are short, try to stay positive, hopefully you'll also have short lines and won't even need FP- or FP+.

Hoping it all works out for you.

 

[stairstepmom]

Wow. Although there is a bit of irony in how "unfair" many have seen the situation for offsite guests, now the tables being turned a bit, but this is even MORE blatantly unfair. At least offsiters had the illusion of fairness, because they had an equal ABILITY to obtain FP-s, even if that ability was impacted due to popular attractions running out sooner; they still weren't being actively and intentionally prevented from obtaining the FP-s that other guests can. But the poor Pop guests don't have that ABILITY at all - they are being actively and intentionally prevented from utilizing a benefit given to all other guests, with a benefit that is NOT of equal value being substituted, merely because of the resort they chose. Not only that, but this is being done after they have purchased the product, without being told in advance that they would not have equal access to the benefit.

It's like 100 people going to Sizzler, and for 20 of them after they pay and get in they're told, "Sorry, you can't eat the items at those buffet tables - you can only eat the three foods at this one over here." Paid the same price for same advertised product, then receive something else? I have to believe Disney has a whole room of lawyers looking over these decisions before they're implemented, but this seems really bordering on legally uncool.

 

[DisSoftballMom]

What does this mean for those of us checking in to Pop Century on the 19th since this is the end date for the test? Should we wait until the 20th to ask for our KTTW cards?

 

[Planogirl]

What does this mean for those of us checking in to Pop Century on the 19th since this is the end date for the test? Should we wait until the 20th to ask for our KTTW cards?

That's a good question.

The dates in the post above don't make sense. One part says "beginning November 14" and the columns say starting November 12 and ending November 19. Has anyone asked about the disparity or am I missing something?

 

[MJ6987]

That's a good question.

The dates in the post above don't make sense. One part says "beginning November 14" and the columns say starting November 12 and ending November 19. Has anyone asked about the disparity or am I missing something?

Those dates are not the dates of the test. It says "beginning November 14". I don't think there will be an end date - that is just how it will be from now on at Pop. Expect other resorts to be quickly added as we go along.

 

[in2013]

Those dates are not the dates of the test. It says "beginning November 14". I don't think there will be an end date - that is just how it will be from now on at Pop. Expect other resorts to be quickly added as we go along.

i agree with this. it DOES say beginning november 14. so i have no idea why they then turn around and state a start and end date for a trial period which is NOT beginning on november 14.

i am ridiculously annoyed by this, but only because this is our very first disney trip (with small kids, might i add) and i have no idea what to expect. i had very little understanding of efficient fastpass use to begin with, let alone adding this into the scheme.

i don't feel much like changing resorts but as mentioned throughout this thread, i paid for both the park hopper and a dining plan. what is the point of making dining reservations for a resort..then going back into the park...with limited time...only to find out that you can no longer a fastpass for anything? i hope disney realizes they will lose business over this at one point or another.

the biggest question i have right now is DOES THIS TEST HAVE AN OFFICIAL END DATE. if it is true that it ends on the 19th, it won't affect me, so i won't have to worry. i will, however, feel the pain of everyone else here who is affected during that week

 

[in2013]

you have to wonder if disney is pulling this ridiculous stunt, knowing that people might leave pop century and book a moderate resort instead, for crying out loud.

i really don't want to leave pop and rebook somewhere else because just my luck i'd do that and then THAT resort would start the test, as well.

 

[Giz1026]

I'm sorry you have to deal with all of this, especially at the last minute, but this made me chuckle because for weeks I've read numerous complaints from offsite guests how unfair it is that they don't get FP+ and that all the E ticket FP- are gone by 10am because they are all going to FP+.

The good news is recent trip reports are it's slow and lines are short, try to stay positive, hopefully you'll also have short lines and won't even need FP- or FP+.

Hoping it all works out for you.

Thank you. I hope it all works out as well.

To be honest, I do not know if this will even impact my vacation as reports do state it has been mostly fine. It's the reports with the technical difficulties that worries me. While I am ok to spend an hour and a half on the phone to complain, if it happens while on vacation I think I will come unglued.

It's the fact that Disney thinks it is ok to spring this latest implementation with no notice and almost no recourse for the consumer. Yes, I can change resorts but that is ONLY because I found out by accident. If they can notify me about a faulty fridge that I may or may not have within a month of my stay, they darn well should have been able to notice me on this event.

 

[AmyB2006]

Perhaps this person has not come back to join the discussion because they had to go to the parks to go to work and make magic for his guests? Maybe. Although I am a new member here, being for two months, all of my posts have been much more informative, useful, reliable and courteous than all of yours. For what its worth, it is true. I am the first Cast Member to report this news anywhere, check the timestamps. There isn't any need to question it. Here's your proof.

