Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Hmm...yet, I couldn't get BOG at 178 days (I forgot and called late).

There have been many changes, and things have gotten easier at places. Le Cellier is an excellent example. It became the "go to" place at Epcot for those on the dining plan - I suspect it was because of the generally "American" menu, appealing to the non-adventurous palate.

It became a two-credit place a couple years ago - and voila - easier to get an ADR.

In 2003, I definitely had to call right at 7 180 days out for CRT. Had to try a couple times, too...

Keep in mind that just because you didn't experience it, does not mean it didn't happen. We aren't making it up. And we aren't saying to has to be done today either. But they were examples of the extreme.

Yeah - I get all that. Still think there's too much drama here about these things. Again -- JMO. And I guess I must have good ADR karma.

And FWIW we go to Le Cellier not because of our "non-adventurous palates" but for the atmosphere, cheddar cheese soup, and a chance to banter for a few with some fellow (half-)Canadians.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yup. We've been going for about 9 years now, and CRT does seem easier... but even 9 yrs ago I wasn't dialing at the crack of dawn.

Yes, more than triple the capacity has that effect. As will bumping the advance planning from 90 days to 180 when fewer folks have their plans set.

We ate there for the first time in 04. I got the one I did because I was just lucky, or because it was a holiday of a 3 day weekend and the rest of the world slept in. Who knows. But I tried the next day at 7 AM for Akershus. They thought I was asking for CRT and informed me it was already completely booked.

Today? I don't even consider it a tough one to get. Even much closer to travel dates.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

There are some of us here who ARE here, week-in, week-out.

We read the posts. We keep track.
My particular file is very, very deep.

Yes, I like to chat,
but my info is not off-the-cuff.
It is well-researched and documented.

And your thoroughly-researched expert opinion is much appreciated by all and very often effusively praised -- as it should be. There's still room on a discussion board for the off-the-cuff opinions of amateurs like myself, who have been going a mere 9 years and don't spend every day on the DIS.

Vive la différence!


ETA: Just realized the original post above was edited... huh... how unusual...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yes, more than triple the capacity has that effect. As will bumping the advance planning from 90 days to 180 when fewer folks have their plans set.

When we first started going to WDW the window was 180 days, then they changed it to 90, then back to 180. I didn't personally notice a difference from that, but that's obviously anecdotal.

There are definitely things like some ADRs that you have to be on top of if they're really important to you. I just think that DIS scares the pants off some newer WDW travelers because of the hyperbole that often finds its way into threads. I've certainly had people tell me they were scared off after lurking here!

And this thread is already building anxiety for a reservation system that has NOT gone into effect, and for which details are NOT even available! Strikes me as hyperbolic conjecture.

I only looked at this thread because it had new - real - official info about a test. Probably should have ducked out earlier... I will now!

 

[racinjunkie]

And this thread is already building anxiety for a reservation system that has NOT gone into effect, and for which details are NOT even available! Strikes me as hyperbolic conjecture.

I only looked at this thread because it had new - real - official info about a test. Probably should have ducked out earlier... I will now!

I agree!! However, I feel like I have to stay now because the member who's participating in the test is going to post her experiences here and I feel like know what happened in her test is a good thing to know going forward...

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I agree!! However, I feel like I have to stay now because the member who's participating in the test is going to post her experiences here and I feel like know what happened in her test is a good thing to know going forward...

DARN!!! Can you PM me when she does??

 

[superdisneydork]

As one of the people that pulled this thread a little off course I apologize, it's really just my way of showing excitement and nervousness of a new system. Also, the engineer in me LOVES to debate ideas and thoughts on systems, and how they could be implemented or improved, etc. It's just fun to me, also to that effect, I hope I haven't accidentally offended or otherwise frustrated anyone here, like Robo, doconeill or mom2rtk, it's really just an interesting discussion for me.

I am also trying to pass the time until we finally get some real details from an actual tester! When did her flight land again ?

Boy, I think I'd be terrified knowing the DIS was waiting to hear back from me on my trip haha, I hope she has fun!

Matt

 

[doconeill]

No offense here...at least not from you

We'll get some functional details at least from this test. However, we're still unsure that this is the intended final implementation. During this test, existing Fastpass is still usable, and they will be given KTTW cards in addition to the MagicBands (to at least get regular Fastpasses), so it will be interesting to see how much of the system is actually functional...

 

[mom2rtk]

As one of the people that pulled this thread a little off course I apologize, it's really just my way of showing excitement and nervousness of a new system. Also, the engineer in me LOVES to debate ideas and thoughts on systems, and how they could be implemented or improved, etc. It's just fun to me, also to that effect, I hope I haven't accidentally offended or otherwise frustrated anyone here, like Robo, doconeill or mom2rtk, it's really just an interesting discussion for me.

I am also trying to pass the time until we finally get some real details from an actual tester! When did her flight land again ?

Boy, I think I'd be terrified knowing the DIS was waiting to hear back from me on my trip haha, I hope she has fun!

Matt

Oh heavens. No offense here. I love chatting about potential ins and outs of the new system while we hang out waiting for the actual details to be released. I'm enjoying looking at this entire process as an interesting exercise in product development. Will Disney raise the bar with this new innovation, or will it be the new Coke of our day? We've already seen 2 new entries in the "new Coke" category just since this discussion all started earlier this year with both JCPenny and Microsoft (Xbox) changing course on some big changes.

You do know that before this fastpass+ thing started, I only had 100 posts here on the DIS, right?

You don't have to agree with me to have a good discussion. You just have to be open to me having a different opinion. And you certainly have been.

