Ok, This is not testing anymore, enough

[rebbyparker]

It's all good. If the trip goes swimmingly for you.....then that's great. And if the MB's and FP+'s make your trip the most magical trip you've ever had....then awesome. But in reality....a lot of customers are having/have had problems with piss-poor support from WDW's CM's in fixing the issues.....other than "Itsa glitch."

THIS has been a major problem for me. I get that they're testing/rollout, whatever. But with crappy IT and the fact that NO ONE at Disney knows (or will tell) from day to day what is going to happen really bugs me. If I shrugged one of my clients off with a "Wow, really sorry your investment lost money, but it's a test, it's a glitch, I can change the rules anytime I want or I can tell you this today and something else tomorrow", truthfully I wouldn't have any clients at all. And rightly so. This is not normal Disney customer relations, by any stretch. And I'm not mad at the CM's. They only know what someone thinks they need to know. I feel very sorry for them because I bet you it hasn't been magical for them at all lately. I imagine it's been 10 times worse for them because they're on the tail end of it.

 

[mom2rtk]

I actually meant it was only one form of a choice. Not a good one, and not one I would make...but it is a choice (at least right now...until they fully roll this steaming pile to other on-site resorts).

Not only is switching resorts not an appealing option for some folks, it's also possible it's not an option at all. Sometimes guests are booked at a given resort on a promotion that might not be available at all at another resort. Never mind that people choose resorts for a huge variety of reasons. We choose Pop for the dedicated bus service. Swap me over to one of the All-stars at the last minute and I wouldn't like it. Swap me over to a more expensive resort, and I wouldn't like paying the upgrade.

But does anyone know the answer? If you tell them you want to opt out, is your KTTW card good for FPs? Will they even let you opt out?

Based on the quotes after yours it sounds like guests will not be given an option that involves passing on FP+ in favor of FP-.

Let's face it. To some (not all) FP+ and the ride rationing involved constitutes a downgrade. Forcing guests into this (without a voluntary opt-in) was never going to go smoothly.

I'm still shocked that Disney would put on-site guests in a position where offsite guests would be eligible for more FPs than them.

My hunch is that for the next couple weeks, Pop guests will be at a big disadvantage. Thanksgiving week Pop guests will come out slightly better than offsite.

Stay tuned to see what December brings.

Disney must have had some big fix-it on the program just recently. Because last I knew people were still having enough problems with their bands that I just can't see it being a good thing to pull the back-up to that system yet.

After spending quite a bit of time on the phone last night: you cannot opt out if you are staying at Pop beginning Nov. 14. No way no how per Pop management and per guest relations. The KTTW card issued on the 14th will be different from the one issued today and will not have the capability to pull paper FP.

Yep. Doesn't sound like a beta test any longer.

You aren't forced to use FP. Therefore, you aren't forced to fall victim in the first place.

Well, in all fairness, you're not really forced to ride anything at all, right?

 

[Son of Gadsden]

What is unfair about the paper FP system? I'm not talking about choices people make making it seem unfair. The new system is no more fair than the old one.

I know this system is going away no matter what but let's not pretend it has anything at all to do with making things fair. Even if you screwed up and didn't research and/or made it to RD on your first day of park touring, the next morning, you were on the same field as everyone else. Not so anymore.

I explained exactly what could be considered unfair.

Some people arrive at the park later than rope drop. I'm one of those people. Some FP machines are closed at that point, because people got there bright and early and got all the fastpasses. They paid the same price of admission as everyone else, yet they don't get to use FP because they didn't get there at rope drop. This way, those people can get fast passes for the times they want without having to race to the fastpass machines.

Simple fact is both systems had their advantages and disadvantages. One isn't likely better or worse than the other. Both are line skipping programs that award those who know the system, and are a disadvantage to those who wait longer int he queue lines because they either don't know about the system or choose not to take advantage of it. All of those people pay the same admission price.

You're not taking away from guest experience by doing anything to the program, since people in the FP line have a better experience at the expense of the people who are waiting in the queue line's experience.