Edit: If comments like yours continue, I may reconsider passing along information that I consider useful to thousands of guests planning their vacations.

OH goodness no! Please don't listen to the few naysayers out there. I, personally have seen every one of your posts, and they are all helpful, and I appreciate you and your information. Just ignore people who doubt you.

 

[AmyB2006]

It wasn't me. I'm floored by all of this.

You're floored by what I said.... or by the situation in general?? I'm confused. LOL

I'm not saying I agree with it, just saying Disney seems to be following this general rule of business and customer service.

 

[AmyB2006]

Those dates are not the dates of the test. It says "beginning November 14". I don't think there will be an end date - that is just how it will be from now on at Pop. Expect other resorts to be quickly added as we go along.

I totally agree. I think you'll see all resorts quickly coming online with this as well. Once they have all resorts online, offsite/AP holders will be added. That is my prediction. Oh, and all by the holidays.

We should take bets. LOL

 

[wisblue]

i agree with this. it DOES say beginning november 14. so i have no idea why they then turn around and state a start and end date for a trial period which is NOT beginning on november 14.

i am ridiculously annoyed by this, but only because this is our very first disney trip (with small kids, might i add) and i have no idea what to expect. i had very little understanding of efficient fastpass use to begin with, let alone adding this into the scheme.

i don't feel much like changing resorts but as mentioned throughout this thread, i paid for both the park hopper and a dining plan. what is the point of making dining reservations for a resort..then going back into the park...with limited time...only to find out that you can no longer a fastpass for anything? i hope disney realizes they will lose business over this at one point or another.

the biggest question i have right now is DOES THIS TEST HAVE AN OFFICIAL END DATE. if it is true that it ends on the 19th, it won't affect me, so i won't have to worry. i will, however, feel the pain of everyone else here who is affected during that week

If you have never been to WDW before, have no idea what to expect, and don't have an efficient strategy for using FPs, I have some suggestions for you:

1. Identify in advance which rides and attractions your family wants to experience at each park,

2. Try to decide which park or parks you want to visit each day of your visit. If you are making ADR's you must have some idea of this already.

3. Use the list that mesaboy has posted to identify attractions for which you should make FP+ reservations to make sure that you can do the things that are highest on your priority list.

4. If at al possible, try to get to a park at opening. You may be pleasantly surprised how many things you can do without FPs in the first 2-3 hours after the park opens, especially if you are visiting at something other than the peak Thanksgiving or Christmas periods. (If you are visiting at those peak times, paper FPs have little value for major attractions anyway because they will run out early.) Arriving early at those times is that much more important.

Feel free to send me a private message if you have any specific questions and I will give you some other suggestions.

If you have no previous experience with WDW, I wouldn't let this ruin your vacation. The impact that it all will have on your first visit may be dramatically less than the drama on this board would have you believe.

EDIT: I saw on another thread that you are going to be at POP from December 8-13. That is an absolutely perfect time to be at WDW because the Christmas decorations at the parks and resorts will be in full effect, and the crowds at the parks are likely to be about as low as they ever are. They will still be crowded in an absolute sense, but by comparison they will not be that busy. With a little advance planning, which you seem to be doing already, you should be able to see and do pretty much everything you want to do without driving yourself into the ground, even without paper FPs.

 

[doconeill]

Perhaps this person has not come back to join the discussion because they had to go to the parks to go to work and make magic for his guests? Maybe. Although I am a new member here, being for two months, all of my posts have been much more informative, useful, reliable and courteous than all of yours. For what its worth, it is true. I am the first Cast Member to report this news anywhere, check the timestamps. There isn't any need to question it. Here's your proof.

Edit: If comments like yours continue, I may reconsider passing along information that I consider useful to thousands of guests planning their vacations.

Forget about them. you just need to realize that DISers have been burned and trolled by supposed insiders passing on "internal" information that was faked, etc. So any new poster with supposed insider info is looked at very closely.

That's a good question.

The dates in the post above don't make sense. One part says "beginning November 14" and the columns say starting November 12 and ending November 19. Has anyone asked about the disparity or am I missing something?

I think those dates might be the active dates of the notification on the hub at least...two days early to prepare the CMs for the coming wave of angry...

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I've been a big defender of Disney, but yeah, I go with "unfair" here. Even if the vast majority of people staying at Pop won't know the difference.

 

[kaetra]

I check in at Pop tomorrow on 11/4. OF COURSE THEY ANNOUNCE THIS NOW.

So, making a call today to see how much it will cost to switch resorts. Then, if I get to POP and am told I can't have a legacy KTTW card (hoping for uninformed CMs here) maybe I can drop out of the "test"? OR just switch resorts.

Yes, I want more than three Fast Passes a day. Call me greedy but 3 is NOT enough.