 

[maddiebee]

As mostly a lurker, I love reading everyone's thoughts and theories about this stuff. I feel like I'm learning a lot about theme parks and marketing that I would of never even thought about. It's so interesting how much depth this all really has.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Was checking in for new info. As usual got sucked into reading all the ideas, opinions, speculation. Very interesting stuff. But good grief....why is there STILL no more official info. WTH Disney!?

 

[jce2]

There's probably no "official info" because Disney hasn't made all the final official decisions yet! That's what testing is for. See how it works, tweak it, try again, tweak it, finally get what works and release to public. As great as these boards are (and they are great!), the problem is there does tend to be a lot of speculation (some educated, some not), some of which leads to hair pulling and worrying (about things that may never come to pass!). To be honest, the one thing that I have learned from these boards is Disney corporate is damned if they do, and damned if they dont. Best answer, is to wait to see how the final product ACTUALLY works before worrying. For me, I would enjoy the parks even if there was NO FP system of any kind, and no FP system would ever impact my ability to enjoy. So if FP+ makes things better, great! If not, I am still looking forward to November and my next trip to the land of the mouse!

 

[whatsarahsaid]

Hi guys! It's me! Been here for about 24 hours and having a great time! Our magic bands have been working perfectly for purchasing merchandise, food and getting into the park and our room. We Reserved all of our FP+ For Hollywood Studios tonight since we won't be getting there until 5 PM.

We went to the animal kingdom today and had no problem pulling regular fast passes with our KTTW cards That we got last night during check-in just in case something malfunctions with our magic bands. As a matter of fact we rode expedition Everest four times using fast passes!

Feel free to ask any questions. Not sure I have very much to report since everything's been running so smoothly. I'll come back on here later tonight to let you know how my fast pass plus experience went.

* Typing this on my iPhone so sorry for any spelling or punctuation mistakes!

 

[ses1230]

Hi guys! It's me! Been here for about 24 hours and having a great time! Our magic bands have been working perfectly for purchasing merchandise, food and getting into the park and our room. We Reserved all of our FP+ For Hollywood Studios tonight since we won't be getting there until 5 PM.

We went to the animal kingdom today and had no problem pulling regular fast passes with our KTTW cards That we got last night during check-in just in case something malfunctions with our magic bands. As a matter of fact we rode expedition Everest four times using fast passes!

Feel free to ask any questions. Not sure I have very much to report since everything's been running so smoothly. I'll come back on here later tonight to let you know how my fast pass plus experience went.

* Typing this on my iPhone so sorry for any spelling or punctuation mistakes!

Thanks for the update!

How many FP+ were you allowed to schedule per day? What did you choose at HS?

 

[Coach81]

Yeah... get all the bugs out before we return TWICE next year!!!

 

[whatsarahsaid]

Thanks for the update!

How many FP+ were you allowed to schedule per day? What did you choose at HS?

We were allowed 3 FP+ per day at one park only. Since we went to AK this morning we just relied on regular FP which worked out great since the park was super slow this morning! Seriously guys...Rope Drop is the best idea EVER! Do it!!!

For our FP+ tonight at DHS we selected RnR Coaster, TSMM and Star Tours. Don't think we needed one for Star Tours but hubby HATES Tower of Terror so we didn't get one for that. To bad cause I LOVE IT!

 

[joyfulDisneytears]

I'm just going to say I hope they continue testing for a while.

If they intend to phase out KTTW/original FP altogether, I would think they'd include some tests where the *only* access to FP is through MagicBands/FP+/MDE so they can get some feedback before they roll it out that way to everyone.

Having access to both systems when that is not the intended final outcome won't really give a good indication of how people feel about the new system on its own. I would LOVE being able to reserve 3 FPs in advance and still be able to pull regular FPs under the current existing time constraints, but if that's not how it's going to work later I don't see how repeatedly testing it that way is going to gain a lot of new information beyond the fact that the MagicBand computer system is working.

I'm nervous about our upcoming trip, anxiously waiting on new information. I'm just glad we are staying 10 days this time so we should be able to get most things we want done, even if FP wasn't available at all.

 

[g-dad66]

We were allowed 3 FP+ per day at one park only. Since we went to AK this morning we just relied on regular FP which worked out great since the park was super slow this morning! Seriously guys...Rope Drop is the best idea EVER! Do it!!!

For our FP+ tonight at DHS we selected RnR Coaster, TSMM and Star Tours. Don't think we needed one for Star Tours but hubby HATES Tower of Terror so we didn't get one for that. To bad cause I LOVE IT!

On behalf of all of us FP junkies, thanks for taking the time to feed our addiction (affliction?)...

Question: Do you know if you could have used the Magic Bands to get any "day-of" FP+ at Animal Kingdom this morning??

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Not sure I have very much to report since everything's been running so smoothly.

Oh, no!!!

Thanks for posting... I'm checking back only to hear about your experiences - good or bad. Glad they're good so far! And thanks for posting!!

 

[KandyM]

Hi guys! It's me! Been here for about 24 hours and having a great time! Our magic bands have been working perfectly for purchasing merchandise, food and getting into the park and our room. We Reserved all of our FP+ For Hollywood Studios tonight since we won't be getting there until 5 PM.

We went to the animal kingdom today and had no problem pulling regular fast passes with our KTTW cards That we got last night during check-in just in case something malfunctions with our magic bands. As a matter of fact we rode expedition Everest four times using fast passes!

Feel free to ask any questions. Not sure I have very much to report since everything's been running so smoothly. I'll come back on here later tonight to let you know how my fast pass plus experience went.

* Typing this on my iPhone so sorry for any spelling or punctuation mistakes!

Hope your holiday is still going great! My questions are about you having both the bands and the KTTW. I thought it would be one or the other? Did you have to ask to have KTTW as well as your bands? Also, if you used the bands for park entry then how do the KTTW work, because I thought the had to go through a turnstile to be 'active' in that park? Was there any special process to activate those?