 

[wisblue]

Above and beyond the FP+......let's say for a moment, that you check into your resort after a long day of travel, and your MB, RFID card, magical pixie-dust hand wave ....whatever....doesn't allow you into your room to unload and freshen-up. So you drag you happy rear back to the lobby to try and rectify this issue and an extended period later, after much hand-wringing from CM's and such.....you can finally get into your room.

You'd be OK with that? You are a saint among saints, if that's the case.

That has happened to us at places other than Disney when room key cards haven't worked. No system is absolutely perfect.

I am far from the most patient person in the world, but at some point you either have to deal with it and get over it or let it ruin your whole trip, just like you would a major airline delay, having the airline lose your luggage, a favorite attraction being down or closed for refurbishment, terrible weather, or whatever.

I have a trip planned in December too, and I am assuming that I will not be able to use paper FPs.

Worrying in advance about what MIGHT go wrong because it has gone wrong for someone else won't get you anywhere.

 

[Tormania]

I view what they are doing at POP starting tomorrow the proper "TEST" of the new Magicband/FP+ implementation. Prior to this test guests were able to use both FP+ AND FP- during their visit, and I said back then that is not an accurate test of the system as they envisoned the final product with no FP- existing. So this test with no KTTW cards is a must in order to get an idea of user feedback and experiences of what the real goal will be.

Sounds like more hand-wringing from the crowd that doesn't like FP+ to begin with. This had to be coming eventually, to think differently was to ignore the inevitable.

 

[mgrayar]

Above and beyond the FP+......let's say for a moment, that you check into your resort after a long day of travel, and your MB, RFID card, magical pixie-dust hand wave ....whatever....doesn't allow you into your room to unload and freshen-up. So you drag you happy rear back to the lobby to try and rectify this issue and an extended period later, after much hand-wringing from CM's and such.....you can finally get into your room. You'd be OK with that? You are a saint among saints, if that's the case.

doesn't that happen at every resort every day worldwide?

Happens to me on business trips. No technology is 100% perfect. We might as well go back to hard keys.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Well, in all fairness, you're not really forced to ride anything at all, right?

Well, if you're going to say that, you might as well say you aren't forced to go to Disney. The arguements being made aren't relevant to that though.

The argument is, if you pay for the Disney experience, you should be paying for a quality experience. You are paying the experience the attractions. That experience is not being affected at all. The rides are not being affected. The queue lines are not being affected.

You are not directly paying for FP. It's a convenience for those who know how to use it, and even more so for those who know how to use it effectively. It's used to skip the lines. People in the queue line pay the same amount as those in FP. Therefore, you can use it to your benefit over those who have paid to get in the same as you did, or you can choose to get in line like everyone else. Therefore, if you want to take part in a glitchy system, you still get to skip the lines. If you don't want to use the glitchy system, get in line like everyone else that doesn't want to use the system.

 

[ShayBells]

OK....cool. I get it. You're right. It's OK to pay a few grand to sit in the lobby of your resort while CM's fix the glitch that won't allow you into you room. Or that won't allow your meal your eating to be charged with the MagicBand gracing your wrist because of a glitch. Thankfully those Terms and Conditions cover Disney's ****. That should ease everyone's concerns. I am of the mindset that being upfront and saying "We will be testing new operations during your stay. And as a reward for your willing participation, here is a discount of 25% (for example), for your valuable input, and compensate you for any inconveniences this testing phase may cause you, our appreciated guest." Not "Yeah.....so those inconveniences of suckitude you experienced....well, our Terms and Conditions say.....'That happens.....sux to be you.' " It's all good. If the trip goes swimmingly for you.....then that's great. And if the MB's and FP+'s make your trip the most magical trip you've ever had....then awesome. But in reality....a lot of customers are having/have had problems with piss-poor support from WDW's CM's in fixing the issues.....other than "Itsa glitch."

I get it. No one wants to pay thousands of dollars and have problems but these problems are not strictly related to magic bands. I've heard of KTTW cards failing to open doors long before Magic bands were a thought in someone's head. Same with the meal not charging. Even regular CC glitches happen all the time.

Any of these problems can happen to anyone through any company.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[metzgardesign]

That has happened to us at places other than Disney when room key cards haven't worked. No system is absolutely perfect.

