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

[pdg123]

Pop people are getting the short end of the stick on this! If they are going to take away fast pass- from magic band users, it should apply to ALL users. It would help make the situation less upsetting knowing it was being fairly implemented. And those who say it's fair to start with Pop because they started testing first are not making any sense. The people visiting today are not the same ones visiting when Pop started the testing.

They will, don't worry. They started a small sample test on a moderately sized value resort. The test will expand to other hotels.

 

[TLHB70]

The test begins on November 14. The Advisory End Date is November 19, however, that is not the final day of the test. This is no longer the testing phase, this is the test-and-adjust phase. Next phase would be the rollout. The advisory end date is just the date that it will disappear from our advisories, as we need to know that information by that day.

I would like to thank you so very much for sharing this information and helping us plan accordingly. I will admit that I am not happy about the change at all. But I DO appreciate you letting us know about it.

 

[rebbyparker]

There you go, Arwen, just what you've been saying. No longer a test phase, now it's test and adjust phase.

 

[lugnut33]

OP, thanks for posting the information.

Do you know if I'll still be able to use our AP's (staying at a WDW resort) to pull legacy fast passes? Should I bring down some old ticket media to see if they will work for the old system?

 

[g-dad66]

We choose Pop for the dedicated bus service. I read so many complaints about Disney buses. But we have always been very happy with it at Pop.

Not to drag this thread too far off-topic, but....

Our experience is that the All-Star bus serves just one of the three AS resorts during the busiest times of the day (i.e. at park opening, and near-closing times).

Just an FYI for anyone wondering if they should save a few bucks by picking an All-Stars sometime.

 

[Jeslynb]

Thanks, OP - very helpful.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Ahhh.....the only thing constant is change. I leave for Pop in 15 days. I know the first few days will be packed (Thanksgiving weekend), but thoroughly looking forward to my.first Christmas trip. I have been to WDW a handful of times and was a fan of FP_. I do feel the change with not receiving a KTTW card will reduce the number of attractions I get to experience and that is a definite bum deal. But, I still so dang excited about seeing the castle all lit up, Osborne Lights, Candlelight Processional, and all the other decorations that is what I'm.focusing on. I do however completely understand and have compassion for folks that are upset with this change. Lots of money is being spent not to mention time spent planning the trip to then have it mixed up 2 days before you leave. I wish Disney would just tell us what their game plan is so folks can plan. Oh well, as Zach brown band sings "save your strength for thing that you can change, forgive the ones you can't, ya gotta let em.go." Best of luck to all those impacted by this change.

 

[ArwenMarie]

There you go, Arwen, just what you've been saying. No longer a test phase, now it's test and adjust phase.

 

[ckelly14]

I called back to the Reservation line and this time mentioned nothing about wanting to change due to the Magic Band BS. This time I just said "We've stayed at POP the last 4 times and we'd like somewhere else". She immediately transferred me to Guest Services. The very nice man at Guest Services offered me a room at AS Music for only $52 more total for the entire package.

I don't have Free Dining by the way for those who were wondering.

And I had him check Moderates for me too just to see if there was anything available and of course there was. And that man was so nice I let him talk me into upgrading to French Quarter. Since this could potentially be our last trip ever, I'm going out in style I guess!

SO! I'm feeling better now. If others are having trouble changing resorts I'd advise #1 keep calling back until you find someone that will help you and #2 don't say it's because you don't want to be a FP+ only guest.

Were you able to keep your original FP+ reservations? I assume you would...

 

[Sammie]

Ahhh.....the only thing constant is change. I leave for Pop in 15 days. I know the first few days will be packed (Thanksgiving weekend), but thoroughly looking forward to my.first Christmas trip. I have been to WDW a handful of times and was a fan of FP_. I do feel the change with not receiving a KTTW card will reduce the number of attractions I get to experience and that is a definite bum deal. But, I still so dang excited about seeing the castle all lit up, Osborne Lights, Candlelight Processional, and all the other decorations that is what I'm.focusing on. I do however completely understand and have compassion for folks that are upset with this change. Lots of money is being spent not to mention time spent planning the trip to then have it mixed up 2 days before you leave. I wish Disney would just tell us what their game plan is so folks can plan. Oh well, as Zach brown band sings "save your strength for thing that you can change, forgive the ones you can't, ya gotta let em.go." Best of luck to all those impacted by this change.

What a lovely outlook and I am sure you will be blessed with a great trip due to this.

We used Fastpass+ for our trip and we did not pull a single regular Fastpass and had a great time. It can be done.

Somewhere on our tickets our reservations, it says Subject to Change.

Enjoy the adventure.

 

[kaetra]

Were you able to keep your original FP+ reservations? I assume you would...

Yes, my Reservation code did not change. Only the resort changed. I received my change confirmation already and everything on MDE looks to be in order, including all my original FP+ selections and the new resort is listed as well.

Fingers crossed they don't mess with POFQ before tomorrow!!

 

[TDC Nala]

By staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, you have the benefit of reserving access to some of your favorite attractions ahead of time with Disney FastPass+ service.



This statement makes me think that off site guests will be able to use the service but just not ahead of time so they would do it when they arrived at the park.

This is still part of the test. There is nothing in this release that makes me think they will not eventually roll out FP+ to offsite guests. I also couldn't say right now whether or not offsite guests who already have ticket media that can be linked to MDX will be excluded from booking FP+ ahead of time.

