All The New Developments

[hakepb]

Been saying that since we did testing almost 2 years ago at Epcot. So many of us dislike working the new touch-point entries at MK that a lot of us at one time considered letting our proficiencies lapse and working our other cross trained positions. Complaints have fallen on deaf ears.

To Cheshire F: so many more things I could add to your list but wouldn't make any difference. This thing is going to continue to be "shoved" into the main stream no matter what anyone says. Actually as far as EMH, I see it being easier for the attractions cast as guests will have scan their RFID media and it will give a go / no-go light. Will basically save the time of having to look at cards. Hope we will get the same programming for the touch-point entries as well for EMH verification. Right now we don't have it and have to look at KTTW cards.

As a guest, I loved the RFID turnstiles at every park (shorter lines, CM's don't have to keep opening a gate for strollers..), except EPCOT ..which for some reason always seemed under-staffed during my early July trip.

 

[Nancyg56]

They hear them, but higher ups choose to ignore and dismiss their concerns.

Does not make sense to me.

 

[pigletto]

Cheshire.. All I can say is that I have long felt that this could be a major major MESS. And one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of the problems with this is all of the cast members who work directly with guests. For a long time you are going to be faced with rightfully frustrated and angry vacationers and it seems so unfair because you aren't making these decisions and won't have the answers for these people. So you get the brunt of the anger. I can only imagine your frustration.
It's really souring me on Disney in general and that's unfortunate. I think getting the bugs worked out of this system is going to take a loooonnnngggg time and it really doesn't make me feel good about throwing my carefully saved vacation money at the problems.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Thanks for the insight, Cheshire. It makes this whole MM+ mess even more frightening to hear it from a CM in your position.

I'm pretty sure the Gaggle will be along later sporting their rose-colored glasses to tell you that you're wrong about all of this.

 

[UNCFanatik]

Thanks for the insight, Cheshire. It makes this whole MM+ mess even more frightening to hear it from a CM in your position.

I'm pretty sure the Gaggle will be along later sporting their rose-colored glasses to tell you that you're wrong about all of this.

Yup, cause the whiners have started yet ANOTHER thread moaning and groaning about their distaste of a system that hasnt even been implemented in total yet.

Why are you frightened? you said a while back you were done with going to WDW.

Carry on... you "gaggle" of doomsayers.....

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Can someone enlighten me about security problems?

I'm not a CM, I have no insight into their security procedures, but I will say this...

As a guest, I loved the Mickey readers during our June trip. No clumsy turnstyle to make your way through, it's awesome. BUT, in the back of my mind, I'm thinking, "Wow. It seems like it would be so easy now to just waltz right into the park with no physical barrier here." I know the turnstyles didn't seem like much of a detererrent, but just having a physical barrier seems like it would be more secure than having nothing. Especially at RD, when there's a lot of chaos. I noticed that if you use the reader closest to the park (??? not sure how to describe that), you're practically past the gate CM before you get your green light. Plus, there are now readers on each side, with two readers per side, so you've got one CM now "in charge" of 4 readers at a time, and guests who impatiently want to get into the park. It seemed like total chaos to me when we were there and frankly not all that secure. I'm sure the famed invisible Disney security guards would swoop right in if some funny business were to take place, but at RD on a busy day I can totally see how a situation could get out of control quickly.

 

[Golf4283]

I'm glad all these people are souring on Disney, less crowds for me. I just got back from using the magic bands and fastpass+. The system was awesome and we would only plan the night before and make changes during the day depending on how kids were holding up. Also every castmember we met laughed and said they hadn't seen the bands yet. They were all excited to see us using them. Not sure where all this negative comes from considering not many people have even used the system yet. I say don't knock it till you try it.

I also don't get why people are getting mad at Disney for trying to innovate. Look at fastpasses. Disney started that program now lots of parks emulate it. I think someone there must at least know what they're doing. Have some faith people. Just because you can't take advantage and get 6 fastpasses in a day whats it matter? Lines are well controlled when we were there just in peak season. Longest line we waited in was like 40 minutes.

Also as far as people rushing the park to get in we asked a castmember at DHS about that and she said that people have tried to but no one has made it yet. They chase them down and have video surveillance to monitor them. It's a non-issue from my standpoint.

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[roomthreeseventeen]

Thanks for posting, CF. You made me very glad that our resort isn't part of the testing this month!

 

[UNCFanatik]

I'm glad all these people are souring on Disney, less crowds for me. I just got back from using the magic bands and fastpass+. The system was awesome and we would only plan the night before and make changes during the day depending on how kids were holding up.

Also every castmember we met laughed and said they hadn't seen the bands yet. They were all excited to see us using them.

Not sure where all this negative comes from considering not many people have even used the system yet. I say don't knock it till you try it.

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Are you a card carrying member of the "gaggle" wearing rose colored glasses?

 

[Planogirl]

This type of approach doesn't seem unusual for companies. My employer went through a major change a few years ago and this has lead to high turnover (when training take many months), skyrocketing costs and constant technology breakdowns. However this will work simply because the company wants it to.

