FYI - prepare to wait a LONG time to enter parks!

[bigbabyblues]

Wow, sorry you are dealing with that. We've been here since last Wednesday and haven't run into that. We were at MK this morning, and one DS' ticket didn't scan (found out when I tried to get fp with it), but that's the only thing we've run into.

 

[michygoomy]

We didn't have issues, either, but I heard reports both before and after our trip of issues at the turnstiles.

We've been here more than a week and have not had any issues with the new terminals. I've found them to be very quick.

 

[MHSweb79]

We were there the Sunday-Thursday of Memorial Day week and didn't have any issues entering the parks. Our first day we used the tyvek AP's, but after that we had them converted to the RFID cards. I didn't think the RFID machines were any faster than the old turnstyles, but I also didn't notice any delays getting into the parks. And yes, we are rope-droppers but not 60-minutes-before rope droppers.

 

[GoofyTraci]

I really need a run down of this whole mess before we are there in August. We are Dvc members and get the annual pass paper ticket. So is there a sticky on this or can someone please tell me what to expect? Confused please help. Thanks

 

[GoofyTraci]

Also what does this mean for fast pass

 

[cbnsoul]

We've been here more than a week and have not had any issues with the new terminals. I've found them to be very quick.

When are you going? Before opening? We've arrived each day between 8:15 and 8:45. I can't imagine no one else has had these issues. Everyone we've been in line with has been complaining!

Many people have mentioned Memorial Day week was ok so I assume its a new issue, be it a technical problem or an increase in crowds.

 

[JulieWent]

Just returned from a week-long trip yesterday. (June 4 - 10). Used RFID annual passes at all parks and water parks at park opening. Arrived before rope drop three times and slightly thereafter a couple of times. Really had no problems. Typical congestion at AK one morning, but even then, we were through and into the park in about five minutes.

Side note: We really do like the way the RFID works. There were a few people who were having problems with the process, and that slowed things down, but the actual card worked flawlessly.

Julie

 

[kmb584]

In April I went to Epcot on our first full day to change my AP over to an RFID one. We (myself, 4-year-old DD and 79-year-old Gammy) stood in line at the turnstiles for 72 minutes before we entered the park. I was SO frustrated and we were all grumps for the rest of the day.

Those long lines to get into a park can do some serious dampening on a day, or in the case of the OP, the entire vacation.

 

[capegirl]

We used military salute tickets in February. The salute tickets we purchased at shades of green were exchanged for Disney character tickets when we activated them. We had no problems using these tickets even tho they weren't tied to our KTTW cards.

Thank you so much! I had visions of being asked to 'step aside'.

 

[pigletto]

Just a warning for all of those coming this summer. Park entrance this week has been a nightmare. We have been at each park prior to opening every day for the last 7 days and the lines have been ridiculous. We have gone to the "recommended" parks each day - I can't imagine how bad the lines may have been on other days. It's been taking routinely 30 minutes just to get into each park. The "scanner" turnstiles are basically a disaster and a big reason why things are taking so long. I'm so irritated I'm to the point where I'm actually contemplating selling my DVC membership - yes, it's been that bad. I've never seen it like this and we've been here all times of the year including the hyper-busy times.

I haven't read past the first post, but I agree, it was the same when we were there in February. And it wasn't a really busy week. I have been an avid rope dropper for 9 trips and it had never been like that before. The congestion and wait time to get into the park was way way longer than ever before.

ETA and yes.. it does start your day off poorly. I was there anywhere from 45 to 30 minutes early and could not even get through the turnstiles at MK on a crowd level 4 day into the preshow area until after park opening because it was packed tight with people. Angry people too. They couldn't move.
And I know how to use a turnstile, a scanner and to have my ticket out. I also know to look for the shortest line. There weren't any. It wasn't bad everywhere but MK and Hollywood Studios were particularly bad.
I don't know if I will do rope drop this trip. It wasn't worth it on the last one at all.

