I love the MyMagic+ and Magic Bands.

[DisneyKentucky]

After reading all the nightmares from people prior to arriving I was ready for long waits and an urge to throw my iPhone into Bay Lake. That did not happen. I had the Memory Maker, Annual passes and everything set up in advance of arriving on the My Disney Experience via the website and made changes on the fly via My Disney Experience App. Sure, it's at times sluggish or has errors but, the thing I think people forget is this is super user friendly from my perspective. Not to mention the lack of needing to walk to a fastpass ticket machine or even talk to people to cancel a reservation or add a reservation with the app.

Yes, there are some park hopper fastpass+ options needed to be added but, those will come. I made an effort to thank Guest Relation and other Cast Members for Magic Bands and FastPass+. They all were shocked I was thanking and not complaining.

Figured I would leave a positive report since most are negative. FWIW, DisneyParks Youtube account posted some great promo videos today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCRS2yHZDIo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D-jpc741rw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ry35MziPBAI

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Consider sharing your story on the Theme Parks forum too. I'm glad you enjoyed them! I agree that they will continue to improve as testing nears its end.

 

[DisneyKentucky]

Consider sharing your story on the Theme Parks forum too. I'm glad you enjoyed them! I agree that they will continue to improve as testing nears its end.

Yep. Every time I read comments blasting it I remember the Louis C.K. bit he did on Conan talking about people and being mad at new technology "Everything's Amazing and No One's Happy":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEY58fiSK8E

 

[AndyPok1]

Yep. Every time I read comments blasting it

Other thing to keep in mind in the age-old story of the internet. People always complain about bad service. Rarely do people take time to write when they have a good time.

 

[DisneyKentucky]

Other thing to keep in mind in the age-old story of the internet. People always complain about bad service. Rarely do people take time to write when they have a good time.

I get that. It's why I am posting it. I also, posted this to be fair:

To be honest. I had 2 issues but, they resolved them easily. One where I made a mistake and had cancelled a Soarin' fastpass for 'Living With The Land.' The person at the gate granted my permission to enter as there is a system in place for override.

Also, this past Saturday I scheduled an Main Street Electrical Parade and it was bumped by the Guest Service folks either due to overbooking or weather concerns. So, how did they resolve it? They gave me a "Free Pass" (it's not an extra but, it was 'free' in that I didn't have to schedule a time and it could be used on any ride and even the same ride already booked that day). SO, they have addressed concerns already.

Maybe I have worked too long in the business of promotion and the service industry that it upsets me to see so many rants against than to see it is both for ease for the user and more profits for the company. Neither are a bad thing.

 

[k5jm]

Creepy Promos!!! As long as I can use card RFID media that I can shield! I have no problems with MDE. But the magic bands are an uncomfortable marketing ploy. But, remember, Disney has always said that Magic bands are optional.

 

[k5jm]

...and I will not be a MBA.

Magic
Band
Apologist

 

[wiigirl]

Consider sharing your story on the Theme Parks forum too. I'm glad you enjoyed them! I agree that they will continue to improve as testing nears its end.

 

[DisneyKentucky]

So..... the Theme Park Boards is a strong in the opposition category. Maybe my inner hipster is coming out in liking it.

 

[novafan]

I agree! We were at WDW the week leading up to and including the Disney Marathon weekend.

At the beginning of the week, we were staying off site and using Seasonal Passes, so we didn't not have access to FP+ and used the traditional FP's at MK, DHS, and Epcot. At AK, we were able to use FP+ as off site guests. It worked flawlessly. We got exactly what we wanted with much help from the CM's working at a kiosk. Over the Marathon weekend, we switched to an onsite hotel and only used FP+. Again, it was SUPER easy and user friendly. Okay, the app did crash a few times on my phone, but it wasn't too bad.

I forget which attraction I was at, but I saw a guest berating poor CM (I think it was at Jungle Cruise or BTMR) over FP and FP changes. I felt SO badly for the CM because this guy was so intense and rude and the ride CM did not deserve his wrath.

At AK, a CM who was working at a FP+ kiosk told us that once the legacy FP machines are gone, it will open up a lot more FP+ slots throughout the day.

I'm excited to see where they go from here. I loved being able to make ADR's and cancel them easily on my phone. I think FP+ and MM+ is going to be a HUGE time saver in the parks.

 

[disneysteve]

once the legacy FP machines are gone, it will open up a lot more FP+ slots throughout the day.

I think this is an important point. Having two separate FP systems running side by side has got to be the source of many issues. I think things will improve once everyone is on the same system.

I still have a lot of concerns about how FP+ will alter touring plans that we've developed over the past 35 years and I'm nervous about what our next trip in June will look like as we navigate all of the new stuff, but I hope that in the end, it all works out.

 

[DisneyKentucky]

I agree! We were at WDW the week leading up to and including the Disney Marathon weekend.

At the beginning of the week, we were staying off site and using Seasonal Passes, so we didn't not have access to FP+ and used the traditional FP's at MK, DHS, and Epcot. At AK, we were able to use FP+ as off site guests. It worked flawlessly. We got exactly what we wanted with much help from the CM's working at a kiosk. Over the Marathon weekend, we switched to an onsite hotel and only used FP+. Again, it was SUPER easy and user friendly. Okay, the app did crash a few times on my phone, but it wasn't too bad.

