Explain to me how problems with MBs and FP+ could destroy your WDW trip?

[JoeA]

True dat! We were also there September of 2012...also a split stay, DVC...BLT and AKL (maybe we saw you!). One of the BEST trips we've ever had. Not a single problem from check in to check out. No issue with the cards or our tickets or anything.

The moral of the story is, you are right. One person can have a bad experience while someone at the exact same time and place is having a stellar one. The best one can do is to hope you get to be the stellar one.

You probably did! We too did BLT and AKJ! I was the guy with a smile and a cocktail! Remember me?!

 

[redsbe]

Taking a stab at the condescending question posed by the OP, but I'd say the problems with MB's or FP+ can potentially lead to long, frustrating, continuous waits at guest services. Having CM's accuse folks of lying. Causing missed ADR's, lost park time etc.

Once in the park why bother to spend any amount of time trying to fix MB or FP+ issues, better to spend that time actually enjoying the park? Plenty of people visited and enjoyed WDW even before FP arrived. Why not plan to not depend on FP+ or a few attractions/rides (any of which could be impacted by weather or closures you can not control or predict) and instead consider FP+ as a bonus not a requirement to enjoy WDW.

 

[redsbe]

Suppose it is the one and only trip a family gets to take. OP, and many of us, have been to WDW multiple times, some people don't have that opportunity. I know plenty of people who have saved for years to take a five-night, four-day hit-every-park once trip. If their Magic Bands lock them out of the park or lose their FPs and they have to lose precious hours tying to fix it - image how crushing that would be. Imagine a kid having his heart set on riding 7DMT just once and now he has to wait two hours or perhaps never ride it, or what the family might miss or have to skip on their one and only trip. I'd be upset if it happened to me and I've been there, done that on pretty much everything at WDW. That's how it could ruin an entire trip.

and what if 7DMT or another dream "experience" ride or attraction is closed due to weather or broken down - does that also mean entire trip is ruined?

 

[redsbe]

'destroy the vacation' no, but cause issues, yes. And quite frankly, I really don't want to have 'issues' on my vacation. I'm not the one that changed the FP system, Disney did. I simply follow what they say to do so that I can take advantage of what they have SOLD TO ME. Since I have PAID for this I should be able to expect it to work.

Same with the Magic Bands. I've PAID for the resort, I've paid for the tickets. I should be able to expect them to work. It is a huge issue to me if I get to the park and these silly bands don't work. Again, I've PAID for time at the parks and don't think its right that I should have to waste my time waiting in yet still another line trying to fix an error made by Disney.

I'm also staying on site. In part this is due to the EHR offered to resort guests and now that has changed as well.

Disney wants us to plan where we will be and when 60 days out, where we will eat 180 days out. Why shouldn't I be angered when they make changes suddenly or expect that I 'go with the flow' when the bands don't work? Every time they make one of these sudden changes (like park hours) its like a slap in the face to all of us who have taken our time to plan these things and who suddenly have to waste their time to make changes.


I like these boards but so many people here seem like Disney can do no wrong and put down members whenever they darn say anything against Disney. I realize this is the Internet and filled with all kinds of people, but at times its just so overboard.

I like Disney too, but how about some accountably here?

Well life is not perfect, I have paid good money for many vacations that were not perfect, greatly impacted by factors I could not control, but still managed to see the best and good of the situation and enjoy my time because I was on vacation. My point was not to stand up for Disney, but instead try to understand my people would let an entire vacation they worked hard for, paid for, and waited to enjoy allow themselves to a see any vacation dependent on one factor, that is not even needed to have a great time.

 

[agavegirl1]

and what if 7DMT or another dream "experience" ride or attraction is closed due to weather or broken down - does that also mean entire trip is ruined?

I understand why this comparison was used. I guess I would be more concerned over the over reliance on Magic Bands and they don't work. If a ride is down, sigh heavily and move on. If you can't get into the park because your Magic Band is not being recognized and you paid for a full day of park admission? Well that's a little different. Long lines at GR just to get them to "fix" a problem they caused might very well put a damper on my day.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Well life is not perfect, I have paid good money for many vacations that were not perfect, greatly impacted by factors I could not control, but still managed to see the best and good of the situation and enjoy my time because I was on vacation. My point was not to stand up for Disney, but instead try to understand my people would let an entire vacation they worked hard for, paid for, and waited to enjoy allow themselves to a see any vacation dependent on one factor, that is not even needed to have a great time.

the point that others are trying to make in response to you is that what makes for a "great time", as you put it, is subjective. You may not consider it necessary for your MB or FP+ to work as expected in order to have a good time, but that doesn't mean it's unreasonable for others to have a different opinion based on what they feel they need to have a great vacation.

