MDE App - KennythePirate App - Lines App

[Toni79]

I've got about a month until our FIRST trip.

I've downloaded the My Disney Experience App, which is cool becasue it has wait time ... but I'm confused by the icons... I understand the icon with the "wait time", but what does the "magic hat" icon mean and the "star" icon mean? I get that they are things without a reported wait time, but I'm still trying to figure out the difference?

Also I've been looking at various touring plans to plan out our days.

I've looked alot of Kenny the Pirate site, but in order to see the character's schedules, you have to pay. I'm wondering what people's opinions are, if its worth it? Or just going off what is on the MDE app? I'm going with a 2-year old so I'm thinking characters might be a big part of trip.

I also have the "free" version of the Lines App though touringplans. com ... If I upgrade additioanl features will be unlocked. I can do the customized touring plans, but there is still alot that I can't see, like expected wait times and suggestions about when to ride. Oh and I can't see the available FP options. It shows me an example of one ride with FP options for 1 person. Does anyone know if you ipgrade can you see FP options for 2-3 people? Or does it just stay as 1 person? Curious what people think of the upgraded version? I bought the book, so I'll get a discount.

Finally, I'm curious how people use multiple apps for thier planning or while in the parks? I'm a over palnner, so maybe I'm making things more complicated then they need to be. I'm just trying to understnad the pros and cons opf each app, so I can determine what I use and how I use it.

Thanks in advace for your feedback!

 

[soniam]

We use MDX and Lines apps. Not big on M&G so don't use Kenny. DH logs into both of those using my login & password. We have subscribed to Touring Plans since 2011. I love the extra features, and the price is worth it. We use wait times on both, but I like Lines expected and reported times best. We usually only look at wait times once we have completed our FP+ and touring plan.

The hat is shows, and the star is attractions.

 

[Ava]

Unless your 2yo is very familiar with a lot of characters, I wouldn't bother paying for Character Locator. Figuring in the non-FP-enabled characters, which is what Kenny's app helps with, is a lot of extra planning (or at least I'm finding it to be a lot) for a child who will likely be too young to know what he's missing, and may end up being scared of the characters anyway. When my DD was 2, we stuck to Mickey & friends (Donald was her favorite) and Pooh. There are a few opportunities to meet Mickey w/ FP+ and Pooh & Tigger can be met in the UK at Epcot with pretty short waits.

 

[IrishNYC]

If you look on MDE on a computer (I haven't checked the app) it will tell you the m&g times for the characters in world showcase. For most other characters it just shows a general time span line 9:30am to 9pm or whatever.

I did subscribe to Lines. For the FPs it just tells you the next time slot there are any left for, or that they're gone for the day. It also says what the posted wait time is and the real (user submitted) time wait.

 

[tlmadden73]

Characters may not be a big part of your trip as you think. At least Meet and Greets.

A 2-year old (at least mine) was just as excited to see characters from a distance. He was scared of some to stand next to. Plus .. kids are usually pretty antsy in lines.

Yes .. you'll want those pics of your little one hugging his/her favorite character .. but I would suggest a character meals for a way for your 2-year old to experience characters. Mine loved the two we went too and he saw more characters that way than standing in line. The characters we DID stand in line for (Buzz and Goofy/Donald in Storybook Circus) .. the lines weren't long at all 15-20 minutes tops. I didn't feel the need for a special app. Plus I like the idea of just running into characters just as you walk by. Adds to the Magic.

The hardest part was when we would find a character we always seem to have bad luck and run into their "break" ... so we'd walk up . .the line would be closed for new people and we didn't want to sit around waiting for them to come back from break.

 

[Toni79]

Thanks for the info. Do any of the apps show the wait time for FP? Just curious how I'll know how long I'll wait even with a FP?

