Just want to say, we're here now and...

[Lorelei528]

MagicBands have worked great. So has the app. Have been able to change dining times and FP+ from the app.
We are moving from BLT over to AKL today for our next week. Let me know if you have any questions.
Oh! It has been crowded this week! Not at all what I was expecting/hoping for...that's a bummer. I heard next week might be better, so I'm hoping so. And it's hotter than I thought it would be too. Hoping next week might also cool off just a smidge.

 

[Lorelei528]

Also, we were able to double dip on FP using our APs and MagicBands in the MK.

 

[Magpie]

Here now, too!

Our MagicBands have worked great. Our FP+, not so much, but a nice guest services lady fixed it for 2 of our parks. And for the others, we've just been taking a picture of our itinerary before leaving and holding up our phone when we walk up to the line. Very easy and quick!

FP lines are short, crowds are manageable, and the weather is GORGEOUS!

Overall, I'm loving the new MDE thing. I think it has real potential once they get the kinks worked out.

 

[the_bUg]

Lies! All Lies. EVERYONE has said FP+ is no good. Surely you must be sorely mistsaken.

Anyhow, Glad to hear you're having a good time. Do you find that you are "pleasantly surprised"? Were you going in expecting this system will work? Or were you going in, upset about how "different" FP+ is, but were won over?

 

[Erin1700]

Lies! All Lies. EVERYONE has said FP+ is no good. Surely you must be sorely mistsaken.

Anyhow, Glad to hear you're having a good time. Do you find that you are "pleasantly surprised"? Were you going in expecting this system will work? Or were you going in, upset about how "different" FP+ is, but were won over?

Here now, HATE FP+.

 

[Lorelei528]

Lies! All Lies. EVERYONE has said FP+ is no good. Surely you must be sorely mistsaken.

Anyhow, Glad to hear you're having a good time. Do you find that you are "pleasantly surprised"? Were you going in expecting this system will work? Or were you going in, upset about how "different" FP+ is, but were won over?

Not "everyone" has said it's no good. Commonly on the internets, more people write bad reviews and complain.
That's why I'm posting about our positive experience.
Here's an example: the last time we went on TSMM was 2008, shortly after it had opened. The line was 30 mins ish when we got there and this was not at rope drop. We have not been able to go on TSMM since as we are not rope drop people and the FP's were always either gone or past the time we'd be in the park.
Well, earlier this week, we were running a but late in the am. We decided to sleep in a bit etc. I changed our FP+ ON MY PHONE from 9:40-10:40 am to 2-3pm. Easy peasy.
Here's another example: today were switching resorts and didn't really have plans to do a park. But MK is open till 1am. I realized when I woke up this morning "hey! I can book some FP+s for tonight! So I did!
You asked about what i was expecting? Coming into this vacation, I just figured some things might be glitchy but hoped for the best. I wasn't expecting the app to work at all as that is what I've heard. So I'm excited to be able to make use of it.
We've also changed dining times with it. No problems getting into our rooms either with our MBs OR into the parks.

 

[morethananyonex]

OP, how was the app for changing FP+ times? Were you using it on wifi?

Lies! All Lies. EVERYONE has said FP+ is no good. Surely you must be sorely mistsaken.

Anyhow, Glad to hear you're having a good time. Do you find that you are "pleasantly surprised"? Were you going in expecting this system will work? Or were you going in, upset about how "different" FP+ is, but were won over?

I can only speak for myself, but having a trip coming up in 2014, I don't put much weight in FP+ reviews that include double dipping as my trip will likely not. On of my main concerns is the sheer number of attractions in MK and the ability to FP only 3 of them. If FP+ was that great, people wouldn't feel the need to double dip.

It's nice seeing reviews where people liked FP+ and the bands didn't cause issues, but that doesn't really help those of us who still can't tour the same way as people who are going now. Just saying.

 

[Disneychix]

I am just back and I experienced the app to be HORRIBLE. Both in the parks and resorts most of the time I could not connect or get the app to work. We have both Apple and Android phones and had trouble with both of them. The evening hours was when we experienced the most issues. Almost impossible to change FP+ times on the fly.

 

[Disneychix]

Just wanted to add I loved everything else about the MB. Getting into the parks is a breeze! No more handing out passes and making sure everyone gives it back to me or keeps it handy. That was the part that won me over!

Also, My son was amazed when they greeted him by his name in the FP line. That is a nice touch.

If only they could get the app to work.

 

[aribelle]

We're here now also and I think "crowded" must be a relative term.

There are a LOT more people walking around....but oddly, we're finding that the wait lines for rides are MUCH shorter. So we've come to the conclusion that most of the people are just walking around waiting for their FP+ time or something, lol.

