Frustrated with ADR'S, MDE and MS

[rquebral]

I have had several issues. The other day, I was trying to check park hours and the page was " not found". I then tried to book Ohana and could not get the page to load. I find the site to be extremely slow, when it does work. I am not the most patient person, so I log off and try later. Unfortunately my Ohana ADR is for 830pm now. Hopefully we will get lucky and be able to see Wishes.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Disney's IT has been horrid for years.


They have consistently confused cute with function. But no one seems to be hung out to dry on this.

I would have cleaned house years ago, but the standard there seems to be "as long as it looks cute no one will notice it doesn't work"

 

[keishashadow]

Glad it worked, I told them to fix it for you.

I do find that Google chrome works the best for me. I don't have much luck for IE. I also have Clean up on my computer which I run every night. It does seem to keep things running smoothly.

Chrome worked better than IE for me too but still had several site error messages...i love donald duck but got sick of seeing him when things went south.

DIL had her 180 window, couldn't get thru on her PC last week, used ipad without issue.

 

[TeresaNJ]

It is just so weird that it works perfectly for me.

I went to the dining site and immediately had access to 190 restaurants.

Of course I am using my PC with DSL hookup. I have no desire to try to do any of this on a phone, or i-pad which I think causes more problems. Also I clean my computer daily of files etc. and I play no games which will ruin a good working computer.

I hope it gets better for everyone soon.

Ironically, I have had nothing but problems trying to book dining on my laptop, while I have had no problems at all when using MDE to book dining reservations on my iphone and Kindle fire.

 

[crisi]

Question for the Tech people because honestly I don't know.

If the problems were with the site wouldn't everyone have problems.

I have had no problems with the site at all. It loads quickly and I am able to access everything I need.

Minutes after booking my DVC trip it was on MDE as reservations.

Just curious, as I know many are having problems and I wondered if some of it on the end of the users, as to browsers, connection speed, etc.

On the web - absolutely not - if they are having capacity or stability issues, if there is a record or file lock setting or a retry setting misapplied, or if there is some combination of actions that dead ends in the system, it might work for one person and not another. It might work for one person one time and not the next. It might work fine for a week, then start collapsing when some arbitrary setting that should have never been set gets hit during a quiet part of the day. Its a pain in the back end to troubleshoot those sorts of things, even for a really awesome IT group, and Disney's IT has never been awesome.

Now sometimes it is end user browser or configuration issues, but then don't blame the end users - good web developers make sure to develop for any browser and to test for any browser. And browser applications should be self contained - your WoW client really shouldn't affect browser apps.

Another way to look at it however is if someone uses their computer everyday - paying bills, surfing, playing games, buying stuff online - and the only site that can't get a transaction through is Disney's - it probably isn't their computer - its Disney's lousy IT.

 

[Peepster]

I, too, am frustrated with Disney IT! I've been trying to link DVC and MDE and got three different answers from three different people and then suddenly it just seemed to "appear" on MDE.

Had to link reservation manually and I'm not even going to attempt to make dining reservations through Member Services. I'm just going to go through Disney Dining via phone, the good old fashioned way.

We can't even book reservations through the website because we have multiple contracts (2) one month apart at the same "home".

The DVC website and the annual passholder website has been so "dumbed" down it's embarrassing. Was showing it to some friends interested in DVC membership and couldn't even show them a video of the villas.

This may end up being fine in the long run but I, for one, am certainly skeptical at this point.

I'm not (as you can tell by my ticker) a technological geek but I do follow directions well (and don't run with scissors) and I'm convinced that I was not being given the correct directions to follow. MDE just doesn't work more than half the time...be it in the parks or at home.

Hope it's better by our fall trip.

Auntie Peep

 

[Sammie]

On the web - absolutely not - if they are having capacity or stability issues, if there is a record or file lock setting or a retry setting misapplied, or if there is some combination of actions that dead ends in the system, it might work for one person and not another. It might work for one person one time and not the next. It might work fine for a week, then start collapsing when some arbitrary setting that should have never been set gets hit during a quiet part of the day. Its a pain in the back end to troubleshoot those sorts of things, even for a really awesome IT group, and Disney's IT has never been awesome.

