All The New Developments

[DVCBELLE]

Once again all your angst is based off of assumptions. Not facts. "I assume this will happen"

Our experience with the fastpass+ gave us more flexibility with our children and even if one of us was not in the mood we just switched.

Do you really think they would plan to have all fastpasses used up by the time the park opens? If I has to guess id say they'll release waves of fastpass+ availability. But there I go just assuming something positive.... We can only assume the negatives here.

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Yes...this is all how I believe it will play out...it is assumptions....

Let's go with my objections that aren't assumptions...

1. Disney technology has always been woefully bad...
The MDE app is painfully slow - even with excellent wi-fi
I have spent hours trying to make ADRs and have had the system lose them. Even the CMs could not find them.
My tickets have failed at park entry - and it took 40 minutes for them to straighten it out
I have more but that proves my point....

2. I have to plan 60 days out to FULLY utilize the new FP+ system and that does not appeal to me.

3. My MIL lives in Tampa and sometimes joins us on a whim...if I make the FP+ reservations 60 days out and a week before she decides to join us...so I have to hope that we can add her to our plans at the last minute.

4. My phone does not have enough battery life to last a day in the park using the new system...so by mid-afternoon I will no longer have access to MDE and will have to use the kiosks in the park. I will not get notifications if the ride goes down or be given other options.

5. I prefer to use my phone at a minimum on vacation...really just to contact my hubby if we split up. I don't want to have my head buried in the MDE app trying to change plans if we get off schedule. Plus....with 1000s of park visitors walking with their phones out...I see collisions and nightmares with strollers and ECVs...

 

[chrispeto]

This Post/Thread is to discuss all the new developments related to admissions at WDW, popularly known as Next Generation.

This includes Magic Bands, FastPass Plus, My Disney Experience, RFID tickets.

I cannot disclose my true feelings here. If I did I would be using language which would get me thrown off DisBoards, and I don't want to have that happen.

The best explanation of the whole mess is from a friend of mine who is a very senior technical specialist in Disney's IT department. It is equated to a railroad that is in operation while they are still trying to build the locomotive.

First of all everything is really in a testing stage. Nobody knows when everything will fully work, but my guess may be some time in 2015. Very few people know what they are testing for. Fewer people know what test results are and what they will test for next.

As there is no indication on a RFID ticket or a Magic Band what the entitlements are people have to keep careful track of their tickets. Disney does a lot of ticket selling through third parties, such as AAA, The Disney Store, Undercover Tourist, etc. How will these retailer be able to keep inventory control?

A few years ago they did away with wristbands for Evening EMH and a person has to show their room key for eligibility for attractions. At least the KTTW has the stay dates on it. The Magic Bands don't have any such indication. For EMH they will have to put Touch Points at every attraction which is open so they can tell if a person is legitimate. Or will they go back to wristbands?

There are lots of Security problems. However, I won't go into those as I do work at Disney and I don't want to give any wrong ideas.

I do have a feeling that within a couple of years we will be back to having turnstiles, but they will accept RFID as well as magnetic stripes and bar codes.

A minor point is that with an RFID ticket you cannot use WDW days at DLR any more, as they have no way there to find out what is on the ticket.

And the rules for FP+ seem to be changing.

And people cannot register their AP on the Disney site.

And, and, and...

[/rant]

I do have a feeling that within a couple of years we will be back to having turnstiles, but they will accept RFID as well as magnetic stripes and bar codes.

I think you are wrong here ,RFID technology is being used on bank cards, credit cards passports, driver license, nexus cards all over the western nations(Europe, Canada, USA). This in attempt to get rid of the magnetic stripes. RFID is the new normal.
I remember when bar codes and magnetic stripes first came people where very happy. Change is not easy but it is coming. I believe magnetic stripes will be obsolete within the next five years and there will be new tech coming out to replace RFID. ( This is just my opinion ).

 

[Mrsjvb]

The people who complain about having to plan rides 60 days out are the same people huddled over their computers at 12:00am at their 180+10 ADR day and pay for crowd calendars and touring plans. I call BS to their complaining. Frankly, if you're on the DIS and you're a regular contributor, you're most likely a planner.
Of course, being negative draws more attention and gets more responses.

not entirely true, at least in my case. ordinarily we would do one ADR for one TS meal and wing the rest of the day( regardless of how we were paying for it) and I MIGHT schedule a park based on early EMH.( i can't do late ones unless I deliberately not bother to go in until lunch time)
but we do not obsessively plan.