 

[MrsNnr]

We have APs and have had no problems with RFID. We were there Memorial Day as well and the only issues I see are guests not following directions and not using every available line.

 

[Brownsfan317]

I was just there June 5th -11th. AP passes RFID. We had no problems at all. The one day at EPCOT though they did not have CMs out helping to direct the different types of tickets and there ended up being several upset people in the RFID line that had the old tickets. The bag check lines that day were kind of ugly.

Other than that it was pretty smooth. Got to HS at 7:15 Saturday and the crowd was pretty small, but not sure how many were already on the other side. Friday HS was a little busy, but I expected it.

 

[palmtreegirl]

That's a bummer. We've actually found the new RFID entrance super fast! We've never waited longer then a few minutes to enter, even when the line was pretty long it moved quickly.

 

[Magpie]

I'm the one who started the thread about how wonderful I found the new entrances. It's pretty obvious where I stand on this issue. We were there the last week of May, using our new APs, and never had a single problem. Even the busses were great all week!

Oh man...if I had a dime for every time I heard a CM say that, with no one listening!!! We were there from May 28-June 3. I had more dirty looks from people that simply stood, like cows, in the same long line, using one scanner, with scanner lane next to them going unused. So, I just changed lines and used the empty line!! Man, I was unpopular. But, they still stood there.
Same thing at bag check. Use both sides people. But, they didn't. God forbid they line up across from their party!!! So again, I got dirty looks. One guy actually said 'Ah excuse me, but the line is back there!'...to which, happily, the security guy said 'No, she's right. Use both sides of this table.' Aaahhhhhh,

This is one of the things that I find really entertaining about Disney. I always take a moment to pause and see if there are any empty lines. And there's almost always one, even when it's really busy!

We were in Pinnochio's at the Magic Kingdom, and I popped right to the front of a long line of people ordering food from one side of the till. The CM finishes with the guest he's serving and turns to me. And the guy on the other side says, "Hey, I was here first!"

The CM apologized, but he didn't stop serving me, either.

I was very amused, though I did feel a little sorry that I'd created a bit of a hassle for the CM.

Hey, I'm just following the rules!

 

[katt789]

Have to agree with the OP, the new RFID(?) scanners take much longer than the old turnstiles.

 

[susanrose73]

We were there june 1-5 and not once did it take us longer than 5 minutes using the new RFID entry. This was both during rope drop times and early morning times.

 

[WillAustin]

We were there june 1-5 and not once did it take us longer than 5 minutes using the new RFID entry. This was both during rope drop times and early morning times.

We've had the same experience over the past week. No more than 5 minutes to get into any of the parks with the RFID passes, and most of the time it's been less than that. The bag check line has taken longer than the line at the RFID readers. Some mornings we were very early but on a few days we didn't get in line until after the park had opened.

On previous trips, we always seemed to get behind people who couldn't figure out how to put a ticket into a slot and remember which finger they used.

 

[longrf01]

Just got back on the 9th and RFID was awesome. The throughput of the RFID lines is much faster. If you had a problem, you just step aside and a plaid will over with and iPod/iPad and you'll be set in less than a minute. One helpful hint though - do NOT put your room key and AP in a pouch together. When you hold the pouch up to the reader it sometimes reads the room key instead of the AP.

Also, DD10 has an iPhone with an OtterBox case. She put her in the case between the rubber-ish outer shell and plastic-ish inner shell. Read her AP through the rubber just fine.

 

[VAtink]

We just got back yesterday from just over a week in the parks and we loved the new system! We never had to wait more than 5 minutes to get in once the parks opened, it was great! The only thing that made the lines move a little slow we noticed were the groups who seemed to think they had to use the same one instead of using both on the one side. Other than that we found it to be a great system!

 

[larryz]

Hey, I'm just following the rules!

I believe you're still entitled to follow the rules...