Can't get access to my DVC digital card in MDE due to lower IOS version on phone

[maryliz]

My iPhone is a few years old and I cannot download the latest version of MDE. So therefore the "Magic Mobile Pass" isn't an option in my Menu. It's getting ridiculous that Disney thinks I should be ON my phone all day while at the parks, but now they are expecting any guests to HAVE a much newer phone? Mine is 3 years old and I have no reason to get a new one anytime soon. Thank goodness I am not paying for Genie+ on my upcoming trip because if I were, I'd have to buy a new phone. Grrr. I thought I could maybe print out my temporary pass, but it shows it's only good for a month. Will I be able to access it closer to my date and use that in lieu of their "digital pass"? I saw on another thread that someone just took a screenshot of their temporary digital pass and used it. Is that an option to get my discounts? TIA

 

[bluecruiser]

The temporary card always shows an expiration date of 30 days from the current date, so if you access it closer to your trip, it will not be expired.

However, once DVC fixes the current IT glitches that are causing people's cards (Magic Mobile pass) to show the wrong designation (ND for no discount vs Y for discount), they have said they will remove the temporary card from the website.

Your best option is to contact Member Services and explain your situation. You can't be the only member whose phone is incompatible.

 

[Masterbetatesta]

Strange, because the latest version of MDE requires iOS 13, and iOS 13 is compatible with iphones as old as a 6S (2015).

 

[Best Aunt]

Strange, because the latest version of MDE requires iOS 13, and iOS 13 is compatible with iphones as old as a 6S (2015).

I'm not surprised that MDE won't work with an old version of iOS (the iphone operating system). But I am surprised that a three-year old iPhone can't download the latest version of iOS. Maybe OP can download the latest version of iOS, but just hasn't done so?

I suppose it's possible that when OP bought a new-to-them iphone three years ago, it wasn't the latest version of the phone. But if that's the case, OP may have a bigger problem than just going to Disney World because I think Apple is dropping support for some of its older iPhones.

 

[Sandisw]

I have the iPhone 11 that was bought 2 1/2 years ago and it works on that.

 

[maryliz]

I'm not surprised that MDE won't work with an old version of iOS (the iphone operating system). But I am surprised that a three-year old iPhone can't download the latest version of iOS. Maybe OP can download the latest version of iOS, but just hasn't done so?

I suppose it's possible that when OP bought a new-to-them iphone three years ago, it wasn't the latest version of the phone. But if that's the case, OP may have a bigger problem than just going to Disney World because I think Apple is dropping support for some of its older iPhones.

I got a new phone in 2018 but it's an iphone6. The highest IOS on my phone is 12.5.5 and tells me I have the most up to date software. So looks like I should be able to use the temp pass for our May trip hopefully. I still say it's ridiculous that Disney is insisting the people do everything on their smart phones. Not everyone has them, nor wants to be on them all day, not to mention that my battery would die quickly if I were using it all day long in the parks. Vacation for me is about escaping from my phone, social media etc. Not that many years ago we used to lock our phones in the in-room safe on day 1 and take them out the night before we were leaving to charge them. Can't imagine how frustrated people who are a lot older than I am must feel.

 

[Masterbetatesta]

The 3 year old phone is actually an 8 year old phone. Regardless, I agree. You shouldn’t need a phone to access your membership benefits.

 

[Yinn]

My iPhone is a few years old and I cannot download the latest version of MDE. So therefore the "Magic Mobile Pass" isn't an option in my Menu. It's getting ridiculous that Disney thinks I should be ON my phone all day while at the parks, but now they are expecting any guests to HAVE a much newer phone? Mine is 3 years old and I have no reason to get a new one anytime soon. Thank goodness I am not paying for Genie+ on my upcoming trip because if I were, I'd have to buy a new phone. Grrr. I thought I could maybe print out my temporary pass, but it shows it's only good for a month. Will I be able to access it closer to my date and use that in lieu of their "digital pass"? I saw on another thread that someone just took a screenshot of their temporary digital pass and used it. Is that an option to get my discounts? TIA

I’m one that never carried a physical pass so I always used a screenshot of my digital one. It has never been an issue for me for any member perks. But that has always been prior to support in MDE. I don’t know if that’s changed.

 

[Best Aunt]

I got a new phone in 2018 but it's an iphone6. The highest IOS on my phone is 12.5.5 and tells me I have the most up to date software.

Unsolicited advice from me, but again, keep an eye on the news regarding your iPhone 6.

Apple knows that some people like their devices so much, they are reluctant to upgrade. So Apple kills off their older devices by doing 2 things:

(1) The device will no longer be able to get a newer version of iOS. Over time, apps won't play well with the old version of iOS, so you will find that your problem is more than just the MDE app.

(2) If a virus is discovered, Apple might not release a fix which works on older phones.

I believe the newest version is 15.3.1, so your phone is several versions behind.

Okay, I won't keep talking about it. You will make decisions about your phone based on what is right for you.

 

[Masterbetatesta]

I think it's pretty impressive that Apple supports their devices for as long as they do. When they release updates, they have to test it against every device that runs that iOS, from the oldest to the newest hardware and make sure that it works. Can you imagine the amount of time it takes to test an ancient iPhone that is 6 to 10 times slower (or more) than the current generation hardware?

I was curious to see what Google does with their Android devices, and surprisingly, they drop support earlier than Apple does. It depends on their manufacturers if they even want to bother, because Android is so segmented, who knows if your old Samsung or LG phone will get the update that Google pushes.

I got my info from the link below.

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/old-phones-unsafe,news-24846.html

 

[Suz333]

I got a new phone in 2018 but it's an iphone6. The highest IOS on my phone is 12.5.5 and tells me I have the most up to date software. So looks like I should be able to use the temp pass for our May trip hopefully. I still say it's ridiculous that Disney is insisting the people do everything on their smart phones. Not everyone has them, nor wants to be on them all day, not to mention that my battery would die quickly if I were using it all day long in the parks. Vacation for me is about escaping from my phone, social media etc. Not that many years ago we used to lock our phones in the in-room safe on day 1 and take them out the night before we were leaving to charge them. Can't imagine how frustrated people who are a lot older than I am must feel.

Your phone will not be helpful at Disney at all. We had IPhone 6, and had downloaded the latest update and the latest MDE version prior to our October 2020 trip. That trip was pre-vaccines, and Disney wanted everyone to use Mobile order at quick service. At 2 places I was trying out Halloween snacks, and couldn’t get it to work, so the cast members sent me to the cash only line. Then we wanted actual food, and tried to go to Cosmic Rays. The cast members said the inside was at capacity and not only wouldn’t let us in, we couldn’t even get in line.

We went to guest services and they mentioned that maybe we needed the latest MDE, and said there was a new version less than a week previous. We kept looking for an app update we couldn’t find. It wasn’t until we did a google search that we learned our phones were no longer supported by Apple.

I’m not saying you must get a new phone, but please know it will be unhelpful for anything at WDW.

 

[ScubaCat]

Then we wanted actual food, and tried to go to Cosmic Rays.

There's the problem - these 2 things are incompatible.

Requiring apple wallet or google pay is the dumbest idea I've heard in a long time. This was obviously cobbled together on short notice. This falls under the "use the partially-working app for EVERYTHING!!!....except for these 7 critical things we can't be bothered to implement in it" mentality