Annual Passholders - get ready for Magic Bands

[LSUfan4444]

I can understand why they can't just let AP's book FP+'s for as many days as they want. If they did, you would soon see that system go the same as the ADR's, people just making FP's "just in case" they decide to go.

No question...without a penalty for not using them, the no-show rate would skyrocket.

 

[lucyanna girl]

Not arguing, just trying to explain why people staying off-site with AP's can only get 7 days at a time. People don't seem to understand why Disney can't recognize their off-site stays.

I'm am an AP too, and I can understand why they can't just let AP's book FP+'s for as many days as they want. If they did, you would soon see that system go the same as the ADR's, people just making FP's "just in case" they decide to go.

I didn't mean to come across as argumentative either, I'm just frustrated with Disney.

We try to roll with the flo. Waited until we had a chance to try FP+ and then really didn't like it but we still have a summer trip planned. We will come this summer because we have others to consider. However, this seven day limit to pre-book is probably the icing on the cake for us.

Instead of shelling out for annual passes every year and going every chance we get I think this pass will do it for us. At Universal they have really stepped up their game with HP, BG looks interesting also. Instead of buying into DVC now that our youngest graduates college in May we will probably explore other options.

Pay almost seven hundred dollars each and only be able to pre-book seven days, nope - not after these passes expire.

Penny

 

[papertraveller]

Just in case anyone here might be caught by this -- we are annual pass holders and booked an on-site stay just to try out the Magic Bands. Then we were off-site for a week.

In the meantime, the system changed and allow us to book all of our FastPasses for the week - not just for the one day. Yay!

Everything worked great -- until mid-way through our first day at the park. Our daughter checked the app, and suddenly our FastPasses for the next day -- and the rest of the week -- disappeared. Gone.

We went to check on this before we left the park, and sure enough, everything had been erased. We were entitled to the FP+, they assured us, but this was a bug in the system. They worked hard to get us times approximating what we had originally booked.

I can say that each time we had to interact with a CM about the FP+, it was clear that they are frustrated. They would ask people if they had booked FP+, and be told clearly that yes they had, only to see them at the entry points displaying none at all.

We were asked three times whether we had printouts as proof of our bookings -- so lesson learned. The digital age needs to be backed up with printed proof!!

One final observation, since this was our first trip travelling with the FP+ system. It has totally changed our touring pattern. At MK we arrived just after rope drop and caught four attractions using the standby lines. Once our FP+ was used up, we left the park.

This happened at the other parks too, although with fewer attractions we were done much sooner. We didn't stick around as we might have done in the past. Interesting, since this I suspect is not the result Disney intended!

 

[LSUfan4444]

I don't think ANYONE should allow MDX to be the main holder of your reservation info. That would essentially be like storing old family photos on on the iCloud. Back up the information on your own.

About once a week I go in and just take screenshots of my reservations and save them in a file I have saved on my desktop with other info pertaining that that trip.

if you have a Mac/iPad/iPhone and use photo stream, it is easy to save these screen shots in your camera roll and photo stream them to all your devices.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I've printed my FP+ out also.

We will be down in 4 days May and 4 days in June. May is onsite June is at the Dolphin. If I book my 4 days onsite will it let me book the 7 days in June I wonder? That would be more than the 7 PAP but onsite I am entitled to those 60 days out.

I really, really wish I knew there were going to be so many changes and limitations when I booked these trips in August 2013. 3K in tickets I really have to use them wisely. If I can't ride the attractions because all the FP+ are gone and SB lines through the roof the value of my PAP seriously went downhill.

 

[LSUfan4444]

If I can't ride the attractions because all the FP+ are gone and SB lines through the roof the value of my PAP seriously went downhill.

Arriving at rope drop has, and will continue to be the best way to ensure you ride headlining attractions with little to no wait.

We will be down in 4 days May and 4 days in June. May is onsite June is at the Dolphin. If I book my 4 days onsite will it let me book the 7 days in June I wonder? That would be more than the 7 PAP but onsite I am entitled to those 60 days out.

You will be able to book your May FP+ at 60 days, and your June FP+ at 30 days.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Arriving at rope drop has, and will continue to be the best way to ensure you ride headlining attractions with little to no wait.



You will be able to book your May FP+ at 60 days, and your June FP+ at 30 days.

Good to know about the FP+.

We are RD people, I have great pictures of my family be first at the turnstiles. However, during super, peak heavy crowded days, I fear we will start the day with Soarin' AND TT with a long SB line. I wouldn't want to be in either line around 10 AM. When the 9:55 people show up and the 10:05 people show up.

I know if I have a 9-10 FP+ I am not using it until closer to 10. However, If the first thing I plan to do when I get into the park is my 10-11 FP+. I won't want to chance getting stuck in a big SB line and missing my FP.

I don't remember FP- STARTING at 9AM.

 

[ethanwa]

Anyone gotten tracking numbers for their MagicBands yet?

 

[dsneprincess]

Just in case anyone here might be caught by this -- we are annual pass holders and booked an on-site stay just to try out the Magic Bands. Then we were off-site for a week.

