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

[mjtatman]

As I said in another thread, we made our FP+ selections on the *assumption* that we wouldn't be able to pull paper FP. This way, there's nothing to be disappointed in. If the test extends to Movies, we're ready, willing, and able to try it out as it's probably been intended all along.

It's not the end of the world. 10,000 people are dead in the Philippines. 3 FP selections a day is no big deal.

AMEN!!!! We are staying at PORS in January, and I have to admit, I'm a little bummed to 'only' be getting the opportunity to use 3 fast passes in one park only, but honestly, what an AMAZING problem to have! I'll continue to count my many blessing&.the resources to even visit WDW being one of them! Disney is the epitome of customer service. It doesn't mean there won't be 'bumps' in the road, but I do believe it is one of the most magical places on Earth! Thanks for reminding us what is really important&.

 

[clsteve]

Just wanted to mention, though I'm unsure of how quickly it would roll out, you could have moved resorts to one of the All Stars or paid a little extra for a moderate to avoid what's going on at Pop.

That being said, I feel for you. I hope you have a nice Disney trip in the future.

I think we should be very careful suggesting someone should look into moving from POP to another resort anytime in the near future in order to still be able to pull FP-.

I would hate to do that and tomorrow find another resort has moved into implementation.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I think we should be very careful suggesting someone should look into moving from POP to another resort anytime in the near future in order to still be able to pull FP-.

I would hate to do that and tomorrow find another resort has moved into implementation.

Exactly. How soon we forget that POP was only one of several resorts to test this at the same time. I think I might be possibly more upset if I upped the ante and switched to:

Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge  Jambo House
Disneys Animal Kingdom Villas  Jambo House
Disneys Art of Animation Resort
Disneys Beach Club Resort
Disneys Beach Club Villas
Disneys Contemporary Resort
Disneys Polynesian Resort
Disneys Port Orleans Resort  Riverside
Disneys Yacht Club Resort

...and THEN find out that you are part of the phased roll out.

Disney is in between a rock and a hard place. Surely they wouldn't roll this out to All Stars before any of the above....would they?

 

[my2minnies]

Thank you for all your sympathies but we have been lucky enough to have been able to go over the last several years. I spoke to several CMs and the "test" is not over on Nov 19th. It is continuing after that and I found that it wouldn't be worth it to switch resorts for fear it would be rolled into that resort as well. I cannot afford a moderate because I have 4 children and need 2 rooms. Also we had the free dining promotion which would make things more difficult.

People go to Disney for different reasons--my children love it because of the rides. They are ok with not going because of the inequity of the process. For those that planned their vacation with that thought that the magic bands were all they would be able to use I say have fun. I would be fine with that if 20,000 other people had the same restrictions.

We are lucky enough to have purchased our airline tickets from Southwest so we will be able to switch our flights and go someplace else in the future with no penalty.

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Just some info to put out there. I just spent 1 hour with my TA. First filling her in on the change test at POP. Then looking at my options and possibly switching resorts. Classic Disney here..she talked to three different CM and got three different stories. Finally she called the front desk at POP and they told her that the new test was that you will be able to use the magic bands for three FB and use the key card to get three more paper FB at the park. so really wondering now what really is the new test, is the crony desk at POP wrong or did they already change the new test that started yesterday? is there anyone down there now at POP that can confirm this?

 

[rebbyparker]

Exactly. How soon we forget that POP was only one of several resorts to test this at the same time. I think I might be possibly more upset if I upped the ante and switched to:

Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge  Jambo House
Disneys Animal Kingdom Villas  Jambo House
Disneys Art of Animation Resort
Disneys Beach Club Resort
Disneys Beach Club Villas
Disneys Contemporary Resort
Disneys Polynesian Resort
Disneys Port Orleans Resort  Riverside
Disneys Yacht Club Resort

...and THEN find out that you are part of the phased roll out.

Disney is in between a rock and a hard place. Surely they wouldn't roll this out to All Stars before any of the above....would they?

I hope not.

 

[rebbyparker]

Just some info to put out there. I just spent 1 hour with my TA. First filling her in on the change test at POP. Then looking at my options and possibly switching resorts. Classic Disney here..she talked to three different CM and got three different stories. Finally she called the front desk at POP and they told her that the new test was that you will be able to use the magic bands for three FB and use the key card to get three more paper FB at the park. so really wondering now what really is the new test, is the crony desk at POP wrong or did they already change the new test that started yesterday? is there anyone down there now at POP that can confirm this?

There is another thread talking about people checking into Pop over the past few days on the boards. Maybe that will help.

And Disney is really not shining here.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Just some info to put out there. I just spent 1 hour with my TA. First filling her in on the change test at POP. Then looking at my options and possibly switching resorts. Classic Disney here..she talked to three different CM and got three different stories. Finally she called the front desk at POP and they told her that the new test was that you will be able to use the magic bands for three FB and use the key card to get three more paper FB at the park. so really wondering now what really is the new test, is the crony desk at POP wrong or did they already change the new test that started yesterday? is there anyone down there now at POP that can confirm this?

There is no such thing as calling the front desk at POP.

