Disney is at least considering, some COOL new app uses

[loves to dive]

Consider going on a site like Gazelle and buying a used smartphone! You can get a good one for a great deal and they inspect it to be sure there's no damage or issues with it. Also I'm not sure if you're willing to get an apple phone but they do end up being supported for longer than an android, therefore you'll get the updates much further into the future. Some android phones never get software updates due to the carrier and the manufacturer wanting to make their own versions of android. Just some advice in case you're considering it. Feel free to ask me more, I help people choose phones all the time as it can be almost as bad as trying to buy a car these days.

We are a non apple family. My honey is a computer consultant and works with PCs and he refuses to have any apple products although I do have an IPOD I used to run with and he had to buy and IPAD to test something for a client. I'll eventually breakdown and upgrade my phone, my current one is a Droid Maxx and works fine except for the Disney app. We live out in the country and just about the only cell service we can get here is Verizon so I have to use their service. I'll probably upgrade to a Sansung when I do it's just not worth it for one app. right now. I have an upcoming trip in Aug. with my son and the app works on his phone so we use it in the parks. I have another trip coming up in Sept. and will probably get a new phone then.

 

[Roxyfire]

We are a non apple family. My honey is a computer consultant and works with PCs and he refuses to have any apple products although I do have an IPOD I used to run with and he had to buy and IPAD to test something for a client. I'll eventually breakdown and upgrade my phone, my current one is a Droid Maxx and works fine except for the Disney app. We live out in the country and just about the only cell service we can get here is Verizon so I have to use their service. I'll probably upgrade to a Sansung when I do it's just not worth it for one app. right now. I have an upcoming trip in Aug. with my son and the app works on his phone so we use it in the parks. I have another trip coming up in Sept. and will probably get a new phone then.

Certainly understandable. I just think cell phones are a completely different beast than regular computers. I only like buying phones with the vanilla software versions, so Google Nexus/Pixel and Apple are the only options for me now. But I'm fully invested in the Apple ecosystem for years now due to working with graphics and video. It's not worth it to upgrade phones every year unless there's something on there that really makes a difference.

 

[mom2rtk]

Consider going on a site like Gazelle and buying a used smartphone! You can get a good one for a great deal and they inspect it to be sure there's no damage or issues with it. Also I'm not sure if you're willing to get an apple phone but they do end up being supported for longer than an android, therefore you'll get the updates much further into the future. Some android phones never get software updates due to the carrier and the manufacturer wanting to make their own versions of android. Just some advice in case you're considering it. Feel free to ask me more, I help people choose phones all the time as it can be almost as bad as trying to buy a car these days.

Even a used late model phone costs hundreds of dollars. I wouldn't buy one so I could use the Disney app either. When they stop supporting my phone, I muddle through with the website on my browser.

 

[Skippyboo]

The bit about showing the credits left on your dining plan seems something that could be easily done through the MDE app. That would seem handy.

 

[Roxyfire]

Even a used late model phone costs hundreds of dollars. I wouldn't buy one so I could use the Disney app either. When they stop supporting my phone, I muddle through with the website on my browser.

I didn't mean for this to turn into a total off topic discussion on the merits of using a newer phone, but if you have your personal information on there, there's absolutely no reason to use an older phone that is no longer supported by the manufacturer. I don't like using really old phones because they cannot be updated, causing data security concerns. People don't realize this, but when you buy some LG or Samsung from Verizon, you are not using base android. You're using Samsung or LG's verizon version of android. Sometimes those phones won't see an update for over a year. I heard of one version that had a critical security update held up for months because it has to go through 2 big groups before they even release it. Then once they do, it's random as to whether you will get it. Sorry, not for me.

I use my phone for a whole lot of things, mapping locations, run/walk/exercise, counting calories, banking. Sure, I can do those things on a laptop too but if I'm out and about wondering "How much do I have left in my budget for groceries this month?" I can look it up. Personally, I do not advocate for someone to get the latest and greatest every year unless they're just really an enthusiast OR there's a feature that would be really beneficial to your lifestyle or hobbies. But I will give someone the facts about how to better choose a smartphone as it is quite literally one of the most expensive gadgets just about everyone owns.

