Magic band DVC'er review

[luckyman_apd]

So we are here now at SSR and we DO have magic bands. We spent our first night at pop century then came here. Pop is testing the bands so we got them 2 weeks ago. I linked our PAP vouchers and ALL of our room reservation with my disney experience. Upon arrival our bands opened our hotel room, were active for charging to the card I used for online check in, and for magic transportation. We activated our DVC PAP voucher.

Mistake #1......don't link a voucher. Link a a ticket or active pass. It gave them trouble and they had to redo something but it took 3 times longer than normal.

Mistake #2...... Doing it this way means I have no card for AP anymore, my magic band is my pass. This means I cannot get fast passes in the park because I have no card for the slot. We can only get 3 fast passes per day thru fast plans plus on the MDE site. AND the app sucks for tryIng to get a fast pass while in the park.

Hover the good is I only need to wear my band all day. It even opens my door at SSR. They said it wouldn't upon check in, but since our SSR room reservation is linked to MDE our band is active for use at SSR.

I'm going to have to stop at guest relations tomorrow to see if I can get a AP ticket so I can use fast pass in the park sometime.

 

[tjkraz]

I'm going to have to stop at guest relations tomorrow to see if I can get a AP ticket so I can use fast pass in the park sometime.

They won't let you do that.

The Magic Bands / My Disney Experience / FastPass + is intended to replace the paper FP tickets. When you agreed to participate in the test, one of the terms and conditions stated that you would not have access to the legacy paper FP system.

As soon as the system goes live, those FP machines will all be permanently removed. All park guests will either have Magic Bands or RFID-enabled key cards which operate the entire FP+ system. FastPasses will be planned in advance via computer or smartphone, or once inside the parks at designated computer terminals.

When everything is working correctly, I still believe it will be a net positive change for the park touring experience. At least, the manner in which our family tours the parks. (Of course, agreeing to beta test means glitches should come as no surprise.)

My biggest reservation lies in the limit of 3 PF+ per day. 4 or 5 would make me a lot more comfortable, personally.

Good luck!

 

[erionm]

I'm going to have to stop at guest relations tomorrow to see if I can get a AP ticket so I can use fast pass in the park sometime.

They won't let you do that.

Unless Disney has updated all POS systems to show the ticket type, an AP Card would be necessary to prove eligibility for AP discounts.

 

[SCDizneyDawn]

Unless Disney has updated all POS systems to show the ticket type, an AP Card would be necessary to prove eligibility for AP discounts.

And what if you get free parking, wouldn't you need the AP card for that? I guess you get it with your resort parking pass too.

Wonder what would happen if you moved off site for part of a trip or were a local staying on grounds for a few days that get you magic bands, then come back as a day guest? Would you no longer be able to get any fast passes after your stay?

 

[erionm]

And what if you get free parking, wouldn't you need the AP card for that? I guess you get it with your resort parking pass too.

Reportedly, they are going to have scanners at the parking booths that can see what kind of ticket is linked to the MagicBand. It's just merchandise and dining discounts that (so far) are not applied automatically without visual verification of the card (AP, DVC, TIW, etc) and manual entry.

Wonder what would happen if you moved off site for part of a trip or were a local staying on grounds for a few days that get you magic bands, then come back as a day guest? Would you no longer be able to get any fast passes after your stay?

Once FastPass+ is fully deployed, you will only need to have valid park admission linked to your MDE account in order to make FastPass+ selections.

 

[luckyman_apd]

They won't let you do that.

The Magic Bands / My Disney Experience / FastPass + is intended to replace the paper FP tickets. When you agreed to participate in the test, one of the terms and conditions stated that you would not have access to the legacy paper FP system.

As soon as the system goes live, those FP machines will all be permanently removed. All park guests will either have Magic Bands or RFID-enabled key cards which operate the entire FP+ system. FastPasses will be planned in advance via computer or smartphone, or once inside the parks at designated computer terminals.

When everything is working correctly, I still believe it will be a net positive change for the park touring experience. At least, the manner in which our family tours the parks. (Of course, agreeing to beta test means glitches should come as no surprise.)

