rf53
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Dec 29, 2013
- Messages
- 127
We just returned from an impromptu trip to Disney World. We were not going to brave the Holiday crowds this year, but while searching Expedia.com, we found a very nice rate for the Pop Century and we decided to go for it. Here are some observations and tips learned from our trip that I hope will help others:
Hotel room deal: Using Expedia we were able to get our room rate at about $32 per day less than if we had booked through Disney. Also, by using Expedias smart phone app to book the room they offered a $25 discount off the overall price for using the app for the first time. Just enter the promo code they give you at check-out. To link your third party purchased room reservations to My Disney Experience (MDE), call the booking agent and ask them to get you the Disney resort reservation number so you can accomplish the link-up (the third party vendor number wont work).
Magic Bands / MDE: Since our trip was impromptu, we had no time to customize our Magic Bands prior to arriving. We were told that we would receive the standard gray bands at check-in. The bands were not ready when we arrived. Despite the fact that using MDE we had disabled two bands used by two of our four family members during a previous trip back in October, the hotel assumed we would bring those bands this time. Back in October, the trip had also been quickly planned, nevertheless, the Magic Bands were personalized with our names and waiting for us at the hotel in a nice presentation box. This time the check-in clerk grabbed four bands from behind the counter and hand-wrote our names in them with an indelible marker. While this did not give us the same type of impression that the October reception provided, the clerk was quickly able to link all our MDE information (tickets, Fast Pass+ selections, credit card) into the new bands. The hotel clerk advised that their systems, including MDE, had been malfunctioning frequently during the Holidays. Nevertheless, she advised that the hotels were no longer handing out cards as back-ups, so we were concerned that our ticket and FP+ information would fail during our stay. I am happy to report that aside from getting gray, non-personalized bands, everything worked perfectly.
One interesting glitch is that according to the hotel clerk, MDE does not push your personal information to the main Disney reservation system, even when you link your hotel reservations. Because of this, despite the fact that we had entered all our data on MDE, the hotel itself did not have our personal data (correct ages, etc.) because we booked our room through a third party vendor. Another flaw is that the hotel clerk can link your bands to any reservations you may have made using MDE, but she cant see the details such as your FP+ selections, because they are resident on your MDE account. In the end, the accuracy of the information on MDE is on you. There is a Disney MDE support line that you can call to make sure you have accomplished your links correctly. We did this prior to arriving just to be sure.
Fast Pass+: There has been quite a bit of debate regarding the FP+ system, particularly the fact that limiting the resort guests to three FP+s per day will not be sufficient. I have to agree with that statement, however, we were told that the FP+ system is still in the test phase and changes are expected. It seems that even with only three FP+s for resort guests fast passes for certain attractions are running out by mid-morning on some of the more popular attractions and day guests must arrive at the parks extremely early if they hope to pull a hard ticket FP for these attractions. No matter how it all shakes out, I can tell you that four FP+s for resort guests would be just about right. Here is why during our visit to the Magic Kingdom, the Tomorrow Land Transit Authority People Mover broke down. We were evacuated from the ride and given an open FP ticket for our trouble. With this fourth FP we were able to make our way through the park pretty easily despite the huge Holiday crowds. Three FPs would have made our day much more difficult.
A final though on the FP+, MDE system I was really impressed by one thing. One of our FP+ selections (Thunder Mountain) was closed temporarily due to rain. This occurred during the hour we were scheduled to ride. I received an email on my iphone from MDE advising of the closure, and also advising me that we could either wait until Thunder Mountain re-opened, or use the FP+ on any ride attraction that accepted FPs without limitation on the time. I thought this was a great use of the technology to benefit guest comfort.
Down Town Disney: As many of you know, a new multi-level parking garage facility is under construction at DTD. We were told this is part of a two year project that will include building more restaurants and stores in some of the old parking areas freed up by the multi-level garage. For now, overflow parking can be had across the street. If you are at the resorts, it is probably a good idea to avoid going to DTD using personal transportation during peak periods. Use the Disney buses instead.
