News Round Up 2020

[Nikki1013]

Good to know! I’m buying my mom’s AP tomorrow, so now I don’t need to worry about malfunctions.

Please let me know if it works for you. When I clicked on the Annual Passes link under Parks and TIckets on the website just now it redirected to https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get to the AP options on their site. I wasn't planning on going back until next year anyway, but wanted to go ahead and get the AP out of the way. It's just frustrating to find that I encountered a cast member on the 31st who wasn't as informed as s/he should have been.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The wording on the 2021 reservations is interesting:
By June 28, all guests will be able to purchase new Disney Resort hotel packages and theme park tickets and make their park reservations for arrivals starting in 2021 as our phased reopening continues.

So .. does that mean you can ONLY buy resort packages .. and with them come theme park tickets and resort reservations? I doubt that (since that would mean AP holders wouldn't be able to get resort reservations). Just weird how it is stated "packages" instead of resort reservations.

Just curious because I (probably like a lot of people) only get room-only reservations since I have existing tickets.

Well, at least in the past you could book a ticketless package - that is what I currenty.have booked for 2021. Really a room only but is it booked like a package (so I only put down $200 so far)

 

[merry_nbright]

Please let me know if it works for you. When I clicked on the Annual Passes link under Parks and TIckets on the website just now it redirected to https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get to the AP options on their site. I wasn't planning on going back until next year anyway, but wanted to go ahead and get the AP out of the way. It's just frustrating to find that I encountered a cast member on the 31st who wasn't as informed as s/he should have been.

Just chatted with a Cast Member and they said they turned off buying new AP. HA HA H A now my mom has no tickets I LOVE THIS NEW SYSTEM

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Off-site. Also have an out of state AP. How many out of state APs are going to travel there for just 3 days.

I know Disney still thinks they are invincible, but treating your most loyal customers like crap isn't a good business decision. Just like Royal Caribbean sitting on my suite refund for over 100 days. My diamond benefits aren't going to make me forget they used me as an interest free credit card, they have created lasting ill will. Disney is doing the same with their APs.

Guess until we know how in demand reservations are we won't know how much of a negative this is. If it really isn't an issue getting a reservation a day or two out then this is less of a concern - but at least for it is really hard to justify the cost of a trip not knowing how many days you would be able to get to a park or that you are even going to be able to hit all 4 parks.

I know there needs to be some limit so people don't just book every day on the chance they may go, but 3 seems too low.

 

[tlmadden73]

Guess until we know how in demand reservations are we won't know how much of a negative this is. If it really isn't an issue getting a reservation a day or two out then this is less of a concern - but at least for it is really hard to justify the cost of a trip not knowing how many days you would be able to get to a park or that you are even going to be able to hit all 4 parks.

I know there needs to be some limit so people don't just book every day on the chance they may go, but 3 seems too low.

It's Disney -- it will be in high demand ... I would guess things will probably sell out quickly .. but hopefully they will add more capacity to later days as time goes on.

 

[Nikki1013]

Just chatted with a Cast Member and they said they turned off buying new AP. HA HA H A now my mom has no tickets I LOVE THIS NEW SYSTEM

Great. Guess I'll wait until the 28th and cross my fingers.

 

[merry_nbright]

Great. Guess I'll wait until the 28th and cross my fingers.

Same, friend. Same.

 

[prmatz]

Is it new news that in My Disney Experience, tickets now show as being valid ANY dates within the window through September 2021? Has the limited period in which tickets must be used after initial use been revised?

6-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day
Product Details
6-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day
Age: 10+
Valid: Sun, Jul 5, 2020 – Sun, Sep 26, 2021
Theme Park Admission: Any 6 of the Valid Dates

 

[tlmadden73]

Is it new news that in My Disney Experience, tickets now show as being valid ANY dates within the window through September 2021? Has the limited period in which tickets must be used after initial use been revised?

6-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day
Product Details
6-Day Ticket with Admission to 1 Park Per Day
Age: 10+
Valid: Sun, Jul 5, 2020 – Sun, Sep 26, 2021
Theme Park Admission: Any 6 of the Valid Dates

You'd think if you have to reserve SPECIFIC days that tickets won't have expiration dates.

 

[teach22180]

Sorry I'm confused. When can I buy room only tickets for December?

 

[PaintsWithAllTheColors]

Sorry I'm confused. When can I buy room only tickets for December?

I'm right there with you. So far, if I'm correct, all we know is "Later this summer".

 

[merry_nbright]

I'm right there with you. So far, if I'm correct, all we know is "Later this summer".

Yup, that’s it. No more AP or ticket sales for the time being.

 

[Future_WorldPhonencian]

My thoughts are I think it's to help with contactless options as well as probably the costs associated with manufacturing and distributing MBs to all guests who stay at their resorts.

My thoughts are with the investment in MBs, the Magickeepers, etc that this is really more related to the virus changing things than Disney deciding to do it. I could have seen phasing out free ones eventually though so the virus may have sped that along quicker but to put the technology onto an app that does the same things when they could have just forced people to purchase them (which off-site guests had to do) means to me (IMO) it's more than just dollars and cents. Going forward there's probably a desire to have as little contact as possible. With things being on your phone that can be done more. (Editing for clarity in my thinking as I thought about it more).

