Mobile ordering is difficult for some people....

[WEDWDW]

Yeah, you probably need to be more firm with the CM that you need to order in person. They are strongly pushing mobile order, but not everyone has cell phones, some need to order in person for allergies, or just want to pay cash.

This.

We talking about DISNEY!lol

They are not going to turn away business because a Guest doesn't have a Smartphone,etc.

Too bad some locations are making Guests "jump through hoops" to get to a Register-there aren't THAT many Guests who need a Register these days,

In our stays at Pop Century which is a large Resort with heavy demand on the Food Court,many times we would see no Guests at the Register and never more than 1 or 2.

It will be interesting to see how intensely Disney pushes Mobile Order when Covid World ends and DISNEY World returns.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

It will be interesting to see how intensely Disney pushes Mobile Order when Covid World ends and DISNEY World returns.

I'll be surprised if they don't continue pushing it. It saves them money (less cashiers to pay) and most guests seem to like it. Not to mention they are rolling out even more cell phone capabilities with the MagicMobile announcement.

I get some people are resistant to technology, but honestly we live in a world that revolves around it. Just like when the schools had to go remote this year, there were some families that didn't have Wifi and had to adapt. A smart phone is basically a necessity and although Disney will make always make accommodations, they aren't going to make it super easy as it's such a small number of people.

 

[WEDWDW]

I'll be surprised if they don't continue pushing it. It saves them money (less cashiers to pay) and most guests seem to like it. Not to mention they are rolling out even more cell phone capabilities with the MagicMobile announcement.

I get some people are resistant to technology, but honestly we live in a world that revolves around it. Just like when the schools had to go remote this year, there were some families that didn't have Wifi and had to adapt. A smart phone is basically a necessity and although Disney will make always make accommodations, they aren't going to make it super easy as it's such a small number of people.

Great points.

To me,though,since there will ALWAYS be that handful of Guests who need a Register,when they make it known to the CM they need a Register,it should be EASY for them to access the Register.

 

[KittyKitty]

but I am a young senior with bad eyesight and I am here at WDW having a very difficult time (standing outside) ordering.

Being 71 3/4, I have to practice each time I go back to WDW. I did find out I had to turn on, "Outdoor" lighting option on my phone. Made it a lot easier to read.

I actually like it. You don't have to get in line to order( get behind groups who haven't decided, or guess which line is quicker). You can do it anytime before you get to the eatery that day, tho I suggest ordering early as time slots disappear as it get closer to lunch and dinner. When you get there click "I'm here" When it's ready, the line goes green( right?), and you go pick it up!

Tech is not my thing, so I whine when I have to learn something new . But I see where this helps the guests(and me when I figure it out!).

I wonder if it's possible to order verbally? Probably not with all the voices and music around. (thinking out loud)

 

[tbssenterprises]

Anyway, this time around, we COULD NOT ORDER at the counter at: Gasperilla Grill (lunch on Monday), nor could we order at the counter at Sunshine in Epcot (was dying for their Salmon but wanted to switch in mashed potatoes and green beans but couldn't on the app, and we weren't allowed to order at the register).... so we went somewhere else. Again, couldn't order in person at Regal Eagle either (was getting sick of the kiosks albeit Canada's food was amazing)....

Also, had a difficult time ordering in the bright sunlight at Commissary (HS). All in all, very frustrating.

 

[tbssenterprises]

Bottom line, yeah I can see where mobile ordering is a good thing, but you also have to allow people the option to order in person. It really is difficult for those with sight problems.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I am sorry you are going through this. Maybe talk to guest services and see what they can possibly do to help.

I will say to anyone looking to practice in general, I suggest mobile ordering at your local Starbucks or Dunkin'-even a young person like me is not the best with technology and I still think there are glitches I haven't come across yet when putting a Dunkin' order in. Any practice is good practice....even with my almost daily Dunkin' order.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I am sorry you are going through this. Maybe talk to guest services and see what they can possibly do to help.

I will say to anyone looking to practice in general, I suggest mobile ordering at your local Starbucks or Dunkin'-even a young person like me is not the best with technology and I still think there are glitches I haven't come across yet when putting a Dunkin' order in. Any practice is good practice....even with my almost daily Dunkin' order.

This is a good suggestion to practice. You can actually practice on the MDE app as well, just don’t go as far as submitting the order. It really helps to be familiar with the screens before actually doing it in the parks.

