Magic band DVC'er review

[luckyman_apd]

Than for sharing your Live update! I have this question for you. When you went to SSR did you have to give your bands to the front desk to have them activated for that resort or did they just work automatically on the door/charging/etc? Thank you!

Nope...it was already active because our MDE had our SSR reservation linked to it. They just worked when we arrived.

 

[luckyman_apd]

LOL - did you have a Doh! moment when it worked Glad to hear you were able to get some 'regular' FPs though.

Yep....felt like Homer Simpson. Both KTTW and FP+ get me fast passes.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

From the unofficial test resort list that someone else has posted for Oct, VWL and SSR are not included.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to confuse. I didn't mean for the testing. I was just wondering if all our reservation numbers should be showing on MDE for when they do impliment the program to everyone. I tried linking the one room at VWL and it keeps telling me it can't be found. Should I be worried about this? I do have the confirmation numbers from the DVC site but wouldn't they need to be on the MDE in order to use this program when it's available?

 

[erionm]

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to confuse. I didn't mean for the testing. I was just wondering if all our reservation numbers should be showing on MDE for when they do impliment the program to everyone. I tried linking the one room at VWL and it keeps telling me it can't be found. Should I be worried about this? I do have the confirmation numbers from the DVC site but wouldn't they need to be on the MDE in order to use this program when it's available?

You probably should call MDE tech support to see if they can help you. Call them using the phone number that should be displayed when you get the message that MDE can't find your reservation.

 

[delmar411]

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.

I'm not sure where you have been reading but it certainly isn't the DIS! LOL. Everyone can double dip. And it is not only allowed by Disney it is part of the testing. This info is even in the CM reference guide. I did quote the passage in another thread, it says during testing you may use both systems.

The key cards ALL work in the FP machines. All by myself I can go to a machine and pull over a dozen FPs using expired keys plus use my AP plus make a FP+ reservation for that ride. (If only I had the time to actually ride that much!). People have been digging up all their old room keys and using those in the machines too.

Anyone who has a room key and separate tickets automatically can get 2 FPs at a time per person. Room keys work whether they are active, expired, have tickets or don't, whether the person is in the park or not.

 

[delmar411]

As for the rest of this, I'll just say that Magic Bands / My Disney Experience / FastPass+ is coming on like a freight train. You'll have to decide for yourself how you wish to adapt. The current FP system will be completely gone by 2014, if not sooner.

It has already been stated that they won't even begin to bring in off site guests until 2014 and that it will take over a year to phase out standard FP. So the current system will be around for a while yet.

 

[paults]

when we get to disney in OCT and trade in my PAP vouchers for real ones, will they put them on the new bands or can we just have our tickets they way we always have . We don't want the new bands just our paper PAP tickets.

 

[tink519]

We are at OKW October 10 to 17. I haven't seen OKW on any test lists but if some people think there could be a full rollout by then I guess I should link my UT tickets? I am excited about FP+ for some reasons, but also nervous we will be waiting in longer lines with small kids. If a wait is longer than 30 minutes we just won't be riding those with them unfortunately. We haven't been in over 2 years so we weren't too worried about the bigger rides in the past but they are big enough for them now. Hopefully they will actually be able to ride them.

Another question, if we have a 5 day pass, is it good from check in for the next 5 days? What if you have a day off from the parks? Or in our case we are using MNSSHP tickets one day and taking the morning from the pool. But we will want FP's for the two days after that...

 

[keishashadow]

Actually when we were down in June we had paper tickets, and we were HIGHLY encouraged to switch to the RFID cards. If you still have paper, you'll have to wait for a CM to check you in at the turnstiles vs. tapping and go.

The wait to get them switched over wasn't too bad (10 min or so) but they can only do 1 paper ticket to one RFID ticket (for now). The good thing is (for now) is that I can take all the old ones that I have that have only waterpark days left and put them on their own cards and now they are no longer tied to a specific person anymore (until they use them the first time), so I can "rebalance" a little.

we activated our will-call PAPs in June, received a regular ticket

when we get to disney in OCT and trade in my PAP vouchers for real ones, will they put them on the new bands or can we just have our tickets they way we always have . We don't want the new bands just our paper PAP tickets.

it's been reported that you can opt out of the bands and use RFID ticket, guess we'll find out soon enough.

 

[MDsMomma]

when we get to disney in OCT and trade in my PAP vouchers for real ones, will they put them on the new bands or can we just have our tickets they way we always have . We don't want the new bands just our paper PAP tickets.

I sure hope we can still get the cards. I linked my Will Call # to MDE and beginning to think maybe I shouldn't have.

 

[Grumpy Grandma]

we activated our will-call PAPs in June, received a regular ticket



it's been reported that you can opt out of the bands and use RFID ticket, guess we'll find out soon enough.

I have our MBs sitting here and I don't think I'll wear mine. I'm one of those people who can't stand ANYTHING on the wrists especially in the heat. I will be requesting a RFID ticket.

 

[bbluvsdis]

I have been having issues linking my will call PAP on MDE. We will pick up our passes in November. If I can't link to MDE is it correct that I won't be able to do Fastpass+ choices ahead of time? My VWL reservations are on our account but without tickets I think I can't do the FP. I wonder if there will still be many choices if you can't pick times til you get there.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I have our MBs sitting here and I don't think I'll wear mine. I'm one of those people who can't stand ANYTHING on the wrists especially in the heat. I will be requesting a RFID ticket.

I hear you and it can be irritating when you sweat but it is handy nit reaching into a pocket or when you open a door with your hands full. We loosen ours as we get hot.

 

[rusafee1183]

Same here. We're actually more likely to hop each day now. Hit a park early, then go to another in the afternoons with our FP+.

I totally agree. This is the approach we are most likely to use. I am just curious how long the FP waits will be in the evenings. With how long the regular lines tend to be later in the day, it's bound to affect the wait time in the FP line as well.

We'll see... I am anxious to see how this will all work out. I do agree with a PP that I HATE the FP run in the mornings with the uncertainty of what return time you will get. I think that FP+ will at least cut down on the anxiety of having to get to a park early enough to get a FP *at all* for some attractions.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I sure hope we can still get the cards. I linked my Will Call # to MDE and beginning to think maybe I shouldn't have.

Yeah, that's me too. I wish I had waited.

 

[eliza61]

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.

So let me ask a question, if you park hop and they get rid of all the fp kiosk, does that mean in your second park you can't get one

 

[DisneyFreaks]

You probably should call MDE tech support to see if they can help you. Call them using the phone number that should be displayed when you get the message that MDE can't find your reservation.

Thanks again erionm. I called this morning and wow. I guess our MDE account is really messed up. It has my DH twice on our reservations and me not at all. I am not on the friends and family list at all and when we try to add me I keep disappearing. A really sweet CM named Grace is working on it and will send an email when it is done. MS got everything right but apparently the programer at the MDE site got things incorrect. I haven't linked our tickets yet so here's hoping for no more problems.

 

[erionm]

So let me ask a question, if you park hop and they get rid of all the fp kiosk, does that mean in your second park you can't get one

Currently, you can only make FastPass+ selections for one park a day. During the test phase, you can use FastPass+ and the paper FastPass system. Eventually, the paper FastPass system will be removed.