 

[JoeA]

I understand why this comparison was used. I guess I would be more concerned over the over reliance on Magic Bands and they don't work. If a ride is down, sigh heavily and move on. If you can't get into the park because your Magic Band is not being recognized and you paid for a full day of park admission? Well that's a little different. Long lines at GR just to get them to "fix" a problem they caused might very well put a damper on my day.

How can you make such a broad statement as, "they don't work"? people have had well documented issues but I am guessing more people enter the park than not by a large percentage.

And it's our nature to complain more than to praise so you're always going to hear the negative way more than the positive. For anything.

Worked for me. Twice. A good buddy went with his family and it worked for them. And for the many thousands who went through the gates today, and will do so tomorrow, and...

I'm not discounting those with problems. As noted, I've stood in line trying to get problems sorted out (with the old cards, no less!), and it sucks. But please don't paint with such a broad brush and say they don't work.

 

[agavegirl1]

How can you make such a broad statement as, "they don't work"? people have had well documented issues but I am guessing more people enter the park than not by a large percentage.

And it's our nature to complain more than to praise so you're always going to hear the negative way more than the positive. For anything.

Worked for me. Twice. A good buddy went with his family and it worked for them. And for the many thousands who went through the gates today, and will do so tomorrow, and...

I'm not discounting those with problems. As noted, I've stood in line trying to get problems sorted out (with the old cards, no less!), and it sucks. But please don't paint with such a broad brush and say they don't work.

I am actually very excited by the positive posts about the bands working flawlessly. I am very hopeful my trip will go off without a hitch. I never said they don't work. I am saying, they don't always work flawlessly and our little microcosm of Disney guests has had a negative report rate that is too large to just ignore. I fully expect since I have a very uncomplicated reservation (two people, package already linked etc) that my experience after over a year of testing should work. I will likely be one of those who posts about how perfectly everything worked.

I just don't think its okay to dismiss the bad experiences. Lets say we on the DIS represent 2% of attendees and of those, 20% have a very negative experience. Does Disney care? Unlikely. However, we will be the vocal minority on social media. That is a given. The system needs a better track record for us to quit ... well... griping.

 

[Rosanne]

Once in the park why bother to spend any amount of time trying to fix MB or FP+ issues, better to spend that time actually enjoying the park? Plenty of people visited and enjoyed WDW even before FP arrived. Why not plan to not depend on FP+ or a few attractions/rides (any of which could be impacted by weather or closures you can not control or predict) and instead consider FP+ as a bonus not a requirement to enjoy WDW.

Actually, not having the fastpasses is a greater disadvantage now than you are stating.

In the days before FP of any kind the line would move at a certain rate and everyone was in the same line. So, as long as the ride was functioning you would move along at a fairly predictable rate for each attraction.

Now, if you do not have the three (or possible more if things work out) FP then you are at a disadvantage from the other guests who do have the FPs. Now the standby line moves at a slower rate than the old days as the people in the FP line must be moved through at a higher ratio so as to make the FP a benefit.

I actually would be fine with them going back to the day of no FP at all. I would prefer the legacy FP but if I had to choose between FP+ and no FP for anyone I would choose no FP for anyone.

If our MBs have major glitches in August I will be pretty ticked. It is important that they work on the door to our rooms. It is important that they work at the park gates. It is important that they allow us to access the rides we picked out 60 days in advance. Otherwise, what is the point of the bands?

 

[JoeA]

I am actually very excited by the positive posts about the bands working flawlessly. I am very hopeful my trip will go off without a hitch. I never said they don't work. I am saying, they don't always work flawlessly and our little microcosm of Disney guests has had a negative report rate that is too large to just ignore. I fully expect since I have a very uncomplicated reservation (two people, package already linked etc) that my experience after over a year of testing should work. I will likely be one of those who posts about how perfectly everything worked.

I just don't think its okay to dismiss the bad experiences. Lets say we on the DIS represent 2% of attendees and of those, 20% have a very negative experience. Does Disney care? Unlikely. However, we will be the vocal minority on social media. That is a given. The system needs a better track record for us to quit ... well... griping.

