Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[doconeill]

So can we repeat an attraction in the same day? At epcot all i care about is Soarin' and Test Track. Will be be able to either do two different Soarin times and one TT time or one Soarin' time and two TT times with our 3 FP+ options???

The 3 FP+ options you get to book ahead have to be for three different attractions.

Whether you can get more at the park, or after getting to the park change them to be the same, is unknown, but I'm betting that those three at least will have to remain different.

 

[linzbear]

I too would make it an -M- but may not understand your reasons. which one of these categories makes it an -L- for you?

1. desirability
2. popularity
3. necessity

maybe number 3?

For me, it's an -L-, but for other people I'd categorize it as an -M-.

For me, I go for 10 days on the short end (last trip was 14), and my kids aren't character hunters. Also they're currently scaredy cats. And boys. And they're still small (will probably be 5 & 3 on our next trip). So our must-do's are pretty much all in Fantasyland and we knock them out at 9am on the days we go to MK. We only ever do Splash (so that's 1 FP), and the Barnstormer, Dumbo, and Buzz lines are rarely long enough to require a fastpass.

Every single time I walk by Jungle Cruise, the standby line is 30 minutes or more, the one time I actually waited in it the wait was more like 45 minutes, and I go during slow times. And I just don't deal with standby longer than 15 minutes (exception: new Dumbo queue - I'll do 30 minutes of that).

That said, I know it won't be a popular FP+. I'll be getting it after I get the important ones, and I wouldn't be surprised if I could pick it up in the park when I'm there. I'll still burn one on it!

 

[susanktz]

There are so many threads and so many posts.... it's hard to swim thru it all.

Will FP+ be available to AoA guests in August?

How/When do we request a color and have them personalized with our name? I plan to do my 60-day early check-in tomorrow.

 

[Robo]

There are so many threads and so many posts.... it's hard to swim thru it all.

1- Will FP+ be available to AoA guests in August?

2- How/When do we request a color and have them personalized with our name?

3- I plan to do my 60-day early check-in tomorrow.

1- No. (OK, make that about a 10-20% chance.)

(You need to know that the MagicBands and FP+ are two completely different things.
They can put one into effect without the other... or both into effect at the same time.)

2- Nobody knows.

3- Have a great trip!!

 

[susanktz]

1- No. (OK, make that about a 10-20% chance.)

(You need to know that the MagicBands and FP+ are two completely different things.

I realized what I typed when I read your response. I did mean the MagicBands. And thank you!!

 

[whatsarahsaid]

There are so many threads and so many posts.... it's hard to swim thru it all.

Will FP+ be available to AoA guests in August?

How/When do we request a color and have them personalized with our name? I plan to do my 60-day early check-in tomorrow.

The current testing phase is for Animal Kingdom Lodge and Contemporary guests checking in during a very small window of dates in June.

I got an email a few weeks ago inviting me to be a tester since I met the criteria above and I was able to choose color and personalization of my Magic Band at that time. Had to make my choices by June 14 for my June 21 check in.

 

[doconeill]

(You need to know that the MagicBands and FP+ are two completely different things.
They can put one into effect without the other... or both into effect at the same time.)

I don't think putting MagicBands out without FP+ enabled for them would make for very happy guests, considering they wouldn't be able to use regular Fastpass either unless they are given a separate ticket - which defeats the purpose

 

[missx0xdelaney]

I don't think putting MagicBands out without FP+ enabled for them would make for very happy guests, considering they wouldn't be able to use regular Fastpass either unless they are given a separate ticket - which defeats the purpose

True, but they could put Fastpass+ out without MagicBands.

 

[bcrook]

I don't think putting MagicBands out without FP+ enabled for them would make for very happy guests, considering they wouldn't be able to use regular Fastpass either unless they are given a separate ticket - which defeats the purpose

I don't know about that. Having the band for everything but fastpass would still be popular. It sounds like to me people want the bands. They are ready to buy the bands. I was at Kidani the past few days and everyone in my group (except me) can't wait to get their hands on designer magicbands. They would still work for park entrance, purchases (I would have used mine at the Maji pool bar all day), and to get in the rooms. Photopass+ would be convenient too. Having a separate card just for standard fastpass would have been convenient. I guess without FP+, there really isn't any reason to dislike the magicbands.

 

[doconeill]

I don't know about that. Having the band for everything but fastpass would still be popular. It sounds like to me people want the bands. They are ready to buy the bands. I was at Kidani the past few days and everyone in my group (except me) can't wait to get their hands on designer magicbands. They would still work for park entrance, purchases (I would have used mine at the Maji pool bar all day), and to get in the rooms. Photopass+ would be convenient too. Having a separate card just for standard fastpass would have been convenient. I guess without FP+, there really isn't any reason to dislike the magicbands.

