Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[wilkeliza]

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

Because to have to use that for every guest would get ridiculous. The system is started with the guest room key at this point and it saves the Agent name for the duration of the day. Have to print a thousand of those cards each day would get crazy. Right now the cards are only in case of emergency or CMs playing.

 

[doconeill]

Because to have to use that for every guest would get ridiculous. The system is started with the guest room key at this point and it saves the Agent name for the duration of the day. Have to print a thousand of those cards each day would get crazy. Right now the cards are only in case of emergency or CMs playing.

It's actually what they used to do...

Regardless, we're only talking about a handful of stations that need it.

 

[Missyrose]

Some news on the MagicBand test from wdwmagic:

As with previous tests, guests will be able to preselect three FASTPASS+ experiences via the My Disney Experience app or website. There will also be kiosks available for those guests who do not own or wish to use their own device to select FASTPASS+. The kiosks are located at:

Magic Kingdom: City Hall, Buzz Lightyear FASTPASS distribution, Splash Mountain FASTPASS distribution.
Disney's Hollywood Studios: Tower of Terror FASTPASS distribution, Star Tours FASTPASS distribution.
Disney's Animal Kingdom: Guest Relations and Primeval Whirl FASTPASS distribution.
Epcot: Captain EO FASTPASS distribution and Maelstrom FASTPASS distribution.

There will also be full self-service kiosks giving guests access to the entire My Disney Experience site at Town Square Theatre in the Magic Kingdom, and at Guest Relations in the other three parks and Downtown Disney. The lobbies of the two participating resorts will also have kiosks available. During the test, guests will also be able to take part in the regular paper-based FASTPASS, and the standby lines.

 

[chartle]

Some news on the MagicBand test from wdwmagic:

During the test, guests will also be able to take part in the regular paper-based FASTPASS, and the standby lines.

what ?!?!?!?!?!?! How many people will read this and go "See I told you when this rolls out you can do both"

I love how they added and the standby lines. Like some people would think they could only use FP+.

 

[doconeill]

Some news on the MagicBand test from wdwmagic:

Sigh...so they are going to have BOTH a MagicBand _and_ a KTTW RFID card. It will be interesting to find out if you can use either to enter the park - allowing two devices tied to the same profile and hence admission entitlements is something I didn't expect they'd allow (although technically feasible)...but this seems to still put us right back at square one - no new information as to how this will work "real world" once regular FP goes away.

But we know where at least some temporary kiosks are going to be located - kind of spread as far apart as possible, and where they already have network access (existing FP distribution locations). Now if they are self-service or not...

 

[whatsarahsaid]

Wait...so if I'm reading this right I can use my 3 FP+ AND regular FP? Is this correct!? If so...I wonder how I'll access regular FP with my MagicBand! Can't wait...only 8 more days!!

 

[doconeill]

Wait...so if I'm reading this right I can use my 3 FP+ AND regular FP? Is this correct!? If so...I wonder how I'll access regular FP with my MagicBand! Can't wait...only 8 more days!!

According to the article (which of course could be incorrect), you'll have both the MagicBand and the KTTW card - the card will still work in the old FP kiosks.

 

[g-dad66]

Wait...so if I'm reading this right I can use my 3 FP+ AND regular FP? Is this correct!? If so...I wonder how I'll access regular FP with my MagicBand! Can't wait...only 8 more days!!

Zowie, what a good deal for you.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[Missyrose]

I've been tweeting back and forth with a MagicBand tester and he said they were told they would get a regular KTTW room key in addition to the MagicBand, so they would have access to the old FP system in addition to their participation in FP+.

 

[suyama]

Upon full implementation, I really hope they allow normal FP use in conjunction with FP plus. If they don't plan to allow both, yet are allowing use of both during testing, how are they getting a true sense of how the system will appeal to park visitors. Of course the testers are going to love it...they're getting the best of both worlds.

 

[Robo]

Upon full implementation, I really hope they allow normal FP use in conjunction with FP plus. If they don't plan to allow both, yet are allowing use of both during testing, how are they getting a true sense of how the system will appeal to park visitors. Of course the testers are going to love it...they're getting the best of both worlds.