I really hope they work but wouldn't fret too much between now and then! I may be naïve but do think Disney cares. If the MB aren't working then Disney may have to rack up overtime with CM's trying to help, and for every guest standing in line at guest services there is one less guest in the park buying Mickey ears with their name embroidered on the back

 

[Angel Ariel]

I really hope they work but wouldn't fret too much between now and then! I may be naïve but do think Disney cares. If the MB aren't working then Disney may have to rack up overtime with CM's trying to help, and for every guest standing in line at guest services there is one less guest in the park buying Mickey ears with their name embroidered on the back

Hasn't Disney recently decreased the.number of.cms available to help at kiosks and such? I thought I read.something about that here...that they used to have GS CMs at kiosk locations to help.solve problems, but that was changing and all GS CMs would be at GS locations only

 

[glvsav37]

How can you make such a broad statement as, "they don't work"? people have had well documented issues but I am guessing more people enter the park than not by a large percentage. And it's our nature to complain more than to praise so you're always going to hear the negative way more than the positive. For anything. Worked for me. Twice. A good buddy went with his family and it worked for them. And for the many thousands who went through the gates today, and will do so tomorrow, and... I'm not discounting those with problems. As noted, I've stood in line trying to get problems sorted out (with the old cards, no less!), and it sucks. But please don't paint with such a broad brush and say they don't work.

I don't at all think she was implying that MBs "don't work?"

Of course they "work," but with most technology and the overall reliance that Disney is putting in them, certain instances of technical/IT error will occur.

Her reply was to the OPs comparison of upset feelings over an attraction going down is the same as a MB issue.

And frankly I agree with her. There are many documented instances where MBs have flat out failed or lost FP + information on a family. It may be a small percentage, but it is happening. And I would gather that if it did happen to be your family--and a large percentage of your day was spent in line at GR, and those FP+s your kids were looking forward to for the last 2 months are gone (and even the print out you made is invalid bc you could have "photoshopped it" [actual CM defense])---you would have the same attitude that "oh well, look at all these other family's enjoying their day, so it must be successful."

I doubt it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Calling someone a liar or accusing them of being overly dramatic is just as wrong in one direction as challenging a person who says they had a great time is in the other direction. Just because you wouldn't have been put off by a bad break doesn't mean that every other person should feel the same way.

A fabulous point!

I have planned a trip to Italy with less hassle.

We went to three countries with 2 weeks notice and traveled all over by train with less hassle. AND we had the expectation that everything would be fixed if something went wrong, because that's what happens with the trains and planes. If we had missed that one little flight, there was another in an hour. A slowdown/disruption of the train schedule meant "only" 2 trains per hour between those two destinations (only!). etc.

WDW CMs aren't giving us that same confidence that even if something goes awry they'll help us with it.

"Destroy" and "ruin" are are hyperbolic words usually latched onto and used by people who favor the new system to describe the feelings of those who don't.

I'll never discount the bad experience some have had, or put them down, but the world isn't falling apart and for every bad experience I am sure there are 10 good ones.

Alas, that doesn't help the one having the bad experience one little bitty teensy bit. In fact, it makes it worse for them.

...but instead try to understand my people would let an entire vacation they worked hard for, paid for, and waited to enjoy allow themselves to a see any vacation dependent on one factor, that is not even needed to have a great time.

Because we aren't all you. It's great that you are so go-with-the-flow. Not everyone is. I understand in my head, without understanding in my heart, that you are like that. Can you do the same thing going the other way?



I haven't even had a truly negative expeirence with MBs. With the RFID keycards, yes. MBs, not as much. But. I'm not riding anywhere near as much; the FP+s are obnoxious and difficult and I don't like them. I don't WANT to schedule to that degree! ADRs are fine, we gotta eat, and my family needs to eat real food at decent intervals. But rides...should be more flexible. We are skipping FP+s, we are skipping rides, we aren't riding as much.

This makes us sad. We are ride people. Re-ride people. Our style now fits onsite-at-Universal much more than WDW.

 

[mom2rtk]

Once in the park why bother to spend any amount of time trying to fix MB or FP+ issues, better to spend that time actually enjoying the park? Plenty of people visited and enjoyed WDW even before FP arrived. Why not plan to not depend on FP+ or a few attractions/rides (any of which could be impacted by weather or closures you can not control or predict) and instead consider FP+ as a bonus not a requirement to enjoy WDW.

Deciding to not use FP+ is the same as agreeing to let 70-90% of the park cut in line in front of you all day. Every day. I'm glad that works for you. But surely you can see how some would not be.

It seems as if you are looking at things through the prism of someone who gets to attend Disney fairly frequently. Many guests don't have the luxury. If they miss something today, they might not be back in a few days, months or even years to catch it next time.

 

[Jennasis]

Once in the park why bother to spend any amount of time trying to fix MB or FP+ issues, better to spend that time actually enjoying the park? Plenty of people visited and enjoyed WDW even before FP arrived. Why not plan to not depend on FP+ or a few attractions/rides (any of which could be impacted by weather or closures you can not control or predict) and instead consider FP+ as a bonus not a requirement to enjoy WDW.