I am far from the most patient person in the world, but at some point you either have to deal with it and get over it or let it ruin your whole trip, just like you would a major airline delay, having the airline lose your luggage, a favorite attraction being down or closed for refurbishment, terrible weather, or whatever.

I have a trip planned in December too, and I am assuming that I will not be able to use paper FPs.

Worrying in advance about what MIGHT go wrong because it has gone wrong for someone else won't get you anywhere.

Then....by all means, it is completely acceptable.

I am not saying that things don't happen occasionally. And I am not saying that one should allow it to ruin one's entire trip, experience, whatever.

But, a company should bear in mind that they exist because of their customers, and customer service should still reflect that. Too often, it no longer does. Some customers are assclowns....sure. But there is also a rising trend of weakening customer satisfaction.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

Above and beyond the FP+......let's say for a moment, that you check into your resort after a long day of travel, and your MB, RFID card, magical pixie-dust hand wave ....whatever....doesn't allow you into your room to unload and freshen-up. So you drag you happy rear back to the lobby to try and rectify this issue and an extended period later, after much hand-wringing from CM's and such.....you can finally get into your room.

You'd be OK with that? You are a saint among saints, if that's the case.

Are you suggesting that the previous cards before MyMagic+ were 100% no glitches and always allowed you in your room? I've been to plenty of hotels where the regular old keys didn't let me in my room. That's the risk you take by taking a key from someone. I don't see how that has anything to do with MyMagic+.

I haven't seen a widespread difference being reported about people using the new RFID cards not being able to get in their rooms.

 

[aubriee]

What if you have the most amazing trip of your life?

I understand being frustrated but I'll never understand making personal decisions based on others opinions without experiencing it first.

If you go and hate it I absolutely agree you should talk with your money, I just don't understand why you wouldn't give it a chance first before making up your mind unless maybe you were tiring of Disney already and this is just the straw that broke the camels back.

Actually I did try it. I was also at Bonnet Creek this past Sept, when only some of the resorts were getting FP+. I saw first hand how much longer both the stand by and the fast pass lines were and how even though I arrived at park opening, the fast passes I were able to get were for much later than I am used to getting at that time of the morning. I experienced first hand how FP+ negatively impacted my trip.

 

[ArwenMarie]

This is the email I got about "testing" and I assume it's the same one the Pop folks got as well who will be checking in around the same time...

"You're invited to participate in a special test during your upcoming trip!

As an upcoming Disney Resort hotel Guest, you could help us test a new way to experience Walt Disney World Resort before we share it with the rest of the world. It's a new collection of magical tools we're calling MyMagic+.

Since MyMagic+ is still being developed, we're offering this opportunity for some Guests, like you, to test it out during your upcoming visit and tell us what you think works and where we need to improve. But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit."

Invited!
Special test!
Before we share it with the rest of the world! (uh, aren't 50% of your customers now using it, using the 50/50 onsite/offsite estimate)
Magical tools!

Here is the most deceptive part...

"But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit."

Ok, now I am talking about advertising here. Not legality, I know Disney is covered from here to moon on that. Advertising, customer service, public relations, marketing, etc.

"If you decide not to participate in the test, you will still enjoy a great WDW visit." That might have been true when resort customers who chose not to participate in the test could still access FP-. However, if you opt out now if you are Pop customer in particular, you will not have any FPs. And they are claiming you WILL still have a great WDW visit. Really? You WILL still have a great WDW visit with no Fastpasses at all?

This is the deception, as in deceptive marketing.

To all the folks saying that it's right that they keep calling this "testing," at what point would you say that it's not testing anymore, at least from a resort customer's POV?

 

[ArwenMarie]

OK....cool. I get it. You're right. It's OK to pay a few grand to sit in the lobby of your resort while CM's fix the glitch that won't allow you into you room. Or that won't allow your meal your eating to be charged with the MagicBand gracing your wrist because of a glitch.

Thankfully those Terms and Conditions cover Disney's ****. That should ease everyone's concerns.

I am of the mindset that being upfront and saying "We will be testing new operations during your stay. And as a reward for your willing participation, here is a discount of 25% (for example), for your valuable input, and compensate you for any inconveniences this testing phase may cause you, our appreciated guest."