 

[mom2rtk]

Disney is in between a rock and a hard place.

Yes, but the brought the rock and chose the hard place themselves.

 

[myhouseofmouse]

There is no such thing as calling the front desk at POP.

sorry your right she asked for front and they sent her to burst services

 

[myhouseofmouse]

There is another thread talking about people checking into Pop over the past few days on the boards. Maybe that will help.

And Disney is really not shining here.

thank u
having a hard time finding the other thread does anyone have a link to it

 

[4forMe]

thank u
having a hard time finding the other thread does anyone have a link to it

Here is the link to the thread - post # 38:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3198750&page=3

 

[The Hub]

Post #1 has been updated.

 

[rebbyparker]

Thanks, Hub! Happy Friday!

 

[4forMe]

Post #1 has been updated.

Thank you for the update! I truly appreciate all of the information you have shared with us.

 

[Andrea817]

I JUST booked a one night stay at POP yesterday afternoon!! We are Florida Resident AP's and we just decided to spend a couple of days in the parks on Thanksgiving weekend so we booked a one night stay so we could test out the MB's. We were last there over Labor Day weekend but our resort (POR) was not part of the testing at that time. I tend to try to stay away from the boards in between trips as it gets me sad and ancy to get back so I have missed all of this new info regarding the changes (POP testing the no KTTW FP- ability, and the FP+ tiering). To be honest this whole MB & FP+ thing is just far to stressful to read about, especially since it changes quicker than we can blink. Can't deny that I am a tad bit disappointed

Is it just me or does MB seem to make trip planning so much more of a hassle?? I know that it is still in the testing phases and so much will change in time, but it just seems so confusing to me. We are local and go quite often for short trips (few days at a time), so we generally know the plan as far as what park we are going to and when. I cannot imagine this being my yearly trip and having to micro-manage a week + trip I am having a hard enough time with my TWO DAYS! Since I had NO idea about the tiering, I didn't think it would be so terrible as clearly for EPCOT I would choose Soarin, TT, & MS...no problem. NOT! and of course I pick the one resort who is testing the new system, a resort I have never ever stayed at before but chose soley to save a bit with Christmas being so close (especially since its only one night). Just my luck, huh?

Just a little vent session I am ecstatic to even be going as I didn't think I would be able to before year end due to financial issues and the holidays. I won't be switching resorts, we will just go with the flow I suppose.

Out of curiosity, since we have RFID AP's, do you think we could still pull FP- with them from the old machines even if the AP is linked to the MB with FP+ reservations?

 

[The Hub]

I JUST booked a one night stay at POP yesterday afternoon!! We are Florida Resident AP's and we just decided to spend a couple of days in the parks on Thanksgiving weekend so we booked a one night stay so we could test out the MB's. We were last there over Labor Day weekend but our resort (POR) was not part of the testing at that time. I tend to try to stay away from the boards in between trips as it gets me sad and ancy to get back so I have missed all of this new info regarding the changes (POP testing the no KTTW FP- ability, and the FP+ tiering). To be honest this whole MB & FP+ thing is just far to stressful to read about, especially since it changes quicker than we can blink. Can't deny that I am a tad bit disappointed

Is it just me or does MB seem to make trip planning so much more of a hassle?? I know that it is still in the testing phases and so much will change in time, but it just seems so confusing to me. We are local and go quite often for short trips (few days at a time), so we generally know the plan as far as what park we are going to and when. I cannot imagine this being my yearly trip and having to micro-manage a week + trip I am having a hard enough time with my TWO DAYS! Since I had NO idea about the tiering, I didn't think it would be so terrible as clearly for EPCOT I would choose Soarin, TT, & MS...no problem. NOT! and of course I pick the one resort who is testing the new system, a resort I have never ever stayed at before but chose soley to save a bit with Christmas being so close (especially since its only one night). Just my luck, huh?

Just a little vent session I am ecstatic to even be going as I didn't think I would be able to before year end due to financial issues and the holidays. I won't be switching resorts, we will just go with the flow I suppose.

Out of curiosity, since we have RFID AP's, do you think we could still pull FP- with them from the old machines even if the AP is linked to the MB with FP+ reservations?

Yes.

 

[curemyreed]

Post #1 has been updated.

TheHub, thank you very much for providing me with these notices. I appreciate it so much.

 

[mikat]

Quick question if anyone can answer - I have a non-RFID (Tyvek) AP and old non-RFID tickets from UT. I got my AP at the beginning of the year before they switched to the new cardstock. Will those still work in the FP- machines if we use our magicbands to enter the park (our tickets are linked to the magicbands). Or will I have to turn them in and upgrade them to RFID?

Thanks so much for your help! Going in 4 weeks.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Quick question if anyone can answer - I have a non-RFID (Tyvek) AP and old non-RFID tickets from UT. I got my AP at the beginning of the year before they switched to the new cardstock. Will those still work in the FP- machines if we use our magicbands to enter the park (our tickets are linked to the magicbands). Or will I have to turn them in and upgrade them to RFID?

Thanks so much for your help! Going in 4 weeks.

I actually don't think anyone can answer that since your trip is still so far out, and things seem to be changing every day.