As you stated in your very first sentence back in the op, you simply don't get it. You don't have to get it. It is what it is. If you can roll with the punches, then bully for you. Others can't, unfortunately for them. Luckily that has no bearing on your continued enjoyment of your WDW vacations (or mine!).

 

[Disneylover99]

Worked for me. Twice. A good buddy went with his family and it worked for them. And for the many thousands who went through the gates today, and will do so tomorrow, and...

I'm not discounting those with problems. As noted, I've stood in line trying to get problems sorted out (with the old cards, no less!), and it sucks. But please don't paint with such a broad brush and say they don't work.

Here's the thing.....they worked for you. Twice. And that's great!

But you are discounting those with problems when you basically say, sure there can be problems, but to say they don't work is not true.

We've had three trips with magic bands. And all three times the bands didn't work. Really.

They didn't all open our resort doors. Luckily there were one or two bands that worked inconsistently. Sometimes none of the bands worked and we had to go to the resort desk for help.

They didn't let us into the parks. Ever. We have AP's so after going to guest relations a few times we simply used our cards to enter. And yes, cm's confirmed that our tickets were linked properly.

They didn't let us on fp rides. Ever. We always had our proof pulled up on our IPads. We went to guest relations about this several times as well. Finally we stopped going to guest relations because we were wasting so much time and nothing was ever fixed. At one point a cm took my daughter's customized band and replaced it with a generic band because in his words....."your MB just doesn't work".......

Overall, despite all the problems, we still had three great trips! I think it's because we accepted the fact that our bands didn't work and we refused to spend every second in line at guest relations.

And yes, I know tons of people who have had flawless trips with the bands. I am hopeful that the fourth trip (next month) will be the charm for our family.

 

[redsbe]

I understand why this comparison was used. I guess I would be more concerned over the over reliance on Magic Bands and they don't work. If a ride is down, sigh heavily and move on. If you can't get into the park because your Magic Band is not being recognized and you paid for a full day of park admission? Well that's a little different. Long lines at GR just to get them to "fix" a problem they caused might very well put a damper on my day.

Obviously problems with MBs that results in long waits to get into a park is a huge problem and reason to be upset, but I was referring to the much more common issue posters raise with MBs not working or problems with FP+.

 

[redsbe]

Deciding to not use FP+ is the same as agreeing to let 70-90% of the park cut in line in front of you all day. Every day. I'm glad that works for you. But surely you can see how some would not be.

It seems as if you are looking at things through the prism of someone who gets to attend Disney fairly frequently. Many guests don't have the luxury. If they miss something today, they might not be back in a few days, months or even years to catch it next time.

I get to WDW every 2-3 years but have always planned a trip so I can get the most out of my visit, including the rides and attractions I most wish to enjoy - and none of that planning ever depended on FP, both in its current and past format. It is all about planning. And without or with the use of FP missing a few attractions is not going to destroy my visit.

 

[Disneylover99]

I get to WDW every 2-3 years but have always planned a trip so I can get the most out of my visit, including the rides and attractions I most wish to enjoy - and none of that planning ever depended on FP, both in its current and past format. It is all about planning. And without or with the use of FP missing a few attractions is not going to destroy my visit.

Well if you plan your trip and wish to enjoy The Mine Train or Anna and Elsa, you currently need to be pretty reliant on FP.

 

[Missymouse18]

I guess I simply do not get it - how problems would with MBs and/or FP+ would completely ruin a WDW visit? I have been to WDW or DL ten times since 1995 including recently using FP+ and besides missing out on three confirmed rides/attractions why do people get so excited and concerned if MBs or FP+ do not work or have problems?

During all our visits we never depended on FP or needed certain rides/attractions (or experiencing them multiple times) to have a great WDW experience. Just get into a park, perhaps arrive early, stay late, beat the crowds, plan your priorities, look to have a more fuller complete WDW experience besides whether you got to ride TSM four times. Is WDW more then simply a few key rides/attractions in each park? How to visitors handle the other unexpected crisis that can come up during a trip that could also ruin their experience, like rides closed, bad weather, renovations etc....

I am going again in December for 6 days, already set up days in each park, options for counter service meals, and know which FP+ to book, but frankly FP+ adds little value or quality to my visit as can get done what I need to do and as much as like without depending on FP+. Frankly the weather and potential for ride closures would have more of a serious impact, and I certainly can not control those at all - at least with FP+ I can try.

Thank you, OP! This question has been on my mind, too. I just returned from WDW last month and am planning to be back in late Sept/early Oct. We are not die hard fastpassers, we are about the experience itself.
my hats off to you for this awesome thread.