 

[Lilsia]

Anyway, this time around, we COULD NOT ORDER at the counter at: Gasperilla Grill (lunch on Monday), nor could we order at the counter at Sunshine in Epcot (was dying for their Salmon but wanted to switch in mashed potatoes and green beans but couldn't on the app, and we weren't allowed to order at the register).... so we went somewhere else. Again, couldn't order in person at Regal Eagle either (was getting sick of the kiosks albeit Canada's food was amazing)....

Also, had a difficult time ordering in the bright sunlight at Commissary (HS). All in all, very frustrating.

When we went in Feb, there were 3 cast members at the registers at Sunshine Seasons. I chatted with them while we waited for my daughter's food and they said they were there for those who could not mobile order. How odd that they would not let you order from them. I probably would have went to guest services and talked to them about it. Plenty of people have said that they were able to order at the registers. Strange that they gave you such a hard time.

 

[Dug720]

Which ones? We are on site a lot (every week-two weeks) and I have yet to come across anyplace that doesn't have a register open. They definitely prefer mobile order but have not had a problem ordering in person upon request.

Plus some people don't have common allergies and/or prefer to speak with someone about their more common allergies anyway. And unless it has changed since February, most of the resort QS don't even have their allergy menu on the app. There is no way they can demand that people with allergies use the mobile order.

(Please note: I'm not encouraging you to claim an allergy just to order inside. If you do, I would fully expect them to make you order from the allergy menu.)

 

[Dug720]

Anyway, this time around, we COULD NOT ORDER at the counter at: Gasperilla Grill (lunch on Monday), nor could we order at the counter at Sunshine in Epcot (was dying for their Salmon but wanted to switch in mashed potatoes and green beans but couldn't on the app, and we weren't allowed to order at the register).... so we went somewhere else. Again, couldn't order in person at Regal Eagle either (was getting sick of the kiosks albeit Canada's food was amazing)....

Also, had a difficult time ordering in the bright sunlight at Commissary (HS). All in all, very frustrating.

I would have 100% been at Guest Services at the GF if I was denied the ability to order in person at Gasparilla Grill. I have allergies (common ones), but they do not have their allergy menu on the app for mobile ordering. They would absolutely HAVE to let anyone with allergies order in person.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

When we were there in February, there were a number of places that refused all guests who hadn't mobile ordered. It wasn't a matter of being firm or explaining a situation...the answer was simply NO. While I don't have any issues using the app, I do have issue with the amount of time in advance I need to mobile order to get my order. I understand these are challenging times, but the only reason I factor QS into my day is for the flexibility and spontaneity. If I have to plan it out an hour or two ahead of time and put in an order then, I might as well just stick to ADRs for TS meals. The most annoying one was getting a Dole Whip. If I decide I want a Dole Whip at 3pm, putting in a mobile order with the earliest pick up time of 4:15pm is just stupid. It's a snack! Granted, they will let you wait in the line to get a Dole Whip and not require you to mobile order, but because of mobile ordering, that line is now even slower than before. Sorry...I know this is a bit off topic from OPs issues, but I really hope Disney reevaluates mobile ordering and applies better logic to things when stuff becomes more normal. We are not fans of this current system.

 

[Becky Mouse]

Unless your flip phone has access to the internet(only a very few new ones do), you can't make it a mobile hotspot. BUT, you can easily use Disney wifi in the parks and at the resorts. Honestly, it would be just easier to get a smart phone instead of buying a tablet that you might never use for the same price.

Thank you for the advice, but I don't want a smart phone. I'm someone who gets hooked on social media and such, and if I had a smart phone, I'd live my life with my head in my phone! So, I only use social media and accounts like these when I'm home and can get on the computer. It helps me keep a better balance in my life! So, I appreciate the input on cost, but I would rather pay more for something like an iPod than to have a smart phone.

My flip phone somehow does let me connect to the internet. People asked me about data plans and such, and I'm going to be honest: I just don't know. My husband has a smart phone, and we pay $80/month for mine and for him to have whatever he needs with his phone (data or whatever). I don't know if my flip phone has data or needs data, tbh. Even though it's a flip phone, I do know that I can use my phone for internet! It's some sort of LG flip phone, and when the power has gone out at home (no wifi), my husband has turned it into a hotspot or whatever for me, and my computer can connect to that for internet. So, I know it can be done. However, if I can use the iPod with internet at WDW and not have to use my flip phone for internet, that would be great! I didn't know that was a thing. Do devices connect to WDW internet automatically? My problem right now is that I've only connected a desktop and laptop to internet before. Usually on my laptop, I have to choose a connection, and then sometimes there is a password. I don't know how to connect an iPod, and I'm hoping it's easy for me to figure out when I get to WDW. My husband won't be there, so he won't be able to help. Maybe my 9 year old can help me

I just think it's kind of stupid I have to put so much time, energy, and money into this in order to be able to order food at an amusement park.

