New one sheet Personal Navigators - Update: Mixed reports currently, what is your recent experience?

[PrincessShmoo]

Wouldn't the app require wifi? I really am just wondering.

Just the internal wifi that the ships have.

 

[bonnielynn]

I like to highlight what we want to do and carrying it around to check it all day. I am also of the gang who turns off her phone and doesn't look back. Isn't that what cruises are for? LOL

 

[anricat]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall that the character appearances are listed in the grid portion. So would the app be the only place to access this information?

 

[Geomom]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall that the character appearances are listed in the grid portion. So would the app be the only place to access this information?

It is listed in the grid, it's the 3rd item down from the top, 'characters', just above the 'fun for all ages'.

 

[squirk]

That would have a far bigger effect than printing out a few Navigators every day.

A few? It's more like 875-1250 Navigators every day of every sailing.

They should still print at least a limited number that could be gotten at guest services upon request.

I second that idea. It is a fine compromise.

I like the paper copy, and will miss it, but I can appreciate the benefits of an app-based Navigator, too.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

Onboard the Magic now and the dinner menu theme no longer appears on the Navigators or app. The drink of the day is now only listed in the app. I used to enjoy reading the activity highlights in the full Navigator version. The Anyone Can Cook menu item is only listed in the tiny print on the paper. Activities sometime lack embellished descriptions.

Also, turndown chocolates are now DCL branded Ghirardelli milk chocolate instead of the generic milk in the Sleepy wrap.

Ohhh, thanks for the drink of the day info!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

I don't see everyone onboard having the app and I do wonder about that fine print for elderly and people with sight issues. I wonder if they have an enlarged version for those people?

 

[michellekcm]

I am very sad about this change, as well. I keep all of our Navigatirs and they go in our scrapbook. My husband uses the app a little, but I prefer my time studying the paper Navigator each night before bed.

I know, how am I going to scrapbook the app?!?

I do use the app, but often miss things on it as it's not as easy to read, or I think things are somethings different to what they are. The highlights in the full navigator have led me to try things I wouldn't have based on just reading the app.

 

[jack87891]

I know, how am I going to scrapbook the app?!?

I do use the app, but often miss things on it as it's not as easy to read, or I think things are somethings different to what they are. The highlights in the full navigator have led me to try things I wouldn't have based on just reading the app.

My first thought is
Bummer! A little less magic

 

[mmdreamer]

While I am not the biggest fan of the app, I like that it contains info that is not in the navigator like full menus - we love to plan what we are going to eat.

I just looked at the center insert from our last cruise and it contains almost all the information we would need. On the flip side of the grid schedule, they have all the movies pictured, character appearances, evening attire, drink of the day and even the weather forecast.

As nice as the old navigator was, it really does waste a lot of paper. By cutting back 2 pages of paper per stateroom equals 2500 pages per day on the Fantasy alone! Multiply the amount of staterooms on all 4 ships and they are saving at least 3,102,500 sheets of paper per year! Now if they would only cut back on all of the advertising for DVC, spa etc...

 

[anricat]

Now if they would only cut back on all of the advertising for DVC, spa etc...

Let's add all the photos they dump every sailing from Shutters. Talk about a waste!

 

[Geomom]

Let's add all the photos they dump every sailing from Shutters. Talk about a waste!

Did Shutters actually have paper photos on our Alaskan cruise? I purposefully avoided stopping in Shutters as I didn't want to get tempted into buying any photos (and I knew we had some good ones on our cameras.) I did walk 'through' there to get places and didn't notice paper photos anywhere obvious.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Did Shutters actually have paper photos on our Alaskan cruise? I purposefully avoided stopping in Shutters as I didn't want to get tempted into buying any photos (and I knew we had some good ones on our cameras.) I did walk 'through' there to get places and didn't notice paper photos anywhere obvious.

They place them in "books" now. No longer any long racks of photos for everyone to see. Not a great photo, but you press your KTTW card at the kiosk there and it tells you a bookcase (character) and number (folder) where your photos are.

 

[Lunarias]

I'm really bummed out, I was looking forward to the navigators. I have a smartphone but my fiancée doesn't. And on our last two cruises we locked our phones in the safe day 1, it's our time to disconnect. Just spend time together. I would be fine if I could get one around the ship if I wanted the full version. Some people just like a paper copy, like some people like paper books vs a kindle

 

[Geomom]

They place them in "books" now. No longer any long racks of photos for everyone to see. Not a great photo, but you press your KTTW card at the kiosk there and it tells you a bookcase (character) and number (folder) where your photos are.
View attachment 195986

Thanks. I saw the kiosks and just assumed it was all online like at Disney World. That's too bad that they're still printing out photos--big waste of paper and ink!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I'll just repeat my thoughts here - I'm going to contact DCL and let them know that I'm not happy with the change.

Who specifically did you contact? Specific email?

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Well add me to "not too happy" category. I am all for being evironmently friendly, and I love new technology.
But... The personal (paper) navigator is a big part of our every cruise. I like to read it out on our verandah every morning. I can glance at a few things at once without having to click several times within the app. I did like the app too, but really enjoy the regular flyer style version. As many said, not everyone travels with their smart phone. Not everyone will be able to read the small print on the one page grid schedule. People pay a BIG premium to cruise with Disney and it is the many special Disney touches/extras that keep us going back.
I can understand and appreciate that many folks prefer the app, but it goes both ways.
To me a good compromise would be to still print the full navigators but instead of placing them in the staterooms, have them available by guest services. That way if you would like a paper copy you can have one. If you prefer the app, awesome.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Who specifically did you contact? Specific email?

On the DCL website, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and in the third column over (I think) is "Contact us". When you have to select a subject, sadly, there's no "other" option, so I just select "My upcoming cruise" and then tell them that is not really my upcoming cruise, but I chose it because there's no "other" option. Then I tell them how I feel.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

I think that DCL should still have the full navigators for cruisers that can not see anything on their phones (this includes my mother ), people who completely unplug, people who don't use smart phones, and those of us who like them for souvenirs!

That said, I can get by with just the one page and the app. While I enjoyed the full navigator, I didn't use it for planning our days and I never fully read it. I wouldn't get the full navigator for myself, but I definitely think it should be available for others! That is what I said when I emailed DCL customer service.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

On the DCL website, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and in the third column over (I think) is "Contact us". When you have to select a subject, sadly, there's no "other" option, so I just select "My upcoming cruise" and then tell them that is not really my upcoming cruise, but I chose it because there's no "other" option. Then I tell them how I feel.

I have an upcoming cruise so I shall do that Thanks