Anyway, there is some fresh information regarding issues I have seen discussed quite a bit on this DB. I hope it helps.
Hotel room deal: Using Expedia we were able to get our room rate at about $32 per day less than if we had booked through Disney. Also, by using Expedias smart phone app to book the room they offered a $25 discount off the overall price for using the app for the first time. Just enter the promo code they give you at check-out. To link your third party purchased room reservations to My Disney Experience (MDE), call the booking agent and ask them to get you the Disney resort reservation number so you can accomplish the link-up (the third party vendor number wont work).
Magic Bands / MDE: Since our trip was impromptu, we had no time to customize our Magic Bands prior to arriving. We were told that we would receive the standard gray bands at check-in. The bands were not ready when we arrived. Despite the fact that using MDE we had disabled two bands used by two of our four family members during a previous trip back in October, the hotel assumed we would bring those bands this time. Back in October, the trip had also been quickly planned, nevertheless, the Magic Bands were personalized with our names and waiting for us at the hotel in a nice presentation box. This time the check-in clerk grabbed four bands from behind the counter and hand-wrote our names in them with an indelible marker. While this did not give us the same type of impression that the October reception provided, the clerk was quickly able to link all our MDE information (tickets, Fast Pass+ selections, credit card) into the new bands. The hotel clerk advised that their systems, including MDE, had been malfunctioning frequently during the Holidays. Nevertheless, she advised that the hotels were no longer handing out cards as back-ups, so we were concerned that our ticket and FP+ information would fail during our stay. I am happy to report that aside from getting gray, non-personalized bands, everything worked perfectly.
One interesting glitch is that according to the hotel clerk, MDE does not push your personal information to the main Disney reservation system, even when you link your hotel reservations. Because of this, despite the fact that we had entered all our data on MDE, the hotel itself did not have our personal data (correct ages, etc.) because we booked our room through a third party vendor. Another flaw is that the hotel clerk can link your bands to any reservations you may have made using MDE, but she cant see the details such as your FP+ selections, because they are resident on your MDE account. In the end, the accuracy of the information on MDE is on you. There is a Disney MDE support line that you can call to make sure you have accomplished your links correctly. We did this prior to arriving just to be sure.
Fast Pass+: There has been quite a bit of debate regarding the FP+ system, particularly the fact that limiting the resort guests to three FP+s per day will not be sufficient. I have to agree with that statement, however, we were told that the FP+ system is still in the test phase and changes are expected. It seems that even with only three FP+s for resort guests fast passes for certain attractions are running out by mid-morning on some of the more popular attractions and day guests must arrive at the parks extremely early if they hope to pull a hard ticket FP for these attractions. No matter how it all shakes out, I can tell you that four FP+s for resort guests would be just about right. Here is why during our visit to the Magic Kingdom, the Tomorrow Land Transit Authority People Mover broke down. We were evacuated from the ride and given an open FP ticket for our trouble. With this fourth FP we were able to make our way through the park pretty easily despite the huge Holiday crowds. Three FPs would have made our day much more difficult.
A final though on the FP+, MDE system I was really impressed by one thing. One of our FP+ selections (Thunder Mountain) was closed temporarily due to rain. This occurred during the hour we were scheduled to ride. I received an email on my iphone from MDE advising of the closure, and also advising me that we could either wait until Thunder Mountain re-opened, or use the FP+ on any ride attraction that accepted FPs without limitation on the time. I thought this was a great use of the technology to benefit guest comfort.
Down Town Disney: As many of you know, a new multi-level parking garage facility is under construction at DTD. We were told this is part of a two year project that will include building more restaurants and stores in some of the old parking areas freed up by the multi-level garage. For now, overflow parking can be had across the street. If you are at the resorts, it is probably a good idea to avoid going to DTD using personal transportation during peak periods. Use the Disney buses instead.
Anyway, there is some fresh information regarding issues I have seen discussed quite a bit on this DB. I hope it helps.