Could be it's going to be about whether or not you have a park ticket, not where you are staying.

 

[MommaBarb]

This is still part of the test. There is nothing in this release that makes me think they will not eventually roll out FP+ to offsite guests. I also couldn't say right now whether or not offsite guests who already have ticket media that can be linked to MDX will be excluded from booking FP+ ahead of time.

Could be it's going to be about whether or not you have a park ticket, not where you are staying.

But if you're staying offsite, how do they know WHEN you're going to be there? That's why I think the booking in advance is going to be trickier for off site guests. With onsite guests, they have your reservation (and money) and know that's when you'll be there.

Maybe once you go and use a ticket, you can then book for the rest of the days on that ticket, but I still think that would be problematic.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

What a lovely outlook and I am sure you will be pleased with a great trip due to this.

We used Fastpass+ for our trip and we did not pull a single regular Fastpass and had a great time. It can be done.

Somewhere on our tickets our reservations, it says Subject to Change.

Enjoy the adventure.

Thanks Sammie. The fact I'm.able to go on a vacation during this time frame is a first for me in my life. The line of work I'm in doesn't allow vacations at the end of the year but work is requiring me to take some time off unpaid in the 4th qtr. So I picked my week and then scheduled my trip. =) Thinking too I might be able to ride TSMM twice in a row since I won't be standing in the FP line. I'll definitely be arriving on the first bus of the day so hopefully I'll be at the front of the line. Plan on doing lots of single rider lines as well. I realize this won't work for everyone if kids are involved, but this is a friend trip for me.

 

[TDC Nala]

You most definitely can Opt out, it's a legality, look it up you cannot force a consumer to partake in a beta, alpha, or any sort of testing.

You can opt out of using the band. But if you're at Pop for this test, they will probably NOT give you a KTTW with a magnetic strip, even if you ask for one.

The intent appears to be to go entirely RFID and magnetic strips will no longer be used on ticket media or room keys. If they give anyone who asks at Pop a magnetic strip room key, it will skew the test.

Eventually they will have to bring other things into the RFID realm, like the Tables in Wonderland and the party tickets.

 

[pigletto]

Maybe, although there is operationally a lot less involved with this phase of the change, so the roll out will probably be a lot quicker. i wouldn't be surpirised if they just run with the change at Pop for a week and then roll it out to ALL other resorts the week after that.

I don't know about that, but I agree, it's going to go much quicker. I am also in agreement (and have been for months and months) that double dipping won't be allowed by Christmas time.
The FAQ has been changed on MDE to indicate you only get 3, people are reporting in this thread alone that supervisors are getting on the phone and saying "Nope.. you get 3" and now Pop is the first resort testing that.
It's coming.

 

[ruthma]

Yes, my Reservation code did not change. Only the resort changed. I received my change confirmation already and everything on MDE looks to be in order, including all my original FP+ selections and the new resort is listed as well. Fingers crossed they don't mess with POFQ before tomorrow!!

If you are using ME did you gave to notify about resort change.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

You can opt out of using the band. But if you're at Pop for this test, they will probably NOT give you a KTTW with a magnetic strip, even if you ask for one.

The intent appears to be to go entirely RFID and magnetic strips will no longer be used on ticket media or room keys. If they give anyone who asks at Pop a magnetic strip room key, it will skew the test.

Eventually they will have to bring other things into the RFID realm, like the Tables in Wonderland and the party tickets.

I have an upcoming trip to Pop Century and I was unaware that I would not be able to get a KTTW card.

Quick question...if they are not giving out actual KTTW cards, have they reconfigured the parking to be using the MagicBand (you used to insert your room key to make the gate open)? Also, what about people that cannot link their tickets to their MagicBand? I have a premier passport and I ahve been told I cannot link it to the MagicBand because Disneyland does not have the RFID technology and I do not want to have any problems getting into Disneyland after this trip to WDW.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have an upcoming trip to Pop Century and I was unaware that I would not be able to get a KTTW card.

Quick question...if they are not giving out actual KTTW cards, have they reconfigured the parking to be using the MagicBand (you used to insert your room key to make the gate open)? Also, what about people that cannot link their tickets to their MagicBand? I have a premier passport and I ahve been told I cannot link it to the MagicBand because Disneyland does not have the RFID technology and I do not want to have any problems getting into Disneyland after this trip to WDW.

You CAN get a KTTW card if you ask for one. But if it's during that testing phase that has been announced, it will be a non-magnetic KTTW card. It will not work in the old-style Fastpass machines.

This is how it will be when they do the rollout most likely. You can get a KTTW card if you ask for one. It will be RFID and not magnetic. You would use it the same way you would use a band, tapping it to the sensors...no swiping it or inserting it into anything.

Premier Passports have been another problem and I don't know how that will work because I don't have one.

 

[doconeill]

But if you're staying offsite, how do they know WHEN you're going to be there? That's why I think the booking in advance is going to be trickier for off site guests. With onsite guests, they have your reservation (and money) and know that's when you'll be there.

Maybe once you go and use a ticket, you can then book for the rest of the days on that ticket, but I still think that would be problematic.

I don't think it will matter as far as when you'll be there. Generally you won't book them for when you are not going to be there (unless you are one of the fabled guests who will book every day speculatively), and they will limit how many you can book in advance (AP holders who are already activated are seeing 7 or 14 day limits).