 

[mummabear]

We swear by kTp.
But we are huge character hunters (like 4 autograph books per kid each trip)

 

[babynala]

I have used all these apps in the past few years and found them very useful. I did a trip with my brother's family and we used Kenny's app with great success. As we were waiting for Peter Pan I asked two cast members if we were in the right spot as a way to confirm the info on the App. Even after checking their paper schedule they couldn't tell me. To their surprise Peter came along and started chatting with my nephew. For the small cost of this app I would say go ahead and get it.

 

[kennythepirate]

I'd like to chime in and let you know that it's far more than characters, (although it features the only full schedules), it has very detailed ride info, menus, park hours with best parks, tons of interaction tips, full show schedules and we are about to release a great touring plan feature. You can always preview as well. I also include custom maps that are easy to read.

Toni - you'll rarely wait more than 15 minutes with FP (Anna and Elsa) and usually 5 minutes or less.

 

[BudgieMama]

I'd like to chime in and let you know that it's far more than characters, (although it features the only full schedules), it has very detailed ride info, menus, park hours with best parks, tons of interaction tips, full show schedules and we are about to release a great touring plan feature. You can always preview as well. I also include custom maps that are easy to read.

Toni - you'll rarely wait more than 15 minutes with FP (Anna and Elsa) and usually 5 minutes or less.

As an aside, Kenny, has your app been discontinued? I bought it for our trip last year, changed phones and can no longer find it in the Google Play store

 

[grecorj]

As an aside, Kenny, has your app been discontinued? I bought it for our trip last year, changed phones and can no longer find it in the Google Play store

I believe it is a web app. Use thru phones browser.

 

[BudgieMama]

There used to be proper app. I paid for it and everything!

 

[Leitnerb]

Kenny's app is web based, not a download. We're going in October and I'm loving using it to plan. Well worth the $ in my opinion!

 

[grecorj]

To me the small $ cost for Touring Plans and Kenny the Pirate made the choice to purchase both easy for me.

However, using multiple apps in the park can lead to information overload. For a first trip I might recommend using MDE primarily and supplementing with either TP or KtP, but not both.

Also, easywdw has touring "cheat sheets" and live standby wait times -- all for free.

 

[sky13]

Last week I started out using the MDE app but often found that it was taking a long time to load (my phone kept dropping off Disney wifi last week).

So I switched to using the Lines app as I have a TP subscription and really liked it. I found it more accurate for things like ride closures than the MDE app, and I liked the feature of "ride now, lines not getting shorter until ____" or "wait, lines decrease until ____ and absolute shortest at ___", which was helpful. The chat feature on Lines was also a nice diversion to read through when in line.

 

[alhurricane]

I'd like to chime in and let you know that it's far more than characters, (although it features the only full schedules), it has very detailed ride info, menus, park hours with best parks, tons of interaction tips, full show schedules and we are about to release a great touring plan feature. You can always preview as well. I also include custom maps that are easy to read.

Toni - you'll rarely wait more than 15 minutes with FP (Anna and Elsa) and usually 5 minutes or less.

Thanks for all the work you put into it. It has been very helpful for us.

 

[kennythepirate]

As an aside, Kenny, has your app been discontinued? I bought it for our trip last year, changed phones and can no longer find it in the Google Play store

There used to be proper app. I paid for it and everything!

It was listed on Google Play for a while, but we were unable to continue supporting it because we are only two guys and didn't have he time. We allowed everyone's subscription to continue for well over 1 year as well.

I believe it is a web app. Use thru phones browser.

This is correct. Currently only web based, but exactly the same (actually more) information.

Thanks for all the work you put into it. It has been very helpful for us.

You're very welcome!

 

[Mommy2Jameson]

We swear by kTp.
But we are huge character hunters (like 4 autograph books per kid each trip)

Just wanted to say that we love Kenny the Pirate!! Follow his FB page closely and have his app on my phone! Get tons of touring plans from him too! Not just character locations!!

 

[KathyB 0911]

We use both and both are fantastic. Well worth the cost of subscribing.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I subscribe and use both, both are excellent and a very, very small investment for maximizing enjoyable trips to Disney World.