In the meantime, the system changed and allow us to book all of our FastPasses for the week - not just for the one day. Yay!

Everything worked great -- until mid-way through our first day at the park. Our daughter checked the app, and suddenly our FastPasses for the next day -- and the rest of the week -- disappeared. Gone.

We went to check on this before we left the park, and sure enough, everything had been erased. We were entitled to the FP+, they assured us, but this was a bug in the system. They worked hard to get us times approximating what we had originally booked.

I can say that each time we had to interact with a CM about the FP+, it was clear that they are frustrated. They would ask people if they had booked FP+, and be told clearly that yes they had, only to see them at the entry points displaying none at all.

We were asked three times whether we had printouts as proof of our bookings -- so lesson learned. The digital age needs to be backed up with printed proof!!

One final observation, since this was our first trip travelling with the FP+ system. It has totally changed our touring pattern. At MK we arrived just after rope drop and caught four attractions using the standby lines. Once our FP+ was used up, we left the park.

This happened at the other parks too, although with fewer attractions we were done much sooner. We didn't stick around as we might have done in the past. Interesting, since this I suspect is not the result Disney intended!

We noticed that we also finished faster and left. We ate many more meals offsite and were freed up to shop outside Disney. I have to think this was not the intended outcome. Once our FPs were gone and lines were LONG for attractions that were previously walk on, we left to do other things.

 

[LSUfan4444]

However, during super, peak heavy crowded days, I fear we will start the day with Soarin' AND TT with a long SB line. I wouldn't want to be in either line around 10 AM. When the 9:55 people show up and the 10:05 people show up.

Regardless the time of the year, if you are in line :30 minutes before advertised opening on a non EMH day, you will be fine for at least ONE attraction per park with little to no wait. In Epcot, you just FP+ the other for later in the day.

Take Epcot for example....it's June and will be hot.

Head first thing to Test Track then immediately head to Mission Space (if desiered), Innoventions (if desired), then Ellen (if desired).

Then head over to do Figment, then the Seas and do Nemo.

Around that time grab your lunch (either an ADR at Coral Reef, Sunshine Seasons, etc.), then after lunch you can use your FP+ for Soarin then do Living with the Land since you're there, use FP+ for Turtle Talk. After you're done you can head to the character spot and then use your last FP+ on Spaceship Earth.

On a day like this your morning will all be standby:
test track, mission space, innoventions, ellen all will have minimal standbys the first hour and a half

Figment might have a small wait, and Nemo will have one as well, but you're inside. After lunch, the only thing left to do via standby will be Living with the Land and character spot. (all for example).

It can work, but arriving early is the key. This will only be doom and gloom for those who don't want to adapt a little.

I know if I have a 9-10 FP+ I am not using it until closer to 10. However, If the first thing I plan to do when I get into the park is my 10-11 FP+. I won't want to chance getting stuck in a big SB line and missing my FP.

I really don't think it is best to make FP+ for early in the day. Save them for later in the day when the crowd size increases and instead of skipping a 20 minute wait at Nemo at 10:30 am, you're skipping a 35 minute wait at Spaceship Earth at 3:45 pm.

Use those first couple of hours to do things that you do not have FP+ for, or do not offer FP+.

 

[LSUfan4444]

We noticed that we also finished faster and left. We ate many more meals offsite and were freed up to shop outside Disney. I have to think this was not the intended outcome. Once our FPs were gone and lines were LONG for attractions that were previously walk on, we left to do other things.

Another reason to save them for later in the day.

 

[puffkin]

We noticed that we also finished faster and left. We ate many more meals offsite and were freed up to shop outside Disney. I have to think this was not the intended outcome. Once our FPs were gone and lines were LONG for attractions that were previously walk on, we left to do other things.

I also don't understand why you wouldn't ride standby in the am and save the FP+ for later in the day?

I think a lot of the FP+ dissenters are misdirecting their wrath at the system, and not their inability to change their touring methodology. You see it all the time in the business world....you get a new system at your office and there are always those co-workers who can't adapt.

Admittedly, I didn't like the system at first, and still don't like the tiering and lack of hopping like most people. But we are rope droppers so we plan on just riding as much as we can standby....including the smaller attractions we used to do later in the day when the lines got longer. Since we will already have the big attractions reserved, we can just kind of switch the order we do things in. Its just changing our habits and the way we tour the parks...no more criss crossing and running to FP machines. NO more never doing headliners at night because of the lines/no fast pass. Its a change, but we are going in fully expecting to change.

 

[staceyeileen]

This email was just sent out to travel agents. It includes confirmation on the discount cards and magic sliders that will be sent with the AP magic bands. I find the wording "test and adjust process" interesting...

MyMagic+ Testing Expands to Include Annual Passholders

As part of the test and adjust process for MyMagic+, all Passholders are now eligible to customize MagicBands and make FastPass+ selections in advance.

Passholders who link their Passes in My Disney Experience will see the option to customize MagicBands and can place their orders. Passholders will receive their MagicBands, a black or gold Passholder discount card and an exclusive Passholder MagicSlider.

