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

[rastuso]

I think that offsite guests will also have trouble getting Soarin' or Test Track during busy periods. Keep in mind that we are only seeing what goes on during very quiet days right now. We have no idea how bad it will get during the holidays.

Personally I think that all of this is pretty unfair for everyone and that's not good.

Yeah, I can see this being an epic PR disaster for Christmas. Anyone staying offsite, and AP locals, will only be able to get ONE headliner FP, and only if they are at RD. Beyond that, folks are getting a ticket book with the E's already torn out.

But, don't worry, FP+ is going to reduce SB waits, so it'll all be good.

Meanwhile, savvy visitors at resorts besides POP will be pulling unlimited FP-s. OF course, everyone always TESTS to see if this works, but they all say they don't use them, so I'm sure that won't be a problem.

I've got to guess Universal big wigs are reading boards like this and others (except for the website that shall not be named that still removes any anti Disney posts), and are laughing their butts off.

Jason

 

[rebbyparker]

Yeah, I can see this being an epic PR disaster for Christmas. Anyone staying offsite, and AP locals, will only be able to get ONE headliner FP, and only if they are at RD. Beyond that, folks are getting a ticket book with the E's already torn out.

But, don't worry, FP+ is going to reduce SB waits, so it'll all be good.

Meanwhile, savvy visitors at resorts besides POP will be pulling unlimited FP-s. OF course, everyone always TESTS to see if this works, but they all say they don't use them, so I'm sure that won't be a problem.

I've got to guess Universal big wigs are reading boards like this and others (except for the website that shall not be named that still removes any anti Disney posts), and are laughing their butts off.

Jason

I can't see Christmas being anything but a mess if they don't get a handle on this soon.

 

[clsteve]

Yeah, I can see this being an epic PR disaster for Christmas. Anyone staying offsite, and AP locals, will only be able to get ONE headliner FP, and only if they are at RD. Beyond that, folks are getting a ticket book with the E's already torn out.

But, don't worry, FP+ is going to reduce SB waits, so it'll all be good.

Meanwhile, savvy visitors at resorts besides POP will be pulling unlimited FP-s. OF course, everyone always TESTS to see if this works, but they all say they don't use them, so I'm sure that won't be a problem.

I've got to guess Universal big wigs are reading boards like this and others (except for the website that shall not be named that still removes any anti Disney posts), and are laughing their butts off.

Jason

You better believe they got a big laugh over the article in the paper. I'll bet that link was the most forwarded over there in a long time. Especially since they're getting "universal" praise on how well they're executing large projects on or even under their announced deadlines.

Executives are highly competitive so you can imagine how tense things are getting at Disney, and how much pressure they're flowing down hill now that it's out in the mainstream how badly they're behind sched.

 

[magicbob]

You can only reschedule if there is availability. Often there isn't any other availability. You can change it to another ride too if you want. A FP+ change be changed before, during or after the window up to the end of that day.

I don't think the running-15-minutes-late use of late FPs was ever the real problem. I think it was the hoarding an entire day's worth of FPs and using them all at the end of the day that was a big issue. If I had to guess, I would say the 15 minute courtesy will continue.

Yes, I noted "subject to availability." My comment was somewhat tongue in cheek. The FP police (if they were to be consistent) should be up in arms about this. If you miss your time (the examples given in the other thread occurred well after a 15-minute grace period), then you should forfeit that slot and not be able to go back and re-schedule for later. The argument could be made that (back in the day) late FP- users were simply re-scheduling their missed times.

On a serious note, though, if you can re-schedule after you've missed your time slot, that slot was "wasted." Yes, the standby line will move one person faster, but that's no consolation to the guest standing in that standby line because FP+ was unavailable because it was taken by someone who decided not to show up and they still get to come back later and bypass the line. Of course, they probably had a good excuse like being in another line or dinner ADR.

Seriously, none of this sounds familiar?

 

[chartle]

I've got to guess Universal big wigs are reading boards like this and others (except for the website that shall not be named that still removes any anti Disney posts), and are laughing their butts off.

Jason

I'm thinking no. Its scaring them to death.

If people put off going to Disney, that means people are going to put off going to Florida which means LESS people at Universal.

The people that just go to WDW or go to WDW and maybe a few days at US greatly outnumber the people that just go to US or mostly US and few days at WDW.

US needs WDW to succeed to draw people into the area.

 

[DizneyLizzy]

QUICK QUESTION...Okay so I haven't read every post on this thread (tuned out for awhile...) but if I am staying at Pop in a couple weeks can I still pull paper FP with the tickets that are linked to my MB??

Our party has a combination of an RFID AP, a paper UT ticket, & an RFID UT tourist ticket. Will these all work or will I have to ask for one of those FP cards?

Thanks!

I am so glad this is my last trip for the foreseeable future. I know I'll have fun when I get there, but this stuff is giving me a headache. Why oh why did they decide to get ride of the Legacy FP system. My husband and I have frequent debates on how exactly this will end up making more $ for Disney in the end - because clearly this was not driven by guest demand. What guests are out there demanding LESS fast pass opportunities?! We figure they are trying to get people to stay onsite and stay onsite for more days (since they won't be able to get all of their FP attractions in in one day per park anymore...)

 

[Planogirl]

I'm thinking no. Its scaring them to death.

If people put off going to Disney, that means people are going to put off going to Florida which means LESS people at Universal.