My biggest reservation lies in the limit of 3 PF+ per day. 4 or 5 would make me a lot more comfortable, personally.

Good luck!

Ill report back. What is frustrating is that we are on our way to Hollywood studios.we have fastpasses for 2 rides we all want at excellent times. +1. But it gave us a third...we wont ride. We are going to epcot tonight and would havr liked to get one for soarin for the evening but they restrict you to one park per day. Its not conducive to park hopping.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I dont want to sound like a whiner. Overall the band is great....tickets door key credit card......all im carrying in ky pocket is my dvc card and TiW card. But my only grioe is the fastpass limitations.

 

[mdsd8700]

Thanks for your review. We like to park hop as well so being limited to one park per day isn't something that we would like either.

 

[erionm]

We like to park hop as well so being limited to one park per day isn't something that we would like either.

It's quite possible that Disney will add park hopping and increase the number of FP+ you can select after the program is fully operational.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

I'm curious if Disney is trying to cut back on park hopping or if this is just a limitation of the beta testing? Does anyone know if when it goes live we can choose from multiple parks?

 

[luckyman_apd]

I'm curious if Disney is trying to cut back on park hopping or if this is just a limitation of the beta testing? Does anyone know if when it goes live we can choose from multiple parks?

Not sure about what they will do with it but the hotel cms have told me they expect the bands live and everywhere by October.

 

[erionm]

I'm curious if Disney is trying to cut back on park hopping or if this is just a limitation of the beta testing? Does anyone know if when it goes live we can choose from multiple parks?

All indications are that it will be one park only even after it is fully deployed.

From the FastPass+ section of the Park Experience Terms & Conditions:

You may make FastPass+ selections for one park per day. You may only select and use a FastPass+ selection for a particular attraction, entertainment or restaurant experience once per day.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/park-experience-terms-and-conditions.html

 

[dianeschlicht]

All indications are that it will be one park only even after it is fully deployed.

From the FastPass+ section of the Park Experience Terms & Conditions:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/media/park-experience-terms-and-conditions.html

ACK! That part is even worse than only getting 3 FP per day! We usually do 2 or 3 parks a day, and sometimes all 4. I have often done FP in all of them on a given day. This will certainly change our touring style. We tend to do one park early in the day and a different one later in the day.

I AM glad though that everyone will be on the same system by the time we get there in Dec. It also should be in effect long enough to have most of the bugs worked out by then!

 

[thepops]

I guess when most people see that the FP will only work in one park per day, that will drop the number of park hopper passes Disney will end up selling.

 

[luv2sleep]

I guess when most people see that the FP will only work in one park per day, that will drop the number of park hopper passes Disney will end up selling.

But that assumes people park hop just for rides. There are lots of other things to park hop for.

 

[chainkid]

I park hop all the time but not for rides. I usually stay at BWV so I like the ability to go into Epcot nightly for dinner or just ambiance. I do the other parks during the day for rides. My only concern is for touring in a large group and advance planning down to the smallest detail. Right now we just decide in the morning who is going where and then we leave and get fast passes to use after breakfast. It would be hard to plan in advance who wants to do what as it kills spontaneity and with the dining plan already forcing you to regiment your day according to when your ressies are this could be too restricting. Having DVC means I no longer do the parks like a commando. I find their is nothing that would make me wait in a line longer than 15minutes anymore. having said that i could see how all this planning will mean that unless you have it booked you will wait hours to get into popular attractions. I'm a planner but I think this will be too much planning for large groups.

 

[sets14]

Were you able to get an RFID AP card? We linked our DVC PAP vouchers in MDE and are FP+/Magic Band eligible for the second part of our split stay. Our first part is at WLV and we will need our AP's for that portion of our trip unless our Magic Band works then? Before the official testing period we are eligible for? This is giving me a headache! Should have not even messed with MDE.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Were you able to get an RFID AP card? We linked our DVC PAP vouchers in MDE and are FP+/Magic Band eligible for the second part of our split stay. Our first part is at WLV and we will need our AP's for that portion of our trip unless our Magic Band works then? Before the official testing period we are eligible for? This is giving me a headache! Should have not even messed with MDE.