Not "Yeah.....so those inconveniences of suckitude you experienced....well, our Terms and Conditions say.....'That happens.....sux to be you.' "

It's all good. If the trip goes swimmingly for you.....then that's great. And if the MB's and FP+'s make your trip the most magical trip you've ever had....then awesome. But in reality....a lot of customers are having/have had problems with piss-poor support from WDW's CM's in fixing the issues.....other than "Itsa glitch."

Exactly.

 

[MooskaMinnie]

It definitely sounds like they're still testing... it's coming in waves and it makes sense to me to stick with the "testing" label.. we don't know how no KTTW cards will work out, we don't know how the EPCOT FP+ situation will work out.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

This is the email I got about "testing" and I assume it's the same one the Pop folks got as well who will be checking in around the same time...

"You're invited to participate in a special test during your upcoming trip!

As an upcoming Disney Resort hotel Guest, you could help us test a new way to experience Walt Disney World Resort before we share it with the rest of the world. It's a new collection of magical tools we're calling MyMagic+.

Since MyMagic+ is still being developed, we're offering this opportunity for some Guests, like you, to test it out during your upcoming visit and tell us what you think works and where we need to improve. But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit."

Invited!
Special test!
Before we share it with the rest of the world! (uh, aren't 50% of your customers now using it, using the 50/50 onsite/offsite estimate)
Magical tools!

Here is the most deceptive part...

"But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit."

Ok, now I am talking about advertising here. Not legality, I know Disney is covered from here to moon on that. Advertising, customer service, public relations, marketing, etc.

"If you decide not to participate in the test, you will still enjoy a great WDW visit." That might have been true when resort customers who chose not to participate in the test could still access FP-. However, if you opt out now if you are Pop customer in particular, you will not have any FPs. And they are claiming you WILL still have a great WDW visit. Really? You WILL still have a great WDW visit with no Fastpasses at all?

This is the deception, as in deceptive marketing.

To all the folks saying that it's right that they keep calling this "testing," at what point would you say that it's not testing anymore, at least from a resort customer's POV?

Well I would say, if you are staying at Pop, you should bring this up to the CMs at checkin, and I would put my money on the idea that they would make an exception for you.

 

[FLchick415]

This is the email I got about "testing" and I assume it's the same one the Pop folks got as well who will be checking in around the same time...

"You're invited to participate in a special test during your upcoming trip!

As an upcoming Disney Resort hotel Guest, you could help us test a new way to experience Walt Disney World Resort before we share it with the rest of the world. It's a new collection of magical tools we're calling MyMagic+.

Since MyMagic+ is still being developed, we're offering this opportunity for some Guests, like you, to test it out during your upcoming visit and tell us what you think works and where we need to improve. But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit."

Invited!
Special test!
Before we share it with the rest of the world! (uh, aren't 50% of your customers now using it, using the 50/50 onsite/offsite estimate)
Magical tools!

Here is the most deceptive part...

"But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit."

Ok, now I am talking about advertising here. Not legality, I know Disney is covered from here to moon on that. Advertising, customer service, public relations, marketing, etc.

"If you decide not to participate in the test, you will still enjoy a great WDW visit." That might have been true when resort customers who chose not to participate in the test could still access FP-. However, if you opt out now if you are Pop customer in particular, you will not have any FPs. And they are claiming you WILL still have a great WDW visit. Really? You WILL still have a great WDW visit with no Fastpasses at all?

This is the deception, as in deceptive marketing.

To all the folks saying that it's right that they keep calling this "testing," at what point would you say that it's not testing anymore, at least from a resort customer's POV?

To the bold: I'm not saying you're not justified in feeling the way you do, because everyone has a right to their own opinion, but I've had plenty of great WDW visits without ever touching a FP. And I'm not just talking about "atmosphere".

