All FP machines to be removed from Animal Kingdom by next week and....

[famy27]

Is it possible that off-site guests will be able to use their smartphones, drastically reducing the number of people at kiosks?

Probably. But the logistics of that are also crazy.

I'm guessing they'd have CMs giving out pieces of paper with instructions. Then, guests would have to 1) hope that the app is working and that the wi-fi isn't painfully slow; 2) create an account while milling about in the entry area of AK or trying to find a place to sit to do this while kids are asking if they can go ride EE; 3) Enter all their info into MDE; 4) Pick FP+s; 5) Get offered canned times that conflict with other plans and not know that they can click each individual FP to change it; 6) Get frustrated and decide to go pull a regular FP; 7) Find out that there are no regular FPs; 7) Get in line for guest services or at a kiosk to ask a CM for help

I'm sure some people will figure out MDE with no problems, but I suspect there will be many cases where even those using smartphones will end up at the kiosks anyway.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

And thereby drastically increasing the load on the already insufficient park wi-fi infrastructure? Maybe!

You don't need WiFi for a smartphone.

 

[keaster]

You don't need WiFi for a smartphone.

You do if you're from Canada or other foreign country and don't want to rack up ridiculously high data roaming rates!

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

You do if you're from Canada or other foreign country and don't want to rack up ridiculously high data roaming rates!

Thanks, I had no idea!

 

[clsteve]

Is it possible that off-site guests will be able to use their smartphones, drastically reducing the number of people at kiosks?

Not for this DAK exercise - only to view, not to book.

 

[Missyrose]

Not for this DAK exercise - only to view, not to book.

So every offsite person will have to go to one of the four FP+ locations and use one of the couple of kiosks at each one to use FP+? What is the point of the app?

 

[amylevan]

Is it possible that off-site guests will be able to use their smartphones, drastically reducing the number of people at kiosks?

Not according to wdwmagic during this test:

"Non-resort guests will not be able to make FastPass+ reservations ahead of time, or using My Disney Experience. Mirroring the functionality provided by FASTPASS, offsite guests will need to visit a FastPass+ kiosk to make the reservations on the day they visit. MagicBands will not be available for non-resort guests. Instead, they will use their RFID enabled ticket media to access the FastPass+ kiosks and touch sensors."

 

[Mad Hattered]

What is the point of the app?

To annoy the living hell out of them?

 

[clsteve]

To annoy the living hell out of them?

Nope, to sell those DISappointed t-shirts of yours....

 

[Laketravis]

You don't need WiFi for a smartphone.

You might not NEED it but most users switch over to it especially if their carrier data signal is weak in the parks - which is exactly what I found to be the case as I was standing in line deep within a cavernous queue trying to access the app so I could change the FP+ time of the next attraction I was now going to be late too but couldn't......

Or you are not a domestic visitor as a PP pointed out.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Nope, to sell those DISappointed t-shirts of yours....

They could make a mint, Bro....just sayin'

 

[going/again]

You do if you're from Canada or other foreign country and don't want to rack up ridiculously high data roaming rates!

To right.

 

[morethananyonex]

You don't need WiFi for a smartphone.

You do if you're from Canada or other foreign country and don't want to rack up ridiculously high data roaming rates!

Thanks, I had no idea!

That's one of our worries for our Feb trip (among many, thanks for keeping everyone in loop Disney ).

If we can't get wifi somewhere or a decent enough signal to do what we need to do on MDE, we're out of luck. I am not paying the ridiculous roaming charges. I changed some FP+ times on the app using my wifi at home and it was much more efficient than doing it on the computer, except I was about 4 feet from our router and nobody else was on our network. Hearing mixed reports about the quality of the wifi at Disney worries me. I don't want to have to sit on my phone for hours and charge it 3 times a day just to use the system properly.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

That's one of our worries for our Feb trip (among many, thanks for keeping everyone in loop Disney ).

If we can't get wifi somewhere or a decent enough signal to do what we need to do on MDE, we're out of luck. I am not paying the ridiculous roaming charges. I changed some FP+ times on the app using my wifi at home and it was much more efficient than doing it on the computer, except I was about 4 feet from our router and nobody else was on our network. Hearing mixed reports about the quality of the wifi at Disney worries me. I don't want to have to sit on my phone for hours and charge it 3 times a day just to use the system properly.

FWIW - I have Verizon and unlimited data. I was at WDW 11/28 - 12/5. I mostly used Verizon data and had very few problems....only used Disney WiFi in the Soarin' line. I did have issues with the app. Not sure if that was just my phone (RAZR maxx) or what was going on. I had many "blips in the system". However, I found out if I went into settings and then manage apps to the Disney World app and cleared the.cache everything worked perfectly.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Oh and I also bought an external charger for my phone. I knew the battery wouldn't last b/c that's my camera and I'm always on facebook or texting people.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Ya know....I've been thinking (gasp). As popular as cell phones are going to be in the parks now, how long is it before Disney capitalizes on the iphone cookie? I would totally make it available as a snack credit on the DDP.

Between those and the Disappointed Disney shirts, I could be rolling in "dough". And then I could spend all that cash at Universal where they seem to generally care about their customers.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Ya know....I've been thinking (gasp). As popular as cell phones are going to be in the parks now, how long is it before Disney capitalizes on the iphone cookie? I would totally make it available as a snack credit on the DDP.

Between those and the Disappointed Disney shirts, I could be rolling in "dough". And then I could spend all that cash at Universal where they seem to generally care about their customers.

Love your sense of humor!

 

[mom2rtk]

I hate the idea of FP+ and the entire system from everything I've heard. Once I get past that, however, part of me just wants them to institute it and face the music. Instead of having this strange hybrid time with both FP- and FP+ for some, let them part the cards on the table and show how the system will really function.

I sympathize with anyone who's staying off-site and will visit DAK and run into possible chaos. However, the only way they'll adjust to make the system actually work in some form is to see how it functions on a busy day.

It does seem like insanity to start it on Christmas week, but I guess they really believe that making off-site guests go to a bunch of kiosks is the right choice. I won't be going at a time this busy, but I really think going past the kiosks and right to the attractions may be the best choice, especially in a park like DAK.

I think the thing that makes ripping the band-aid off over Christmas is the very thing that makes it necessary to rip the band-aid off over Christmas....... they are bracing for impact.

I think they are hoping to go with the lesser of 2 evils.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ya know....I've been thinking (gasp). As popular as cell phones are going to be in the parks now, how long is it before Disney capitalizes on the iphone cookie? I would totally make it available as a snack credit on the DDP.

Between those and the Disappointed Disney shirts, I could be rolling in "dough". And then I could spend all that cash at Universal where they seem to generally care about their customers.

This whole thing is so frustrating, I might be tempted to just gnaw on the real thing.

 

[Mad Hattered]

This whole thing is so frustrating, I might be tempted to just gnaw on the real thing.

Well now I am going to have to design a cookie cover....back to the drawing board. Perhaps a chocolotterbox?