It is still two things instead of one that you'd need. And with the current Fastpass system, the ticket used in the kiosk also needs to be the one that was used to enter the park. It likely can't handle the more flexible system that the MagicBand uses. So then the card becomes the ticket too - now the MagicBand is left for just payment - which can be done with the card as well.

They could potentially issue a special FP card that wouldn't need to be run through the turnstiles, and still work, but then it has to be date limited, etc. or they'd be VERY valuable on the eBay market

All that extra complexity and confusion plus the expense of having to give a card to every MagicBand holder...I don't see it happening. They'll make MagicBands available when they can be used as intended.

 

[wilkeliza]

It is still two things instead of one that you'd need. And with the current Fastpass system, the ticket used in the kiosk also needs to be the one that was used to enter the park. It likely can't handle the more flexible system that the MagicBand uses. So then the card becomes the ticket too - now the MagicBand is left for just payment - which can be done with the card as well.

They could potentially issue a special FP card that wouldn't need to be run through the turnstiles, and still work, but then it has to be date limited, etc. or they'd be VERY valuable on the eBay market

All that extra complexity and confusion plus the expense of having to give a card to every MagicBand holder...I don't see it happening. They'll make MagicBands available when they can be used as intended.

Actually there are cards that are just for Fastpasses that can be distributed for day of use. All someone would have to do is pick it up on their way in to the park. They aren't good for admission they are just paper tickets that are coded to receive Fastpasses.

 

[lillykat]

It is still two things instead of one that you'd need. And with the current Fastpass system, the ticket used in the kiosk also needs to be the one that was used to enter the park. It likely can't handle the more flexible system that the MagicBand uses. So then the card becomes the ticket too - now the MagicBand is left for just payment - which can be done with the card as well.

They could potentially issue a special FP card that wouldn't need to be run through the turnstiles, and still work, but then it has to be date limited, etc. or they'd be VERY valuable on the eBay market

All that extra complexity and confusion plus the expense of having to give a card to every MagicBand holder...I don't see it happening. They'll make MagicBands available when they can be used as intended.

They can give a card just for the fp machines if needed it does not have to be a card that was used to get into the parks. I only say this because back in May there was as glitch with just my key card. For the first two days my card wouldn't work at the turnstiles (they handswiped my card to get in) and I could not get ant FPs. The cm just gave me a card that was for fp machines only. Turned out the problem was that my card (and only mine) was listed in the computer as a magic band. They resort had to cancel and rebook our whole party to fix the issue. So they could give guests temporarily one of those fp cards if needed if they have a band.

 

[doconeill]

Actually there are cards that are just for Fastpasses that can be distributed for day of use. All someone would have to do is pick it up on their way in to the park. They aren't good for admission they are just paper tickets that are coded to receive Fastpasses.

They can give a card just for the fp machines if needed it does not have to be a card that was used to get into the parks. I only say this because back in May there was as glitch with just my key card. For the first two days my card wouldn't work at the turnstiles (they handswiped my card to get in) and I could not get ant FPs. The cm just gave me a card that was for fp machines only. Turned out the problem was that my card (and only mine) was listed in the computer as a magic band. They resort had to cancel and rebook our whole party to fix the issue. So they could give guests temporarily one of those fp cards if needed if they have a band.

Actually I do know that these exist - the point is it means still carrying a second item that has to be used separately, and issuing a LOT more of them.

 

[chartle]

Actually I do know that these exist - the point is it means still carrying a second item that has to be used separately, and issuing a LOT more of them.

And also managing them.

Some people will go to great extents to get more FP's, some are even willing to buy extra tickets.

If they started handing out cards they now have to make sure its only one per customer. So if the the original is lost , it has to be killed in the system before a new one is issued. Else you know people will abuse the system.

 

[jcammans]

Perhaps they will add an RFID reader to the current machines so that they can read the magic bands...

 

[doconeill]

Perhaps they will add an RFID reader to the current machines so that they can read the magic bands...

They've had plenty of time to do it, and it does not appear that they have yet. And they've got 8 days left before the first guests get the bands...

 

[Missyrose]

Perhaps they will add an RFID reader to the current machines so that they can read the magic bands...

They have said, point blank, that they will not be retrofitting the current FP machines with RFID scanners.

 

[Robo]

They have said, point blank, that they will not be retrofitting the current FP machines with RFID scanners.

On the other hand, "they" have "said" a lot of things.

 

[wilkeliza]

They've had plenty of time to do it, and it does not appear that they have yet. And they've got 8 days left before the first guests get the bands...

They've had plenty of time to also add the scanners to Agent P but as of May it wasn't switched over. They could always changed their mind of the old fastpass machines after guest feedback.

 

[doconeill]

They've had plenty of time to also add the scanners to Agent P but as of May it wasn't switched over. They could always changed their mind of the old fastpass machines after guest feedback.

Not sure why they need them at Agent P...the CMs can just issue the "Fastpass".