Seriously, except for the headliners, we've been finding that the FP+ has been pretty much unnecessary.

Example: Yesterday we got to EPCOT around noon, switched out FP+ from MK to EPCOT, got Soarin', Mission Space (Green), and Spaceship Earth (Test Track was also available, but we use the single rider lane so it's never more than 10 or 15 minute wait if that). Only one that we really needed it for was Soarin'.....the wait was 80 minutes and we literally walked up to the point where they tell you which Concourse to use.....a long walk, but no one in front of us. Had to wait for one set of riders to go into the ride and then it was our turn to line up. So that was definitely better than 80 minutes....but MS was listed as a 5 minute wait, and I wasn't seeing even that many people in the line.....Spaceship Earth listed at 15 minute wait but the line was only down to just barely where the FP+ terminal was....so the FP+ wasn't really much of a savings in time.

It's been similar at the other parks all week long....we've been able to "double dip" but really, it's not been truly necessary. I wouldn't wait 80 minutes for Soarin' but that's the length of the wait before FP+ and we just would get a paper FP then too.

I don't like the idea of having to decide what ride I want to go on months before I visit....and we've found that we almost always have changed them when we arrive at the park (mostly because we change our mind about which park to go to against what we planned months ago). And yet, we haven't felt that we didn't ride something that we used to be able to do.

We got a BOG lunch FP+ and our wait was about 10 minutes....those in line were waiting 40 minutes, so that was nice, but by the time we finished eating and got outside the line was barely around the corner.....the CM said the wait was about 20 minutes. So going at 1pm instead of noon would have cut the wait in half and to a reasonable amount for the newest restaurant.

 

[Laketravis]

I am just back and I experienced the app to be HORRIBLE. Both in the parks and resorts most of the time I could not connect or get the app to work. We have both Apple and Android phones and had trouble with both of them. The evening hours was when we experienced the most issues. Almost impossible to change FP+ times on the fly.

The app itself has sucked for me big time over the last two weeks. Either I would constantly get the message that there was a 'Blip in the network' or it was in a constant state of loading......

Terribly slow.... And you can literally see it suck your battery down.

 

[tinkrbell1437]

I am just back and I experienced the app to be HORRIBLE. Both in the parks and resorts most of the time I could not connect or get the app to work. We have both Apple and Android phones and had trouble with both of them. The evening hours was when we experienced the most issues. Almost impossible to change FP+ times on the fly.

The app itself has sucked for me big time over the last two weeks. Either I would constantly get the message that there was a 'Blip in the network' or it was in a constant state of loading......

Terribly slow.... And you can literally see it suck your battery down.

I just got back today and we had a great time with MBs and MDE especially on the phone! The WiFi at the parks worked great and I was able to make changes on the fly. I got the "Blip in the network" message a few times, but going back to the MDE App home page showed my changes were made.

The biggest problem I had was with my phone battery and not the app at all - IOS 7 has made my battery life really short.

 

[LindaBabe]

I'm glad y'all have had good luck with your magic bands. I hated them. Was unable to access MDE by computer from the hotel at all. no app capable phone, which sounds like a good thing.

 

[ajenks22]

biggest problem I had was with my phone battery and not the app at all - IOS 7 has made my battery life really short.

When I'm in the parks, I plan on setting my email to 'Off' for Fetch new data. I don't know instant alerts of getting new email while I'm away. Hopefully this will help my battery life.

How were the wait times on MDE?

 

[jimmysmom74]

Just a suggestion. We were there at Thanksgiving, and once I turned my WiFi off and used cellular data, MDE worked much better. Hope it helps!

 

[Couchy]

Here now as well. It is crowded. Don't love fp+ . Tried to change plans three days in advance and some rides had none a available .if you try day of you are really out of luck. Also many times I can't get on mde to check my plans

 

[AmyB2006]

Example: Yesterday we got to EPCOT around noon, switched out FP+ from MK to EPCOT, got Soarin', Mission Space (Green), and Spaceship Earth (Test Track was also available, but we use the single rider lane so it's never more than 10 or 15 minute wait if that).

You switched your FPs and got Soarin', MS and SE? I thought Soarin' and MS were both Tier 1 attractions? How were you able to get both?

 

[Missyrose]

You switched your FPs and got Soarin', MS and SE? I thought Soarin' and MS were both Tier 1 attractions? How were you able to get both?

Soarin and TT are both tier 1, MS is tier 2.

 

[AmyB2006]

Soarin and TT are both tier 1, MS is tier 2.

Yes I just checked after I saw that. Doh! I thought those were all Tier 1.

 

[WILDERNESS FAN 55]

5 days here MBs great FP+ great one time only not connecting to app. It is NOT crowded .I think some people are spoiled or something because its the usual 1st week of Dec .