I imagine that Disney will muddle its way through this and get it all worked out eventually. I can imagine some pretty severe growing pains along the way though and I'm also willing to bet that things will change and continue to change quite a bit as time goes on.

Also, those who continue to harass people that express concerns about this aren't likely helping matters. Just saying.

 

[Golf4283]

Are you a card carrying member of the "gaggle" wearing rose colored glasses?

How was your fastpass+ experience this past summer?.....

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[mom2rtk]

I'm glad all these people are souring on Disney, less crowds for me. I just got back from using the magic bands and fastpass+. The system was awesome and we would only plan the night before and make changes during the day depending on how kids were holding up.

Also every castmember we met laughed and said they hadn't seen the bands yet. They were all excited to see us using them.

Not sure where all this negative comes from considering not many people have even used the system yet. I say don't knock it till you try it.

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I'd love it too if I was one of a small number of testers in the park on a given day. Once you add tens of thousands of users, I doubt you'll have as many options when you want to make changes.

And did you get to pull regular FPs along with your FP+ slots?

You were testing a system with different parameters than the one the masses will get.

Will you like it as much when there are fewer choices because the good options were all snapped up 60 days out?

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I'm glad all these people are souring on Disney, less crowds for me. I just got back from using the magic bands and fastpass+. The system was awesome and we would only plan the night before and make changes during the day depending on how kids were holding up. Also every castmember we met laughed and said they hadn't seen the bands yet. They were all excited to see us using them. Not sure where all this negative comes from considering not many people have even used the system yet. I say don't knock it till you try it.

If I was part of the limited test as described, I might think it's awesome, too. You're getting conceirage-level service with any FP issues you might have, you're getting compensated when there are problems, and you're not competing with thousands of other guests for FP+ spots. But none of that is real world.

 

[amylevan]

Chesire ~ one of your comments seem to indicate the continuation of EMH, and how CMs will be enforcing who should be there. I have seen a few rumors indicating the end of EMH, possibly as early as Feb (particularly since the Feb calendar has yet to be released). Is that something you have heard/expect to happen?

In general, change is always hard to get used to. And something as huge as the next gen implication is bound to have IT issues a plenty. Is it possible that 5 years from now we will all be used to the system and consider it a smashing success? Yes. Does that mean there will not be bumps (some mountains!!) in the road? No. I'm still holding out hope that the changes are for the good (eventually), but I am nervous in the meantime. Especially hearing that Disney doesn't seem to be wanting to hear feedback from those on the front line.

 

[verlee]

Not a Doomsayer. I am actually a glass half full kind of person. My comments and concerns are from my direct experience. The experience I am having right now. I am hopful it will all work out. I think the plan has potential. I just can not understand why I get different answers for the same questions when I call them?

 

[delmar411]

Also as far as people rushing the park to get in we asked a castmember at DHS about that and she said that people have tried to but no one has made it yet. They chase them down and have video surveillance to monitor them. It's a non-issue from my standpoint.

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YDD has made it into the park multiple times without scanning her card or being stopped (she's 9 not that magic 14) without us in sight and me not discovering that she didn't scan her card to enter until I went to use it at a FP machine.

So while I'm pretty sure adults will have a hard time slipping through, kids will slip through on a regular basis.

 

[Golf4283]

I'd love it too if I was one of a small number of testers in the park on a given day. Once you add tens of thousands of users, I doubt you'll have as many options when you want to make changes. And did you get to pull regular FPs along with your FP+ slots? You were testing a system with different parameters than the one the masses will get. Will you like it as much when there are fewer choices because the good options were all snapped up 60 days out?

We could have double dipped but really didn't with regular fastpasses.

When we asked the fastpass+ exec at bay lake about the slots available he told us that they scaled open slots down for the test group based on average crowds for that time of year. So our test group only had a certain amount of slots scaled down for our group size.

Also I won't get mad of people schedule their fastpasses 60 days out and I miss out. I'll just see what's available when I get there. Like I said before people are making up scenarios that always turn into negatives here. I don't get it.

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[WillAustin]

When we asked the fastpass+ exec at bay lake about the slots available he told us that they scaled open slots down for the test group based on average crowds for that time of year. So our test group only had a certain amount of slots scaled down for our group size.

This is definitely the case for the August testing as well. Based on my actual experience of what slots are available to me, it's clear they are offering a very limited number to the test group.

 

[d1gitman]

...people are making up scenarios that always turn into negatives here. I don't get it.

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fear of the unknown

 

[Rosanne]

Cheshire -- I know that your mgmt knows you post here and that they're cool with that, but because you're a known CM here and your leaders know that you're known, does your posting such a negative opinion on Next Gen become an issue at all? At least on the DIS, you're seen as an "official Disney spokesman" and an expert whose opinion is likely to carry more weight than the average Joe. I have to wonder if there's someone somewhere reading this and thinking you're getting a little close to crossing a line. (Not saying that you are, only that I could see how it could be perceived that way.)

If you are truly concerned it seems that a PM would do the trick in expressing your concerns.