My Disney Experience / Magicband glitches

[MrShiny]

Just back from a stay at VGF. A couple glitches:

We were staying off site before, so I drove over before 7 am to check in (didn't really help as no rooms were available).

Concierge at VGF opens at 7, so I had to check in at main building.

They had me assign a new PIN to my Magicbands. Supposedly this would be for all of them. Well, that new PIN never worked. The one I believe I set up online did work, but unfortunately the rest of my party didn't remember theirs. There seems no way to update the PIN online that I could find.

Never got a text that my room was ready, although I did get the texts confirming I wanted text.

Going back to the resort to see if the room was ready, found my Magicband wouldn't open the parking gate. A CM friend of mine confirmed a quirk of Magicband. They won't work for things like parking gates and swimming pool gates until each one has been swiped on the door of your room. Quite an issue if your room is not ready!

The room was great. There were a few issues (not Magicband related). An access panel was hanging open in the closet ceiling. The ice bin in the refrigerator drawer was placed in wrong, so the drawer would not close. The drawer was full of water (which then poured out on to floor). The freezer below was full of frost. Never did see any ice in the drawer after I figured out how it put the bin back in. Couldn't see how to activate it.

The oddest issue is upon returning home, I saw the reservation showed as cancelled and the DVC points were placed in my holding account. No idea how that happened, as of course we actually stayed there! Not wanting points not really mine (even if in holding), I called and MS confirmed it was a system glitch and opened a ticket.

 

[disneynutz]

Just back from a stay at VGF. A couple glitches:

We were staying off site before, so I drove over before 7 am to check in (didn't really help as no rooms were available).

Concierge at VGF opens at 7, so I had to check in at main building.

They had me assign a new PIN to my Magicbands. Supposedly this would be for all of them. Well, that new PIN never worked. The one I believe I set up online did work, but unfortunately the rest of my party didn't remember theirs. There seems no way to update the PIN online that I could find.

Never got a text that my room was ready, although I did get the texts confirming I wanted text.

Going back to the resort to see if the room was ready, found my Magicband wouldn't open the parking gate. A CM friend of mine confirmed a quirk of Magicband. They won't work for things like parking gates and swimming pool gates until each one has been swiped on the door of your room. Quite an issue if your room is not ready!

The room was great. There were a few issues (not Magicband related). An access panel was hanging open in the closet ceiling. The ice bin in the refrigerator drawer was placed in wrong, so the drawer would not close. The drawer was full of water (which then poured out on to floor). The freezer below was full of frost. Never did see any ice in the drawer after I figured out how it put the bin back in. Couldn't see how to activate it.

The oddest issue is upon returning home, I saw the reservation showed as cancelled and the DVC points were placed in my holding account. No idea how that happened, as of course we actually stayed there! Not wanting points not really mine (even if in holding), I called and MS confirmed it was a system glitch and opened a ticket.

Here now and DW had to put in a new pin even though she already had one.

We didn't get a text either but the room ready system has always been hit or miss.

The $4,000 refrigerator will have a learning curve for guests and CM's alike.

No problems with the room.

I have to give DVD a thumbs up, VGF is clearly a flagship DVC resort which makes sense since it is located at Disney's Flagship resort. The budget here at the GF/VGF is obviously superior to the other resorts. The gingerbread house in the lobby of the GF is truly a work of art, not just a sales kiosk like at the BWI.

Bill

 

[drusba]

We were at BWV in mid-Nov and had issues with MBs. Initially, they would not open the room doors (that took almost two hours to fix). Then we could not use them for charging to the room (likewise for KTTW cards). When we tried to do any charges, the computer would not allow it because it was insisting that we had already checked out for some other, phantom reservation that ended before we arrived. They were unable to fix that one despite several attempts over a few days. Also, our bands would not open anything at the resort except for the rooms, e.g., no entry at front gate where you can use a band, no entry to stairway doors spread throughout the resort. One thing I became aware of is that problems with bands was not an isolated issue. The guest services lines at the parks were enormous the enitre time we were there, occupied mostly by guests having problems with the Magic Bands.

 

[MrShiny]

I second that the VGF are wonderful. The kitchen is all top of the line. The shower is just about big enough for your entire party (hopefully though not using it for that!).

Oh we had one other weird issue. My daughter took a bath in the jacuzzi tub. She drained it and turned it off, but then for the next couple of hours the jets (which are loud in a quiet room) would come on by themselves. The on off light would only blink and there seemed no way to stop it. Eventually (of course after I called maintenance) it stopped on its own!

The GF overall is top notch for sure.

 

[disneynutz]

I second that the VGF are wonderful. The kitchen is all top of the line. The shower is just about big enough for your entire party (hopefully though not using it for that!).

Oh we had one other weird issue. My daughter took a bath in the jacuzzi tub. She drained it and turned it off, but then for the next couple of hours the jets (which are loud in a quiet room) would come on by themselves. The on off light would only blink and there seemed no way to stop it. Eventually (of course after I called maintenance) it stopped on its own!

The GF overall is top notch for sure.

The tub goes through a self cleaning cycle to reduce mold build up in the jet/air system.

Bill

 

[wildernessDad]

Just got back from a too-short vacation. My magic band had to be reset a couple of times due because I could not get into a park. I had the dreaded blinking blue lights. There was a person each time right inside the park to do the resets. Guess they get that situation a lot.

 

[MrShiny]

The tub goes through a self cleaning cycle to reduce mold build up in the jet/air system.

Bill

That is great to know! Wish they had just told us that when we called down. Note to self - don't let the kids take a bath right before bed! When that fires up it is kind of loud.

 

[Sammie]

The tub goes through a self cleaning cycle to reduce mold build up in the jet/air system.

Bill

That is good to know, thanks for sharing, enjoy your stay. Take plenty of photos.