 

[ShayBells]

This is the email I got about "testing" and I assume it's the same one the Pop folks got as well who will be checking in around the same time... "You're invited to participate in a special test during your upcoming trip! As an upcoming Disney Resort hotel Guest, you could help us test a new way to experience Walt Disney World Resort before we share it with the rest of the world. It's a new collection of magical tools we're calling MyMagic+. Since MyMagic+ is still being developed, we're offering this opportunity for some Guests, like you, to test it out during your upcoming visit and tell us what you think works and where we need to improve. But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit." Invited! Special test! Before we share it with the rest of the world! (uh, aren't 50% of your customers now using it, using the 50/50 onsite/offsite estimate) Magical tools! Here is the most deceptive part... "But don't worry, if you decide not to participate in this test, you will still enjoy a great Walt Disney World visit." Ok, now I am talking about advertising here. Not legality, I know Disney is covered from here to moon on that. Advertising, customer service, public relations, marketing, etc. "If you opt out, you will still enjoy a great WDW visit." That might have been true when customers who were participating in the test could still access FP- if they opted out. However, if you opt out now if you are Pop customer in particular, you will not have any FPs. And they are claiming you WILL still have a great WDW visit. Really? You WILL still have a great WDW visit with no Fastpasses at all? This is the deception, as in deceptive marketing. To all the folks saying that it's right that they keep calling this "testing," at what point would you say that it's not testing anymore, at least from a resort customer's POV?

Technically testing is never over. Any time anything gets upgraded or changed at all there is a testing phase. And most places test every step as they go. Right now IMHO "testing" won't be over until FP- is gone and Disney is past there last integration phase which we don't know what that is yet. After that testing will be complete for at least mymagic+ for now. But there is always "testing" and "maintenance."

And as for Disney being "deceptive." Well that's your opinion not fact. I'd have an awesome disney vacation opting in or opting out. But that's me. I'd be happy to go and be told I can't use FP at all. I'd still pay and I'd still be happy. But that's me.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[AmyB2006]

This is the deception, as in deceptive marketing.

To all the folks saying that it's right that they keep calling this "testing," at what point would you say that it's not testing anymore, at least from a resort customer's POV?

If you say so.

I do agree with it being a phased rollout. However, the testing comes into play because they are still gathering information and hopefully tweaking the final product and making it better.

But my point is, it doesn't matter what you call it. It is going to happen regardless, whether it's one resort at a time, multiple at a time or whatever. Paper FP is very obviously now, going to disappear.

Not that I agree with it, but they aren't going to broadcast this information out there to the masses and potentially risk a loss of income from that resort. The actual amount of people that will complain over this is so small compared to the amount that won't.

I know people are pissed and see this as a disadvantage. And if you feel so, you should complain.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, if you're going to say that, you might as well say you aren't forced to go to Disney. The arguements being made aren't relevant to that though.

The argument is, if you pay for the Disney experience, you should be paying for a quality experience. You are paying the experience the attractions. That experience is not being affected at all. The rides are not being affected. The queue lines are not being affected.

You are not directly paying for FP. It's a convenience for those who know how to use it, and even more so for those who know how to use it effectively. It's used to skip the lines. People in the queue line pay the same amount as those in FP. Therefore, you can use it to your benefit over those who have paid to get in the same as you did, or you can choose to get in line like everyone else. Therefore, if you want to take part in a glitchy system, you still get to skip the lines. If you don't want to use the glitchy system, get in line like everyone else that doesn't want to use the system.

For some, it's a bit take-away. For higher prices than they paid last year. That's really it in a nutshell.

I'm not sure how you can say the ability to experience the attractions is not affected by rationing FPs. If I can't get a FP and the standby is 2 hours, should I be happy just seeing it there in the park? Should I be happy standing outside Test Track and watching others zip by in the cars overhead?

 

[AmyB2006]

"If you decide not to participate in the test, you will still enjoy a great WDW visit." That might have been true when resort customers who chose not to participate in the test could still access FP-. However, if you opt out now if you are Pop customer in particular, you will not have any FPs. And they are claiming you WILL still have a great WDW visit. Really? You WILL still have a great WDW visit with no Fastpasses at all?

Personally I think this is the unclear part.

If you OPT OUT and don't take magic bands, are they giving you a card that works to pull FPs?? That was very vague in that email from The Hub. It said if you take magic bands AND still request a card, that your card won't work for that. But it didn't mention anything about opting out and getting a card that works.