Now my next thought is is Disney looking at adjusting FP for the future for both parks phasing out the kiosks..that would be a bigger step for DLR than WDW since the means to do FP on your phone is only reserved for those who purchase MP.

As an adult the end of "free" or eventual demise of the magicbands isn't as big a deal, but the convenience of not having to pull out my wallet or unlock my phone to pay did make Disney more money in the long run. I bet the bean counters will go back on this after they see people spending less after the free bands go away. It will be a pain to whip out my phone or wallet for purchases or fastpasses or park entry and it will slow things down everywhere. Also, for little kid tickets and fastpasses what is Disney planning to do? It was so nice having my 3 year old scan his band rather than fumbling for his plastic card for everything.

 

[Tiki Birdland]

As an adult the end of "free" or eventual demise of the magicbands isn't as big a deal, but the convenience of not having to pull out my wallet or unlock my phone to pay did make Disney more money in the long run. I bet the bean counters will go back on this after they see people spending less after the free bands go away. It will be a pain to whip out my phone or wallet for purchases or fastpasses or park entry and it will slow things down everywhere. Also, for little kid tickets and fastpasses what is Disney planning to do? It was so nice having my 3 year old scan his band rather than fumbling for his plastic card for everything.

I was pretty surprised to hear this. The whole "contactless" and "frictionless" benefits of the magic band was what paid for all guests to have these. Guessing that the photopass portion for on-ride photos wasn't footing the bill. I think this is short-sighted on Disney's part. yeah, I have my phone in the park. That doesn't mean I want my kids to have theirs too. I agree that the beancounters are going to for a reversal on this once the in-park purchase numbers start coming in. Less and less "magical", Disney.

 

[Future_WorldPhonencian]

I was pretty surprised to hear this. The whole "contactless" and "frictionless" benefits of the magic band was what paid for all guests to have these. Guessing that the photopass portion for on-ride photos wasn't footing the bill. I think this is short-sighted on Disney's part. yeah, I have my phone in the park. That doesn't mean I want my kids to have theirs too. I agree that the beancounters are going to for a reversal on this once the in-park purchase numbers start coming in. Less and less "magical", Disney.

Agree with what you said, one last thought. How much does it cost Disney to make these really? Maybe $2-3 tops? How much does it add to the guest experience and how much does it increase guest spending? I would be willing to bet quite a bit. That coupled with speed and efficiency it adds to merch, food, photopass, and park entry, this is a bad move.

 

[only hope]

How many people staying at a Disney resort are first time visitors with no magicbands with functioning batteries though? Getting a new band every trip for those who come frequently is not necessary and is contributing to the plastic problem. It does decrease the value of staying in a Disney resort, but we all know the rates won’t be reduced.

 

[New Mouse]

Agree with what you said, one last thought. How much does it cost Disney to make these really? Maybe $2-3 tops? How much does it add to the guest experience and how much does it increase guest spending? I would be willing to bet quite a bit. That coupled with speed and efficiency it adds to merch, food, photopass, and park entry, this is a bad move.

The magic bands will be used as the reason why spending is down... though common sense would tell you itbwas the pandemic. Keep in mind, these were never free to guests, you pay $600 a night for the privlege of getting them. At this point, I dont think there are any benefits left to staying on site at the inflated prices. No fp, no emh, no magic bands.

 

[New Mouse]

How many people staying at a Disney resort are first time visitors with no magicbands with functioning batteries though? Getting a new band every trip for those who come frequently is not necessary and is contributing to the plastic problem. It does decrease the value of staying in a Disney resort, but we all know the rates won’t be reduced.

A lot. This should have always been a "decline" this option and get a x $ gift card choice outside of year 1. It could also be something mandatory for first time visits.

 

[CastAStone]

Agree with what you said, one last thought. How much does it cost Disney to make these really? Maybe $2-3 tops? How much does it add to the guest experience and how much does it increase guest spending? I would be willing to bet quite a bit. That coupled with speed and efficiency it adds to merch, food, photopass, and park entry, this is a bad move.

Having a general sense of what the materials cost, I’d put it at closer to $5-$6 including transportation to the US. Probably at least another $1 for customization because once you do that you have to start tracking each unit individually which is more expensive.

I think their expectation is that once you can do all of that with your phone you won’t miss the band.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

As an adult the end of "free" or eventual demise of the magicbands isn't as big a deal, but the convenience of not having to pull out my wallet or unlock my phone to pay did make Disney more money in the long run. I bet the bean counters will go back on this after they see people spending less after the free bands go away. It will be a pain to whip out my phone or wallet for purchases or fastpasses or park entry and it will slow things down everywhere. Also, for little kid tickets and fastpasses what is Disney planning to do? It was so nice having my 3 year old scan his band rather than fumbling for his plastic card for everything.

Just to look at the other side - maybe the beancounters saw how active the "upgrade" program was going and they think people who want one will still just pay the $10 for one with a character they want anyway. And even first timers will say, well, might as well for an extra $10/person ... Cheaper than a lot of other souvenirs. And maybe some other people who just take the free one as it is "free" but still like getting one each trip will now pay the $10 they weren't paying before

Plus I could see Disney including magic bands with special packages to make it see like added value (like a exclusive summer printed one with the summer and fun package)

Granted I am saying this as someone who loves magic bands and usually has like 10 with me each trip to switch up each day and will definitely continue to pay for them going forward