 

[Adventureland]

Echoing the note about allergies. I've been researching ordering with allergies in anticipation of my trip and I've seen nothing about not being able to order in person at any particular location. I feel like if you say you don't have a phone they should just let you order in person? Maybe they're interpreting requests as some way to circumvent the line. Like, when you order for allergies, do you then have to wait long, or does it take a normal amount of time for the food to be prepared? If it's the latter, I feel like I could forgive the CMs to a point. Firmness and specificity are powerful tools.

Do devices connect to WDW internet automatically? My problem right now is that I've only connected a desktop and laptop to internet before. Usually on my laptop, I have to choose a connection, and then sometimes there is a password.

It's very similar. You go into the "Settings" app and "Wifi" or connection should be the first option. I don't think it will connect automatically, but there shouldn't be a password to enter.

 

[Becky Mouse]

It's very similar. You go into the "Settings" app and "Wifi" or connection should be the first option. I don't think it will connect automatically, but there shouldn't be a password to enter.

Thank you! That sounds easy enough that I should be able to do it.

 

[Eastern]

I hate ordering stuff that requires multiple choices on my phone. It's small and hard to see, even with reading glasses. Just annoying.

 

[Best Aunt]

Thank you! That sounds easy enough that I should be able to do it.

you could practice connecting to wifi by taking the ipod someplace that has wifi, like a coffee shop. You could even try in the parking lot if you don’t want to go inside.

touch Settings, then Wifi, and see what happens.

if it works and lets you connect to wifi (or if you have wifi at home), download the Disney World app by touching the App Store (looks like the letter A made out of popsicle sticks). Then touch Search, which looks like a magnifying glass. Type Disney World on the search bar, and My Disney Experience should come up. Then touch Get and the app should start to download. It might ask for your ipod password.

once the app is on your ipod, you can practice mobile ordering, as others have said.

 

[lspahr]

We just returned from WL and ate at least 1 meal almost every day at Roaring Fork. There was never a CM at the register to order; however, if you needed to add on to your order, one of the CMs who were assembling the food would go over and add it at the register.

 

[Jmljasmine]

I'm not a senior, but I don't have a smart phone by choice. I read these posts about needing to use the app, so I actually purchased an iPod for our trip. I think it's pretty stupid that people have to buy a smart device in order to eat at Disney World! Now I have to figure out how to turn my flip phone into a hotspot or whatever, connect the iPod to it, and learn how to use the app... all to be able to eat a meal at Disney World. I get that for some this whole thing is convenient, but for others, it's very much the opposite. I'm really stressed about this and started just making ADRs so I don't have to deal with mobile ordering. You'd think if it was required, they'd put up a digital kiosk to order from like McDonald's does or something. You know, like the kiosks they used to offer for people to make FastPass reservations if they didn't have a smart phone.

I agree! I'm not a senior and do have a small phone but a very low end cheap one that I'm not the best at using. I hate the idea of my Disney trip being tied to it. I'm not going again until 2022 but it all these changes stay, we may not return after. It's getting too stressful.

 

[WEDWDW]

When we were there in February, there were a number of places that refused all guests who hadn't mobile ordered. It wasn't a matter of being firm or explaining a situation...the answer was simply NO. While I don't have any issues using the app, I do have issue with the amount of time in advance I need to mobile order to get my order. I understand these are challenging times, but the only reason I factor QS into my day is for the flexibility and spontaneity. If I have to plan it out an hour or two ahead of time and put in an order then, I might as well just stick to ADRs for TS meals. The most annoying one was getting a Dole Whip. If I decide I want a Dole Whip at 3pm, putting in a mobile order with the earliest pick up time of 4:15pm is just stupid. It's a snack! Granted, they will let you wait in the line to get a Dole Whip and not require you to mobile order, but because of mobile ordering, that line is now even slower than before. Sorry...I know this is a bit off topic from OPs issues, but I really hope Disney reevaluates mobile ordering and applies better logic to things when stuff becomes more normal. We are not fans of this current system.

If told NO by the "front line" CMs,I feel certain a request to see a Manager would rectify the situation.

I would be absolutely SHOCKED if a Manager would tell a Guest "NO SMARTPHONE/NO FOOD! Have a Magical day".