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

[atp]

Wow. I can't believe how shady Disney is being.

I'm glad I don't have a trip planned.

As for most things being first world problems. Of course they are. But people SHOULD care and SHOULD complain.

If quality keeps going south, not just with Disney, even though people do complain, what do the 1st world problems people think would happen to most products and services if everyone just accepted whatever?

Yes it's a first world problem, sure you can still go and enjoy your vacation, even if you ride less rides. But doesn't mean it's right, doesn't mean everyone should just accept whatever Disney decides to do.

There's not a single year that goes by without Disney increasing prices of everything (as they should, and as every business does) but they should at least try to mantain the same level of service, and not keep taking things away (not just talking about MDE here).

Disney could just replace all the rides with expensive stores and some would still think people should still go and be happy they are lucky to be able to go there.

Whatever happened to the Disney difference and all that Walt Disney believed in? The things that allowed Disney to become what it is now? If it weren't for those things, Disney would be just another Six Flags.

They should be really careful because they can only live off their old image for so long. If they move too far away from that, people will stop coming. Even first time visitors. It might take time, and they might fix things before that happen but why even go there?

Anyway. Whoever isn't happy with this, should absolutely complain.

As for surveys about people's experience. I was sent over 4 surveys. NONE of them asked me the questions I wanted to be asked about MDE, Magic Bands, etc. Mostly they just assumed I liked it and didn't even ask me how I felt about being limited to one park, about the number or FP offered or the attractions available. I guess they just don't care?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

have they reconfigured the parking to be using the MagicBand (you used to insert your room key to make the gate open)?

Yes, they now have an RFID sensor at the resort gates.

I have friends who have Premier passes and they used magic bands in October. They had problems, but I don't know if that was because of the premier passes or because they had multiple linked room reservations.

 

[g-dad66]

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

Magical Express doesn't need to know what resort you are staying at.

 

[jimmysmom74]

I think if you make a stink about not wanting FP+ and wanting to use FP-, you will have a good argument. Disney can't force you to try something they are "testing" if all other resort guests are being giving a choice still, you should have the same right to the legacy machine that they have. But with this scenario you need to be willing to give up FP+. We leave Nov. 21, and I just received notice about participation in the test, although I was signed up and received MBs weeks ago. If you ask me, the first step should have been to program the FP- machines to not accept old and expired media. That was the place to start. IMHO.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Who has a "right" to use a legacy machine?

And I can see them wanting to roll this out in stages.

 

[Mickey&JoshNut]

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.

Thanks for the info. With all the changes happening at WDW I wish we had booked another trip to DL...

 

[kaetra]

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

I am not using Magical Express. We've rented a car this trip, I'm going all out for a normally "Value" family!

I think a change to ME would have been tough because I wouldn't have had time to get new luggage tags.

 

[jimmysmom74]

I am not using Magical Express. We've rented a car this trip, I'm going all out for a normally "Value" family!

Hope you have the BEST LAST TRIP EVER!!! LOL Have fun at POFQ!

 

[Autumnslight]

As for surveys about people's experience. I was sent over 4 surveys. NONE of them asked me the questions I wanted to be asked about MDE, Magic Bands, etc. Mostly they just assumed I liked it and didn't even ask me how I felt about being limited to one park, about the number or FP offered or the attractions available. I guess they just don't care?

That's strange. The survey I got about MyMagic+ asked me detailed questions about each of the items you mentioned.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am not using Magical Express. We've rented a car this trip, I'm going all out for a normally "Value" family!

I think a change to ME would have been tough because I wouldn't have had time to get new luggage tags.

You don't need new luggage tags. The bar code on the tag, when scanned, would show the new reservation. It's just suggested that you use a sharpie to write the new resort on the tags so the handlers aren't reading a different resort from the bar code, but all the shipping should be done via the bar code.

 

[meredith1]

Oh my...that would infuriate me. I'd change resorts. If I'm paying the same for the park ticket price as everyone else, I expect to be treated equally-oh heck no.....wouldn't settle well with me at all.

 

[ruthma]

Magical Express doesn't need to know what resort you are staying at.

For who ever delivers the luggage.

 

[kaetra]

You don't need new luggage tags. The bar code on the tag, when scanned, would show the new reservation. It's just suggested that you use a sharpie to write the new resort on the tags so the handlers aren't reading a different resort from the bar code, but all the shipping should be done via the bar code.

Good to know for those folks who may be trying to do a last minute move out of POP today! Thanks

 

[aaarcher86]

Oh my...that would infuriate me. I'd change resorts. If I'm paying the same the park ticket price as everyone else, I expect to be treated equally-oh heck no.....wouldn't settle well with me at all.

Isn't that the argument of offsite guests who don't get FP+?

 

[ruthma]

For who ever delivers the luggage.

Upon landing at Orlando International Airport, skip baggage claim and proceed to the Disney's Magical Express Welcome Center in the Main Terminal Building, B side, Level 1. Disney's Magical Express service will collect your luggage and deliver it directly to your Walt Disney World hotel room within 3 hours after you check in at the resort. Luggage delivery service provided by Disney's Magical Express is available for flights arriving between 5:00 am and 10:00 pm daily. For airport arrivals after 10:00 pm, Guests may collect their luggage at Baggage Claim and transport it with them on the motorcoach.

 

[atp]

That's strange. The survey I got about MyMagic+ asked me detailed questions about each of the items you mentioned.

I though it was strange too. Only one of the surveys was related to that, and just barely IMO. Maybe it was because I went in September? I'm starting to think I didn't get THE survey, just one that mentioned it.

 

[g-dad66]

For who ever delivers the luggage.

OK, what I meant was that you don't have to call Magical Express in advance to tell them of a resort change.

Now an airline change is a different matter. (When I did airline check-in today for tomorrow's travel, I found the airlines had changed our flight. So I just got off the phone to Magical Express, giving them our new flight number and time.)

 

[freediverdude]

I know the KTTW cards won't be able to pull the fastpasses, but wouldn't a regular ticket card still be able to pull the fp-? Or do they not have mag strips on them anymore either. But they would have to, if day guests are getting fp- currently. Anyway, it seems like there would be a way to go to guest relations at one of the parks and ask for your park ticket to be separated from your KTTW. Unless that then messes up your dining credits or something like that, but it doesn't seem like it would.

 

[rebbyparker]

Or you could just hit UT and buy extra tickets to use in the FP- machine. I wonder how well they're going to be policing the FP- machines?

 

[Robo]

I know the KTTW cards won't be able to pull the fastpasses, but

1- wouldn't a regular ticket card still be able to pull the fp-?

2- Or do they not have mag strips on them anymore either.

3- But they would have to, if day guests are getting fp- currently.

4- Anyway, it seems like there would be a way to go to guest relations at one of the parks and ask for your park ticket to be separated from your KTTW.

5- Unless that then messes up your dining credits or something like that, but it doesn't seem like it would.

1- Yes.
2- They do have the stripes.
3- Buzzacly!
4- Yup.
5- That is always a possibility. If it happens, it can be fixed.