I am okay with deciding the day of whether to do SB or aim for a FP, but to be honest the concept of scheduling a specific time to take a certain ride really does not thrill me at all, esp since there is always a possibility that SB would be just as short( hence my wasting of a FP+ opportunity) or the ride being down or the only options would be rides we don't ride

I am TRYING to not freak out too much, after all I have over a year before our next trip and maybe all my concerns will be for naught as it will work itself out

 

[carrie1626]

They could MICROCHIP me. if it meant I'd get perks for being a frequent visitor (albeit, not as often as some Dis members)

WDW decision making strategies are most likely based on the FIRST time visitors who have nothing to compare it to.

So many things, I wish they wouldn't change
So many things, I wish they would change and why they don't is mind boggling

 

[lugnut33]

I don't believe I said anything about it being static and not being improved. I don't know what they are doing to improve it, if they even are right now. I have my doubts that it will be improved in time.

It would be nice of Disney to come out and say what they are doing to improve the system, not just saying AT&T will be a partner. Afterall, AT&T is the king of dropped calls.

From the 2012 rankings:

“AT&T has been a basement dweller for several years now. A lot of people are unhappy with the service, except 4G customers.

 

[tfc3rid]

Instead of wasting close to $2 Billion on a system that is a waste of time, they could have spent that on attraction infrastructure... This whole system is a mess... Back in the 1980's with similar attendance, there was no need for FastPsss... Lines moved constantly... No issues...

 

[2Tiggies]

It would be nice of Disney to come out and say what they are doing to improve the system, not just saying AT&T will be a

If your battery runs out all you need to do is go plug it in near the bathrooms and wait an hour or two while it charges.

Well for all future trips, anyone traveling with me or meeting up with us to tour the parks, is going to have to schedule all potty breaks to work in with the battery charge level on my phone

 

[rt2dz]

If your battery runs out all you need to do is go plug it in near the bathrooms and wait an hour or two while it charges.

After I stand in line for an hour or two waiting for my turn! With DS7 in tow to upset all those lovely little girls who can't handle a boy (with Autism) in the ladies room, scarring them for life!

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[Mad Hattered]

CF is indeed male...I wouldn't describe him as crotchety though.

I don't recall him ever "talking down" on anyone, ever.

And here, he is expressing his opinions, which he is allowed to do, much like anyone else is, within the rules of the DIS.

Sorry, Cheshire. Didn't mean to diminish your masculinity. Perhaps we can arm wrestle sometime in 2018 when we possibly visit WDW again.

 

[tfc3rid]

As for using 'regular' Fastpass, all indications from information out there is that it will be phased out once the FP+ system is up and running...

 

[PrettyFlower2]

I am so very frightened!!! I thought I was beginning to get the old FP system down.

 

[nkosiek]

This is the aspect that really surprises me as well. With so many tiers between frontline CM's and the people who determine how to implement such drastic changes, it boggles my mind that Disney does not hear those who have experience with utilizing the changes.

Now you see how teachers have felt in the past 15 years!

 

[MichiganDVC]

I'd had enough of unmanaged crowds, rude CMs, lines, spotty or nonexistent Wifi, inability to get the MDE app working at all, and paying more for less.

What does this have to do with RFID cards, MM+, FP+ or anything else the OP was talking about?

Unmanaged crowds is a "change?" Lines for rides?

As for Wifi or MDE app, why did you need to use that at all? A year ago, none of that existed, so why did those things ruin your vacation THIS year?
I use my iPhone in the park for three things: 1. Check weather radar 2. Take photos 3. Check wait times.
None of these tasks "ruined" my vacation in July.

Paying more for less. Less of what? I'm sorry, but if you are comparing your recent trip to 1986, then you're going to be disappointed. What was different about a previous trip that made this one pale in comparison?

If I could make changes to WDW, I would say raise the ticket prices by 30% and end free dining. That would take care of the excessive lines and having to get ADRs 180 days out. And apparently the quality of food would improve. The quality of a WDW vacation would improve overall!
But then this would price out a lot of people who really want to take their families to WDW. So I have to sacrifice long lines in exchange for not being an arrogant snob.

 

[UNCFanatik]

I don't believe I said anything about it being static and not being improved. I don't know what they are doing to improve it, if they even are right now. I have my doubts that it will be improved in time.

I am sure you would never have doubts in the WiFi because of your doubts of the whole MM/FP+ initiative.

In time? The WiFi is just one method of connectivity in the parks. Even worse case scenarios if they were making improvements over a period of time, it doesnt mean that the WiFi wouldnt be functional at all or that guest didnt have different means of connectivity and access.

 

[lugnut33]

If I could make changes to WDW, I would say raise the ticket prices by 30% and end free dining. That would take care of the excessive lines and having to get ADRs 180 days out. And apparently the quality of food would improve. The quality of a WDW vacation would improve overall!
But then this would price out a lot of people who really want to take their families to WDW. So I have to sacrifice long lines in exchange for not being an arrogant snob.