 

[mom2rtk]

I didn't mean for this to turn into a total off topic discussion on the merits of using a newer phone, but if you have your personal information on there, there's absolutely no reason to use an older phone that is no longer supported by the manufacturer. I don't like using really old phones because they cannot be updated, causing data security concerns. People don't realize this, but when you buy some LG or Samsung from Verizon, you are not using base android. You're using Samsung or LG's verizon version of android. Sometimes those phones won't see an update for over a year. I heard of one version that had a critical security update held up for months because it has to go through 2 big groups before they even release it. Then once they do, it's random as to whether you will get it. Sorry, not for me.

I use my phone for a whole lot of things, mapping locations, run/walk/exercise, counting calories, banking. Sure, I can do those things on a laptop too but if I'm out and about wondering "How much do I have left in my budget for groceries this month?" I can look it up. Personally, I do not advocate for someone to get the latest and greatest every year unless they're just really an enthusiast OR there's a feature that would be really beneficial to your lifestyle or hobbies. But I will give someone the facts about how to better choose a smartphone as it is quite literally one of the most expensive gadgets just about everyone owns.

None of that matters. We're a family with 5 phones and the most affordable phone service we can find. That means they don't give us upgrades. So regardless of all the great reasons, we don't replace functioning phones until we have to.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Looks like a decent list of additions.

While I'd love all of this to be implemented, wifi at Disney is poor and I got stung big time using 4G on my last trip

 

[twoolle]

Totally fair, you could grab a galaxy s5 or s6, both amazing phones for a couple hundred bucks though

When DH'S S4 finally gave out we got a refurbished S6 plus otterbox for $200 on ebay. My S4 is still hanging in there but I think I will need a "new" one before our next trip in March.

 

[Roxyfire]

None of that matters. We're a family with 5 phones and the most affordable phone service we can find. That means they don't give us upgrades. So regardless of all the great reasons, we don't replace functioning phones until we have to.

And I totally respect that, I just wanted to give another perspective on the why. Cybersecurity is one of those things that's becoming more and more important, especially as the amount of devices in households increase. I don't trust some of these companies to do the right thing so I try keep control over it as best as possible. Just my personal PSA and 2c for those who may not know.

 

[Linkura]

Lots of great ideas in this survey- hoping at least some of them will be implemented. Thanks for sharing!

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

The most interesting one to me is the one about reserving Disney buses. I could see how that would be a logistical nightmare- especially for those who are not planners and come to find out that end of the night or first thing in the morning they have to wait over an hour for a bus since the first three buses have been fully reserved. It could also lead to fights. Just about every time I used a fastpass on my last trip (and I used many, many of them), someone was holding up the fastpass line because there was some sort of issue- the people were an hour early or they had a fastpass for 8 when there were 10 in their party or they swore they had a fastpass and the system just wasn't working- yeah...right). I could see that happening on the buses. Also, what happens when someone with an ECV and 10 of their closest family members show up without a reservation and the bus is already fully reserved for those who have a reservation. Who takes priority?

On the other hand, it could be a good way for Disney to be able to plan for buses. If they have a general idea of how many people are heading to Pop Century at 10:30 pm, they might be able to make the buses more efficient. What they want, of course, is to have buses always full and for guests to wait as little as possible- that would be the most efficient and cost effective way to work. I have been on near empty buses before, yet I have also had to wait uncomfortable amounts of time at night because so many people in the resort where I am staying happen to be leaving at the same time I am. Maybe they could have a way for guests to give them an alert about what time they plan to leave (rather than making a reservation) so they can better manage buses.

Most of the things in the survey would not make a big difference to me. They might be interesting, but I don't see them being a major factor in the enjoyment of my vacation. Knowing I would have a bus within five minutes of getting to the stop (or of leaving my resort room) would very much affect my vacation. If they could find a way to do it logistically and fairly, it could certainly impact a lot of people.