Yes. This has been a much-discussed situation with ALL of the tests, so far.

These kind of "you can do it all" tests won't prove much of anything compared to the "real-deal/battlefield conditions" of actual full-scale roll-out.

 

[Doug7856]

Sigh...so they are going to have BOTH a MagicBand _and_ a KTTW RFID card. It will be interesting to find out if you can use either to enter the park - allowing two devices tied to the same profile and hence admission entitlements is something I didn't expect they'd allow (although technically feasible)...but this seems to still put us right back at square one - no new information as to how this will work "real world" once regular FP goes away.

But we know where at least some temporary kiosks are going to be located - kind of spread as far apart as possible, and where they already have network access (existing FP distribution locations). Now if they are self-service or not...

It doesn't seem impossible to have both a Magic Band and a KTTW RFID card. Kind of like having your iTunes library available on multiple devices -- same library accessed differently. That may be the means to have same day and advanced FP. The KTTW would be a bridge until they have RFID readers on FP dispensers that are needed because of ongoing negative reactions from guests on the possibility of traditional FP going away.

Obviously this is simply speculation since Disney hasn't let us in on their research.

 

[Missyrose]

Upon full implementation, I really hope they allow normal FP use in conjunction with FP plus. If they don't plan to allow both, yet are allowing use of both during testing, how are they getting a true sense of how the system will appeal to park visitors. Of course the testers are going to love it...they're getting the best of both worlds.

I don't get the feeling that this test is about gauging guest appeal of the system. I think it's a purely functional test to see how the bands/FP+ works on a slightly larger scale than the CM tests they had been running. There have been plenty of reported issues between all the systems, so it seems like they're making sure the basic systems for the bands are working properly before rolling the program out any further.

 

[suyama]

I don't get the feeling that this test is about gauging guest appeal of the system. I think it's a purely functional test to see how the bands/FP+ works on a slightly larger scale than the CM tests they had been running. There have been plenty of reported issues between all the systems, so it seems like they're making sure the basic systems for the bands are working properly before rolling the program out any further.[/QU

Oh, so have they already done testing to determine whether guests want or like this new system? If so, did any of those tests NOT include the use of the regular fastpass with FTP plus? I'm curious...

 

[Robo]

did any of those tests NOT include the use of the regular fastpass with FTP plus?

Nope.

 

[darnheather]

They will still have to have the current FP system in place for single day park goers and walk up guests unless they get bands at the gate and the machines are changed over for band use. Not everyone schedules to go to Disney in advance.

 

[dani77]

They will still have to have the current FP system in place for single day park goers and walk up guests unless they get bands at the gate and the machines are changed over for band use. Not everyone schedules to go to Disney in advance.

No they don't...if you don't get a magic band then your RFID ticket will work with the new fastpass system. You don't need to have a magic band, just some sort of RFID chip.

 

[Missyrose]

They will still have to have the current FP system in place for single day park goers and walk up guests unless they get bands at the gate and the machines are changed over for band use. Not everyone schedules to go to Disney in advance.

The current FP machines (where you stick your ticket in and get a FP out) will eventually go away and like dani77 said, anyone who doesn't have a MagicBand will simply wave their RFIP-enabled tickets at the new FP+ machines.

 

[suyama]

Okay, just so I understand...so you will get to pick whether you use fastpass plus or the traditional fastpass system but you won't get to use both. If so, will the traditional fastpass system be around indefinitely or are they planning on eventually taking it away? Sorry if this has already been covered.

 

[Robo]

Okay, just so I understand...


1- so you will get to pick whether you use fastpass plus or the traditional fastpass system

2- but you won't get to use both. If so,

3- will the traditional fastpass system be around indefinitely or

4- are they planning on eventually taking it away?

5- Sorry if this has already been covered.

1- Maybe. And, likely only for "awhile."
2- We just don't know. (That goes for ALL of your questions in this post.)
3- Unlikely.
4- Almost certainly.
5- Many times.
It will be covered many more times, as well.