I forget which attraction I was at, but I saw a guest berating poor CM (I think it was at Jungle Cruise or BTMR) over FP and FP changes. I felt SO badly for the CM because this guy was so intense and rude and the ride CM did not deserve his wrath.

At AK, a CM who was working at a FP+ kiosk told us that once the legacy FP machines are gone, it will open up a lot more FP+ slots throughout the day.

I'm excited to see where they go from here. I loved being able to make ADR's and cancel them easily on my phone. I think FP+ and MM+ is going to be a HUGE time saver in the parks.

Congrats on your race(s). I felt good about finishing the half but, you double dippers and Dopey runners make me feel like I am lazy.

On to the point about the CM being berated.... it's why I am going out of my way to thank these people. My wife and I had friends with us who dream of retiring and working at Disney. My wife aptly pointed out, "Do you want to retire and take this crap from these people." People need to realize you don't spend enough money to treat people worse than a criminal.

Since you ran the race, I think if people treated CM with the respect runners treated the rundisney workers they would get better service and happier cast members.

 

[AndyPok1]

I think this is an important point. Having two separate FP systems running side by side has got to be the source of many issues. I think things will improve once everyone is on the same system.

I still have a lot of concerns about how FP+ will alter touring plans that we've developed over the past 35 years and I'm nervous about what our next trip in June will look like as we navigate all of the new stuff, but I hope that in the end, it all works out.

When FP came out in the late 90s, didn't that affect your touring plans that you developed in the previous 20 years? And when the ticket books went away, didn't that alter your touring plans of the previous 5 years?

Disney makes changes, the people that love Disney adapt. It's a continuous cycle, but we all love the parks, that's why it keeps working.

 

[queenofheartsfan]

Thanks for the info! We are going to WDW on Feb 19 - will be our first time to try the bands and fastpass plus! We are excited about the new changes! can't wait to give it a try!

 

[disneysteve]

When FP came out in the late 90s, didn't that affect your touring plans that you developed in the previous 20 years? And when the ticket books went away, didn't that alter your touring plans of the previous 5 years?

Disney makes changes, the people that love Disney adapt. It's a continuous cycle, but we all love the parks, that's why it keeps working.

Absolutely. That's why I'm not one of the folks coming here saying, "We're never going back." I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt that in the end, this is going to work. I recognize that it is a massive undertaking and there are going to be bumps in the road. I'm hopeful that by June, a lot of the issues being experienced today will have been resolved.

 

[lugnut33]

I like the bands. I really dislike FP+ because it definitely subtracts from what we previously used to experience in the parks. They have taken away things we used to enjoy as a family, like riding Space Mountain more than once. I'm not riding standby and waiting for what could be an hour or 90 minutes depending on how many FP+ people are returning at a given time. I really don't enjoy planning our rides 60 days out (as a side not, I've pretty much stopped making ADRs due to the crazy 180 day mess and CC holds).

I do not like where this is going and will continue to monitor the decisions Disney makes. I'm really debating if I want to keep our DVC points because of how drastically I see the park experience changing. They could woo me with building new attractions, but they don't seem to think that's necessary at WDW, even though they have done just that out in CA.

 

[DisneyKentucky]

I like the bands. I really dislike FP+ because it definitely subtracts from what we previously used to experience in the parks. They have taken away things we used to enjoy as a family, like riding Space Mountain more than once. I'm not riding standby and waiting for what could be an hour or 90 minutes depending on how many FP+ people are returning at a given time. I really don't enjoy planning our rides 60 days out (as a side not, I've pretty much stopped making ADRs due to the crazy 180 day mess and CC holds).

I do not like where this is going and will continue to monitor the decisions Disney makes. I'm really debating if I want to keep our DVC points because of how drastically I see the park experience changing. They could woo me with building new attractions, but they don't seem to think that's necessary at WDW, even though they have done just that out in CA.

New Fantasyland, Avatarland and many other new elements are coming.

 

[Justin Jett]

Other thing to keep in mind in the age-old story of the internet. People always complain about bad service. Rarely do people take time to write when they have a good time.

Personally, I wear two of them at all times.I never take them off, even when I am not on Disney property.

When I am on Disney property, MagicBands make things soooooooooo much easier for me.

 

[lugnut33]

New Fantasyland, Avatarland and many other new elements are coming.

I know that, but I don't like they spent 1.3 billion on MDE when both Epcot and DHS are in serious serious needs of TLC.

 

[Lindaland]

I loved the MB & FP+!! It worked great for us when we were there during F&WF/MNSSHP. I loved how easy it was to figure out and the app worked great for us. We didn't need to make that many changes so we just got to relax and enjoy our trip. I don't get the people who whine and complain about not getting "enough" rides and then acting like they can only ride with FP+ and are now limited to 3 rides/day. I am glad to see that more and more people are coming back from their trips saying how much they liked the new system. These boards were dominated by people hating on it before they even tried it. Happy to see the tide changing!