Communications and directions will be sent to Passholders via email and direct mail over the coming weeks.

 

[SRUAlmn]

I have been checking online over and over to see if something would come up for us to have MBs shipped since everyone's been posting about it for Annual Passholders. We have a voucher (which is linked and we do have an onsite reservation in July.) I did an online chat with wdw.com (which isn't often very informative,) but this time it seemed to be. My notes are added in with **


ME: Hello! I've been reading online that Magic Bands with a special Passholder slider and a discount RFID card are being shipped out to Passholders. I currently have an Annual Pass Voucher linked to my account. Will I be receiving a Magic Band, or is it only for active Annual Passes?

**He asked me to hold on while he checked.

CM: This is only available for active pass holders, currently.
**I like the word 'CURRENTLY'

CM: Is there anything else I can assist you with? If not, I would appreciate your feedback on the brief survey at the end of this chat. If you have any other questions I would be happy to assist you!

**I felt like he was eager to get rid of me!

ME: Oh, that's such a bummer. So, when my Magic Band is shipped for our July trip I will just receive a regular Magic Band, no slider, and no RFID card to show for discounts? Once I check in and my AP is activated, will I be able to get the slider and RFID card?

CM: Yes, you will then qualify to receive the pass holder set and it will be sent to you.

ME: Ok, so it will be sent to me, but I'll already be IN WDW, so what will I present for AP discounts for dining and souvenirs?

CM: It is possible to get these extras in the park at the guest services counter. They will be able to see that your pass became activated and assist you further with this,

**And then the usual thank yous and magical days!


Just thought I'd share. Sort of bummed that I'll have to wait until we check in, but at least we can still get the Passholder set (or at least that's what's being said as of now.)

 

[ConnieB]

I have magicbands from the cancelled reservation....and got an email telling me to click here and log into my account and immediately afterwards I can now make FastPass+ for today and the next 30 days.

Was hoping it would be the same 60 days that resort stays get you, but it's better than it was so I'm happy!

Another one I notice though is that I can't make a reservation for the Wishes VIP area....could be they're all taken for the next 30 days, but it's greyed out for each day. And the parade VIP doesn't even show up grey or otherwise, but I know they existed because we got them with our MB for a visit in early December.

So...it's not perfect, but it's better now!

 

[erionm]

ME: Hello! I've been reading online that Magic Bands with a special Passholder slider and a discount RFID card are being shipped out to Passholders. I currently have an Annual Pass Voucher linked to my account. Will I be receiving a Magic Band, or is it only for active Annual Passes?

Just an FYI, the Discount card does not contain an RFID chip.

 

[SRUAlmn]

Just an FYI, the Discount card does not contain an RFID chip.

You know what.....after I posted that I went back and read it and thought....I bet someone is going to say there's no RFID chip I don't know why I said it that way. Thanks for clearing it up

 

[staceyeileen]

Does the discount card have your name on it? I guess I'm confused how they are going to stop people from just letting other people use the discount card?

 

[delmar411]

Does the discount card have your name on it? I guess I'm confused how they are going to stop people from just letting other people use the discount card?

Yes it does and your AP exp date.

 

[delmar411]

I have been checking online over and over to see if something would come up for us to have MBs shipped since everyone's been posting about it for Annual Passholders. We have a voucher (which is linked and we do have an onsite reservation in July.) I did an online chat with wdw.com (which isn't often very informative,) but this time it seemed to be. My notes are added in with **

ME: Hello! I've been reading online that Magic Bands with a special Passholder slider and a discount RFID card are being shipped out to Passholders. I currently have an Annual Pass Voucher linked to my account. Will I be receiving a Magic Band, or is it only for active Annual Passes?

**He asked me to hold on while he checked.

CM: This is only available for active pass holders, currently.
**I like the word 'CURRENTLY'

CM: Is there anything else I can assist you with? If not, I would appreciate your feedback on the brief survey at the end of this chat. If you have any other questions I would be happy to assist you!

**I felt like he was eager to get rid of me!

ME: Oh, that's such a bummer. So, when my Magic Band is shipped for our July trip I will just receive a regular Magic Band, no slider, and no RFID card to show for discounts? Once I check in and my AP is activated, will I be able to get the slider and RFID card?

CM: Yes, you will then qualify to receive the pass holder set and it will be sent to you.

ME: Ok, so it will be sent to me, but I'll already be IN WDW, so what will I present for AP discounts for dining and souvenirs?

CM: It is possible to get these extras in the park at the guest services counter. They will be able to see that your pass became activated and assist you further with this,

**And then the usual thank yous and magical days!

Just thought I'd share. Sort of bummed that I'll have to wait until we check in, but at least we can still get the Passholder set (or at least that's what's being said as of now.)

The Passholders set is an addition to any other MBs you may have. We have lots of MBs but when we ordered our AP set that was listed as yet another set of bands. I named them appropriately as we are starting to have lots of issues with the sorcerer game in MK because I keep mixing up the bands that are attached to the game. So keep in mind that you might to actual name your bands in a way that you know which are which.