 

[OSUZorba]

We are a non apple family. My honey is a computer consultant and works with PCs and he refuses to have any apple products although I do have an IPOD I used to run with and he had to buy and IPAD to test something for a client. I'll eventually breakdown and upgrade my phone, my current one is a Droid Maxx and works fine except for the Disney app. We live out in the country and just about the only cell service we can get here is Verizon so I have to use their service. I'll probably upgrade to a Sansung when I do it's just not worth it for one app. right now. I have an upcoming trip in Aug. with my son and the app works on his phone so we use it in the parks. I have another trip coming up in Sept. and will probably get a new phone then.

If your DH is good with computers stuff you can root a Droid Maxx and install an up to date version of Android on it. My last phone was a Maxx and I did this for similar reasons. It really isn't that hard to do.

 

[loves to dive]

If your DH is good with computers stuff you can root a Droid Maxx and install an up to date version of Android on it. My last phone was a Maxx and I did this for similar reasons. It really isn't that hard to do.

He offered but it's what he does for a living so most of the time I try not to ask him to work for me at home.

 

[anneboleyn]

I would LOVE the ability to know when your luggage is being delivered. I always stress about that for some reason, and there is always a point where I am like "MY LUGGAGE HAS BEEN LOST I KNOW IT" So that would eleviate a lot of stress for me lol

Also, I think reserving a seat on a bus could work if you had two separate lines, like FP, but then the bus driver would have to scan those peoples' bands to make sure they actually reserved a seat. I can actually kind of see it working.

I also think that Disney is trying to pull customers from Uber and Lyft with their own similar service, which is an interesting idea.

 

[adelaster]

If they could figure out a way to make bus reservations work that would be awesome. Having only been once that was the most stressful part of the trip for me. The places that had organized lines were ok, but the resorts without them were awful. Most of the survey seems like no-brainers in 2017.

 

[SL6827]

Bus reservations, at what cost though?

 

[AngiTN]

Thing is, none of these would be required services. They'd be there for someone who wanted to use their phone for them, to supplement their trip, not necessary to visit the parks. So you don't have a phone that can do it, no problem. Don't do it. It's as easy as that, no? I mean, it's a choice each person makes on what phone they want and all that.

But as PP mentioned, these are just thoughts tossed around, some as much as 3 years ago. Thoughts tossed around in a survey don't always turn out to services being implemented. Some die on the vine. Some don't though. I do hope we see a point where we can order BBB and the like online or order Express Bus online (which it sounds exactly like, not the Uber service they are hiring for)

 

[SL6827]

I loooovvveeee the thoughts of ordering your food ahead of time and just going up to the counter to pick it up. But, I do realize that it will cost jobs in the long run. But man, its an awesome idea.

 

[DisFanDad]

Thing is, none of these would be required services. They'd be there for someone who wanted to use their phone for them, to supplement their trip, not necessary to visit the parks. So you don't have a phone that can do it, no problem. Don't do it. It's as easy as that, no? I mean, it's a choice each person makes on what phone they want and all that.

But as PP mentioned, these are just thoughts tossed around, some as much as 3 years ago. Thoughts tossed around in a survey don't always turn out to services being implemented. Some die on the vine. Some don't though. I do hope we see a point where we can order BBB and the like online or order Express Bus online (which it sounds exactly like, not the Uber service they are hiring for)

YES and no. Something like bus reservations would undoubtedly put those not using the service at a disadvantage.

Others like tracking your luggage would have no impact on others.

But yes just things they are testing the waters on for sure.

 

[DisFanDad]

I loooovvveeee the thoughts of ordering your food ahead of time and just going up to the counter to pick it up. But, I do realize that it will cost jobs in the long run. But man, its an awesome idea.

In the end this will have no real impact though i think. I image disney will shift everuthing over to this type of system. At which point if everyone us ordering through the phone to skip the order line, really you then just wait in virtual digital line while they make your food. Assuming kitchens are already working at full capacity, they can't actually speed up your overall wait. If there us room to redirect order takers into the kitchen to increase cooking capacity, they could shorten waits, but I doubt they would even if / when they could.