Unfortunately no. I have not gone to guest relations yet to ask but when we redeemed the vouchers monday...she was going to give us cards until her system showed the bands. She originally told me we would have the card as a backup as the bands were still "testing" but a manager came over and they took our bands...linked everything and we didnt get cards. I asked what about a backup and she said our names were 8n tue system and we would only need iD if there was a problem.

If you linked your reservations and have the bands already....they will work for everything the whole time. SSR is not a test resort but since we have them they are opening our room door and aboe to make purchases at Artist Palate. The bands are linked to MDE not the resort. Everything you link to MDE will be compatible with your band......at least it is for us.

 

[tjkraz]

I park hop all the time but not for rides. I usually stay at BWV so I like the ability to go into Epcot nightly for dinner or just ambiance. I do the other parks during the day for rides. My only concern is for touring in a large group and advance planning down to the smallest detail. Right now we just decide in the morning who is going where and then we leave and get fast passes to use after breakfast. It would be hard to plan in advance who wants to do what as it kills spontaneity and with the dining plan already forcing you to regiment your day according to when your ressies are this could be too restricting. Having DVC means I no longer do the parks like a commando. I find their is nothing that would make me wait in a line longer than 15minutes anymore. having said that i could see how all this planning will mean that unless you have it booked you will wait hours to get into popular attractions. I'm a planner but I think this will be too much planning for large groups.

The main reason Disney has placed limits on the number of FP+ each guest can obtain is to preserve that flexibility. Even if a large percentage of guests pre-book their FP+ ride times, there will still be thousands of slots available each morning for every attraction. You could use a laptop to book the ride times in your hotel room while others are preparing to leave. You could use a smartphone to do it while waiting for a bus or riding the bus. Or you could visit one of the touchscreen terminals upon arrival at the parks.

In some ways, advance planners will probably come out ahead (if you are keeping score.) For instance, you may arrive at a park at 10am and find the earliest Space Mountain time available is for 7pm...not ideal if you'd planned to leave the park by then. But really it's not much different than the current system which gives advantages to the early arrivals and zero control over ride times.

IMO, the most obvious benefits of FP+ are:

1) Not having to run around snagging FP tickets.
2) Being able to schedule very specific return times rather than the current "take it or leave it" approach.
3) Don't have to arrive at "rope drop" to even obtain FPs for things like Toy Story Mania or Soarin.
4) FP+ options added for things like Fantasmic and character meets...areas which often have significant wait time today.

That's not to say there aren't drawbacks: no park hopping, no doubling-up on attractions, only 3 per day.

Given my own park touring philosophies, I think it will be a net win. I really loathe having to chase those FP tickets under the current system and not having any control over return times.

Only thing that worries me is the limit of 3 per day. Waiting to see if Disney increases that, if not for everyone then at least for Disney resort guests.

Unfortunately no. I have not gone to guest relations yet to ask but when we redeemed the vouchers monday...she was going to give us cards until her system showed the bands. She originally told me we would have the card as a backup as the bands were still "testing" but a manager came over and they took our bands...linked everything and we didnt get cards. I asked what about a backup and she said our names were 8n tue system and we would only need iD if there was a problem.

I haven't followed all of the FP+ testing discussions but I will be very surprised if they give you any form of AP ticket which works in the current FastPass machines.

One of the purposes of the test is to gauge the capacity of the entire system...to see how many FP+ are being used and how testers respond to the daily limits.

From what I read, they have not been allowing testers to double-up by using both FP+ and the legacy paper ticket machines. When you agree to participate in the testing, forfeit rights to the older paper FP system.

RFID-enabled plastic key cards (like the old KTTW card) are available as an alternative to the MagicBands. I have a feeling that's all they were offering you as an alternative to the bands. Those key cards wouldn't have worked in the FP ticket machines.

 

[supersuperwendy]

We usually hop once a day so I don't think the 3 fastpass+ will be a huge issue. We are hardcore rope droppers! Park 1 early in the morning means short or no lines anyway.. park 2 will be where we book our fastpass+