Or, you could add ride capacity in the parks by adding new attractions, lands, or even a new park. It's not like Disney hasn't been making money off the parks at the current and past pricing points. Under Iger they have been squeezing profits like crazy to help create a giant golden parachute for when he retires.

And yes, by all means end free dining.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

Free dining is not free. There's no need to end it because Disney makes a bajillion dollars off people willing to pay rack rate.

 

[doconeill]

I am sure you would never have doubts in the WiFi because of your doubts of the whole MM/FP+ initiative.

Seems to me that you don't want me to be able to make an objective opinion.

I'm not talking about MM/FP+ here. I'm talking about Wi-Fi. MM/FP+ wasn't even in use (beyond internal testing) when I was there. It was problematic just with "normal" usage. How many guests even know how to turn off wi-fi when they aren't really using their phone? I have to content with them as well.

I think what Disney WANTS guests to do with MM/FP+ is going to make it worse.

In time? The WiFi is just one method of connectivity in the parks. Even worse case scenarios if they were making improvements over a period of time, it doesnt mean that the WiFi wouldnt be functional at all or that guest didnt have different means of connectivity and access.

Why should I have to use my limited mobile data just to make their stuff work?

Maybe that's why they are in cahoots with AT&T...

 

[hakepb]

If your battery runs out all you need to do is go plug it in near the bathrooms and wait an hour or two while it charges.

Or buy a -$25 external charging battery (they have USB and/or iphone connectors) and let your phone recharge while you are on the go.

 

[Tara8595]

Just a comment about the worry that good FPs will be gone day of visit due to FP+ reservations. I am not sure I understand the concern. If someone reserves a FP+, then they wouldn't be getting a FP on that day, so either way, a person gets a FP, either day of, or in advance - the net is still that one FP for that one person. It's no more than if they got their first thing in the morning and got their FP at that time. And in some cases it'll better, because they are reserving a FP for later in the afternoon. In other cases, they'll use their FP+ for a special viewing area for a nighttime celebration, leaving more e-ride FPs day-of-visit for me.

I admit, this all makes me a little anxious to see how it's all going to work out, but I'm kind of excited too. I think having centrally located kiosks to reserve FPs for the day will be a great addition instead of having to run to Soarin and then meet my family at Living Seas. I'm sure Disney has taken lines and demand into account and I wouldn't at all be surprised if there are 10-15 kiosks possibly in multiple locations to address that. At least I hope so - I'm cautiously optimistic.

I do hope they redesign the website for FP+ though because it takes forever to book, then go in and change the times to the ones you really want - or to do separate FP+s for different members of your family. Frankly, I'd bet that the vast majority of people will use FPs just like they always did, and it will be the tiniest faction that reserves online.

JMHO. Maybe rose-colored glasses.....

 

[Mkrop]

Once again all your angst is based off of assumptions. Not facts. "I assume this will happen"

Our experience with the fastpass+ gave us more flexibility with our children and even if one of us was not in the mood we just switched.

Do you really think they would plan to have all fastpasses used up by the time the park opens? If I has to guess id say they'll release waves of fastpass+ availability. But there I go just assuming something positive.... We can only assume the negatives here.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

why would I assume that when they do not do that for dining....you need to schedule ADRs 180 days, they dont leave room for walkups that often for the more popular places, why do I think they would do that for FPs I cant get BOG for my trip bc I wasnt willing to wake up at the crack of dawn and the chance for a walkup for TS is slim to none.

And when we did the dining plan with two rooms, it was a complete mess for them to take the credits off. DH spent most of that trip in line at GR. We have never used the Dining Plan again, so for us that technology was a major fail.

And to the other poster who says we are all planning freaks hovering over our computers...nope, we like flexibility if at all possible. We schedule a few things but we like to schedule things that can be changed. We rarely book ADRs at places that require the cc hold bc I am not going to be charged $40 if a kid wakes up sick or it is pouring rain and we dont feel like going to Chef Mickey. We have been there when FL had record lows and we were glad we could change up our days on the fly. The only thing we could not change that trip was the CP package, and boy was that ice cold sitting out there at night. But we changed our whole trip around that week to do different parks then originally planned

So until WDW assures me that I will be able to ride my favorite rides without having to wait in a long SB line if we want to change parks due to a variety of factors or just bc they mood strikes us, I am not thrilled. When they can tell me that just bc I scheduled TSMM on Tues at 11am and now I have a puking kid that needs to stay in the room, that I can ride it another day without having to stand in a 110 minute line and until then I am not jumping for joy over this FP+.

Am I ready to sell my DVC over it, no but that doesnt make it so I dont have major concerns about this, and now hearing a CM being frustrated doesnt give me the warm fuzzies.