Now sometimes it is end user browser or configuration issues, but then don't blame the end users - good web developers make sure to develop for any browser and to test for any browser. And browser applications should be self contained - your WoW client really shouldn't affect browser apps.

Another way to look at it however is if someone uses their computer everyday - paying bills, surfing, playing games, buying stuff online - and the only site that can't get a transaction through is Disney's - it probably isn't their computer - its Disney's lousy IT.

Thanks I certainly don't understand any of the technical stuff, I just find it interesting I have never ever had any problems, so guess I am just lucky. I even watch here when others say the site is down and I get in.

I love all the photos of the rooms on the new site, very well done.

 

[goofy4tink]

Good luck with you ADR'S tomorrow - let us know how you got on and what browser you were using etc...

Well, I made one ADR, for our arrival day. All restaurants showed up, but I'm a bit peeved I can't book the entire stay...have to do it a day at a time. What happened to the 180+10??? Have a friend that arrives 4 days before me, and she has to do it day by day as well.
Kind of a huge pain in my behind!!!! Although, I guess it levels the playing field...those that arrive before me aren't able to grab all the 'good' ADRs. I was actually able to book a good time for BoG.
Oh well.

 

[Sur]

On the web - absolutely not - if they are having capacity or stability issues, if there is a record or file lock setting or a retry setting misapplied, or if there is some combination of actions that dead ends in the system, it might work for one person and not another. It might work for one person one time and not the next. It might work fine for a week, then start collapsing when some arbitrary setting that should have never been set gets hit during a quiet part of the day. Its a pain in the back end to troubleshoot those sorts of things, even for a really awesome IT group, and Disney's IT has never been awesome.

Now sometimes it is end user browser or configuration issues, but then don't blame the end users - good web developers make sure to develop for any browser and to test for any browser. And browser applications should be self contained - your WoW client really shouldn't affect browser apps.

Another way to look at it however is if someone uses their computer everyday - paying bills, surfing, playing games, buying stuff online - and the only site that can't get a transaction through is Disney's - it probably isn't their computer - its Disney's lousy IT.

Here's my question- they know this, they know users are having numerous troubles with mostly all things Disney-IT, so why isn't it being remedied? Not a rhetorical question, I'm really wondering why. That's what I don't understand... why frustrate your customers to this point? It's the worst site I've ever deal with (ok, so others I just never went back to, but my family wants their Disney, and I'm not appreciating the trouble their website is making this for me).

 

[crisi]

Here's my question- they know this, they know users are having numerous troubles with mostly all things Disney-IT, so why isn't it being remedied? Not a rhetorical question, I'm really wondering why. That's what I don't understand... why frustrate your customers to this point? It's the worst site I've ever deal with (ok, so others I just never went back to, but my family wants their Disney, and I'm not appreciating the trouble their website is making this for me).

Its possible that they are working on it, but its something really buried in the system.

Its possible that the changes that need to be made are in critical portions of the system that would need to go through an entire test/release/change control cycle. If that is the case, it could take a month, maybe longer, to get the changes made through into production. (i.e. once the problem has been found and the code changed, it has to spend a week in the test suite, then it needs to go through release management, they meet on Wednesdays, then it goes through change control, they meet the following Tuesday, then it gets scheduled - if you are unlucky enough to be hitting a quarter end freeze, it gets scheduled for three weeks after the change meeting.)

All this depends on Disney's Service and Release management processes. I don't work for Disney, so I don't know what they are, but I know that making changes to production systems isn't easy - and if 98% of transactions are going through, the decision may be made to keep that up and make SURE you aren't going to make it worse with the change, than to slap in a "we think this will fix it" and end up with a system that doesn't work at all.

 

[crisi]

Oh, and if you are asking the meta question - why does Disney's IT suck? For a company like Disney, IT is an expense - it doesn't make money, it just spends it. While unemployment may still be high, talented developers remain really difficult to find - as do talents service management employees, talented release managers, talented architects. I believe Disney outsourced much of its IT, which makes it even harder to control the quality of staff on your projects. And I think a lot of their IT is in Florida, which isn't exactly an IT hotspot - IT recruiters have told me its really hard to recruit IT talent into Florida - bad public schools, poor public infrastructure, a economy that hasn't recovered - plus, for developers you don't have the professional cachet of California (California has all those problems, but a ton of high end tech firms that will make your resume).