The people that just go to WDW or go to WDW and maybe a few days at US greatly outnumber the people that just go to US or mostly US and few days at WDW.

US needs WDW to succeed to draw people into the area.

I wonder how true that will be when Harry Potter 2 opens? I think that people are likely realizing that there is plenty to do besides WDW but how many is the question.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't know...at Universal unless you stay at one of their 3 resorts (apparently not the new one that will be opening soon) or you purchase the express pass, you're getting in the standby lines at everything.

And yes, everyone is going to stream over there to see the new Harry Potter installment. No question. Unless you're going to stay there, it'll be huge lines for that.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I wonder how true that will be when Harry Potter 2 opens? I think that people are likely realizing that there is plenty to do besides WDW but how many is the question.

Exactly. Considering HP2 and Hogwarts Express will be opening at about the same time as the 90 second Mine Train leaves me to believe that many more people would be visiting Universal during that time. And with the cluster cough going over at WDW with MM+, that may detour people who pop in for a day or two there.

 

[Metro West]

I wonder how true that will be when Harry Potter 2 opens? I think that people are likely realizing that there is plenty to do besides WDW but how many is the question.

I think it will always be true but with Diagon Alley coming next summer, there will still be plenty of people coming to visit. I think Disney visitors who have already paid for upcoming trips might just spend more time at Universal and SW than Disney wants but oh well...

I think executives at Universal are keeping a eye on the situation and will monitor crowd numbers over the next couple of years to see if people are staying away from Disney. But more importantly they are learning what NOT to do with Express access. Universal's onsite unlimited Express access works just fine for them but wouldn't work at Disney.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I don't know...at Universal unless you stay at one of their 3 resorts (apparently not the new one that will be opening soon) or you purchase the express pass, you're getting in the standby lines at everything.

And yes, everyone is going to stream over there to see the new Harry Potter installment. No question. Unless you're going to stay there, it'll be huge lines for that.

I'm sure it will not have FOTL access just like Forbidden Journey still doesn't have it. But you will get early access to the land (even the Value Resort) so that is a nice incentive.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't know...at Universal unless you stay at one of their 3 resorts (apparently not the new one that will be opening soon) or you purchase the express pass, you're getting in the standby lines at everything.

And yes, everyone is going to stream over there to see the new Harry Potter installment. No question. Unless you're going to stay there, it'll be huge lines for that.

We went not too terribly long after the first part opened and didn't have too bad a time except of course in the Harry Potter area. The wild crowds in HP land seemed to draw off visitors from other parts of the parks or at least that's what I told my self.

 

[clsteve]

I wonder how true that will be when Harry Potter 2 opens? I think that people are likely realizing that there is plenty to do besides WDW but how many is the question.

They're killing it on profitability, Park attendance, and occupancy rate (and have a new on-site resort opening). HP 2.0 will blow those numbers out for the next 2 years and they are rumored to have follow-on announcements for a new Kong coaster, refurbed JPRA., etc. They seem very confident in their business model and I don't think anyone is thinking what Disney is doing is going to flop so badly that they have a drop in attendance (there will be a whole new management team in place if that's the case).

I'll bet they feel issues and delays with MyMagic+ will only send more people to check them out, if only out of frustration. It sure seems to be making some of us who are concerned or "waiting out" this implementation do that...

 

[AmyB2006]

POP wasn't the first resort to use the MagicBands. AKL and Contemporary were. POP was added in the second round with Yacht Club.

On the list POP was first. AKL and Contemporary were next. I don't know where it is. It's in one of the many threads. I forget who posted it.

 

[AmyB2006]

I can't see Christmas being anything but a mess if they don't get a handle on this soon.

I kind of agree. If they don't roll all the resorts out or give POP back the FP- ability, I think it will be a mess.

 

[clsteve]

I kind of agree. If they don't roll all the resorts out or give POP back the FP- ability, I think it will be a mess.

If they don't roll the others out very soon- and especially if they roll back POP, it would point to some major issues. POP's a large resort, so they had to be somewhat confident in moving forward. A rollback would be very concerning.

 

[lugnut33]

One way they are avoiding handing out FP- at popular attractions is by shutting down the FP machines and having CMs help guests signup for FP+ and then obtain their FP that way.

 

[rastuso]

I kind of agree. If they don't roll all the resorts out or give POP back the FP- ability, I think it will be a mess.

OMG!!!!!!

Is that a non-positive comment!!?!?!


Jason

 

[Mad Hattered]

I kind of agree. If they don't roll all the resorts out or give POP back the FP- ability, I think it will be a mess.

Here was the order they started out with:

Disneys Pop Century Resort
Disneys Contemporary Resort
Disneys Animal Kingdom Lodge Jambo House
Disneys Yacht Club Resort

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

Notice how many are Deluxe resorts on that list. I think they will have a bigger mess on their hands if they just roll this out to All Star Resorts next.

 

[nugov2]

You better believe they got a big laugh over the article in the paper. I'll bet that link was the most forwarded over there in a long time. Especially since they're getting "universal" praise on how well they're executing large projects on or even under their announced deadlines.

Executives are highly competitive so you can imagine how tense things are getting at Disney, and how much pressure they're flowing down hill now that it's out in the mainstream how badly they're behind sched.

I missed this article. Is it posted here somewhere? I can't find it.