 

[n2mm]

Question for the Tech people because honestly I don't know.

If the problems were with the site wouldn't everyone have problems.

I have had no problems with the site at all. It loads quickly and I am able to access everything I need.

Minutes after booking my DVC trip it was on MDE as reservations.

Just curious, as I know many are having problems and I wondered if some of it on the end of the users, as to browsers, connection speed, etc.

I'm like you. I've not had too many problems with the site. However, during the last upgrade all of my info got wiped out. I did realize that my online log in wasn't the same email as my DVC account. I do have 2 different log ins and it works fine. But both have the same email address. I've entered everything again on my computer and have had no problem pulling it up on my iphone. I used this app during my January trip and most times it worked pretty good. I had no problem standing in the park and making an ADR last minute and had no problem canceling one. For that it works great. The FP and wait times can be a little off sometimes depending on the park. It does appear to be a work in progress, but it was a very helpful tool during my January trip.

 

[akl-fan]

Op here - just a wee update-

MDE has unfrozen on my I phone and I am now able to move round it freely.
I spoke to Disney it help desk, they managed to fix the problems I was having. I can now see all of my dinning reservations in MDE. I can also see my DVC reservations however although they show as 2 adults and 1 child, my husbands name is missing from the page. It desk advised that he is still on the reservation and to not worry. She said the reservation page was just a picture of the booking and they are unable to fix/edit it at this time.

I am still a bit frustrated but at least I can see and access all my dinning reservations.
I have other bookings as well for BBB and Neverland club. They don't seem to have anywhere to go on the app. I wonder if there will be an upgrade to include them - it seems a bit silly to have planning pages but not be able to add these activities.

 

[jtwibih]

Hey guys, I have a question about My Disney Experience/My Magic + and renting points through David's (or anyone for that matter). I received a confirmation number which I can link to My Disney Experience and it shows all of my details, so that much is good. Since renters buy their tickets separately, how will this work with the new My Magic + options. I was reading on FastPass+ and would like to take advantage of this service. Is this possible to do even though I don't currently have tickets attached to the reservation? It looks like David's doesn't link tickets (unless I missed something) to the reservation so I'm curious if other DVC members/renters have issues with the new Fastpass+. If this is not the place, I apologize but I saw you guys talking about My Disney Experience and it sparked the question. Thanks

JT

 

[Sammie]

Oh, and if you are asking the meta question - why does Disney's IT suck? For a company like Disney, IT is an expense - it doesn't make money, it just spends it. While unemployment may still be high, talented developers remain really difficult to find - as do talents service management employees, talented release managers, talented architects. I believe Disney outsourced much of its IT, which makes it even harder to control the quality of staff on your projects. And I think a lot of their IT is in Florida, which isn't exactly an IT hotspot - IT recruiters have told me its really hard to recruit IT talent into Florida - bad public schools, poor public infrastructure, a economy that hasn't recovered - plus, for developers you don't have the professional cachet of California (California has all those problems, but a ton of high end tech firms that will make your resume).

They are forever running ads trying to hire people.

 

[Sammie]

Hey guys, I have a question about My Disney Experience/My Magic + and renting points through David's (or anyone for that matter). I received a confirmation number which I can link to My Disney Experience and it shows all of my details, so that much is good. Since renters buy their tickets separately, how will this work with the new My Magic + options. I was reading on FastPass+ and would like to take advantage of this service. Is this possible to do even though I don't currently have tickets attached to the reservation? It looks like David's doesn't link tickets (unless I missed something) to the reservation so I'm curious if other DVC members/renters have issues with the new Fastpass+. If this is not the place, I apologize but I saw you guys talking about My Disney Experience and it sparked the question. Thanks

JT

I would not worry about it, I don't think we are going to see it for a long time yet.

But yes the ticket is the key to it, so you will have to have some sort of ticket to pre-book when they start letting that happen, or you will have to wait until you get your tickets.

There simply is not enough information at this time to know how it will work.