The financial Irony of MDE App and FP+

[Happyjen27]

I just contacted Disney about the irony of the fact that their guests need a smartphone and an App to effectively tour using FP+, yet, I don't have a smart phone so I can afford my Disney trips. It's not the only thing I go without in order to pay for vacations, but in this case, it's directly affecting my trip!

Yes, they have kiosks, and yes, there is a way to arrange FP+ and tour without a smart phone, but I just wanted to raise the concern, knowing it will go no where and have no affect on anything.

My husband has a smart phone, so we were able to use that on our trip. I often travel without my husband, and I would consider going to WDW with just the kids, but, without a smart phone, I wouldn't be touring as effectively. So, I will take them other places instead. And though it will make no difference to them, it's something they should know.

 

[Burnedout]

So what is your issue? They have an option to use if you don't have a phone. Seems a bit line cutting off your nose to spite your face logic to me. If you like going elsewhere, great. Kids are well off being exposed to different places. If you are only going elsewhere to make a point that no one but you cares about... Well that is silly.

 

[RDawn]

If the lack of smartphone access is a legitimate issue for you, please present it respectfully to Disney. I agree that your single problem will not change anything, but if many, many people have the same issue, a successful company will have to address it in order to remain a successful company. Please have a great vacation wherever that may be.

 

[elgerber]

You could also use a small wi-fi device, ipod, etc, you don't absolutely have to use a smart phone.

 

[Marionnette]

I just contacted Disney about the irony of the fact that their guests need a smartphone and an App to effectively tour using FP+, yet, I don't have a smart phone so I can afford my Disney trips. It's not the only thing I go without in order to pay for vacations, but in this case, it's directly affecting my trip!

Yes, they have kiosks, and yes, there is a way to arrange FP+ and tour without a smart phone, but I just wanted to raise the concern, knowing it will go no where and have no affect on anything.

My husband has a smart phone, so we were able to use that on our trip. I often travel without my husband, and I would consider going to WDW with just the kids, but, without a smart phone, I wouldn't be touring as effectively. So, I will take them other places instead. And though it will make no difference to them, it's something they should know.

I'm sure that they are aware that a certain segment of the guest population will be without a smartphone and they've made accommodations for those guests.

But are you aware that the parks offer free wi-fi and you can add the app to any smart device, including ipods, ipads, android mp3 devices and tablets? You may not have a smartphone, but anything that uses apps and can connect to the internet wirelessly can be used for FP+.

 

[MinnieForMe]

You could also use a small wi-fi device, ipod, etc, you don't absolutely have to use a smart phone.

Thank you so much! I guess I should have been aware that my daughter's Ipod Touch would get this app but I wasn't. So much has changed since our last visit over two year's ago and I'm quite anxious about the changes.

I'm completely anxious about long lines and the lack of FP for those who do not stay on property.

 

[StregaNona]

I understand the OP's concerns since we do not have any smart devices in our household. In addition we are concerned about our personal security by using a magic band.

 

[Marionnette]

I understand the OP's concerns since we do not have any smart devices in our household. In addition we are concerned about our personal security by using a magic band.

The MBs are no different than the KKTW as far as the amount of personal information they carry. There is no personal info stored on the band. The info is stored on Disney's computers in the same manner that it was stored when you used a KTTW to carry your tickets, open your room and to make purchases. If you were not concerned about your "personal security" when using the KTTW card, then there is no reason to be concerned with the MBs. You don't even need to put your real name on the bands. Many people use Disney names when they personalize the bands and that's what shows up when the MB is scanned for FP+.

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

Many people use Disney names when they personalize the bands and that's what shows up when the MB is scanned for FP+.

Actually we made up names for our Magic Bands for our trip in November 2013 and I asked to see the screen at numerous rides to see what showed up. At every ride our REAL names were displayed not the names on our bands.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I made all our FPs on my desktop computer. I wrote down the times. My understanding is you use the MB to enter the FB line. Not sure where a smartphone is needed?

 

[KaLyn]

The MBs are no different than the KKTW as far as the amount of personal information they carry. There is no personal info stored on the band. The info is stored on Disney's computers in the same manner that it was stored when you used a KTTW to carry your tickets, open your room and to make purchases. If you were not concerned about your "personal security" when using the KTTW card, then there is no reason to be concerned with the MBs. You don't even need to put your real name on the bands. Many people use Disney names when they personalize the bands and that's what shows up when the MB is scanned for FP+.

Actually we made up names for our Magic Bands for our trip in November 2013 and I asked to see the screen at numerous rides to see what showed up. At every ride our REAL names were displayed not the names on our bands.

As I understand it...

The names you "made up" I'm assuming were on the underside of the band. Those are just for your use only, just to be able to tell them apart if multiple people in your party have the same color band.

The names listed on your MDE account (not to be confused with what you entered when customizing the bands), which what is stored on the servers, is what will be shown on screen when scanned by Disney.

 

[QVCshopper]

We don't have a smartphone either and did just fine. We really liked the FP+ and magicbands. People are really making mountains out of mole hills with this one. Change can be good, and in this instance, we thought the change was great for many reasons.

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

As I understand it...

The names you "made up" I'm assuming were on the underside of the band. Those are just for your use only, just to be able to tell them apart if multiple people in your party have the same color band.

The names listed on your MDE account (not to be confused with what you entered when customizing the bands), which what is stored on the servers, is what will be shown on screen when scanned by Disney.

Yes We actually thought the MB were great. The only thing was we usually use more FPs but they weren't needed on that trip anyways due to the low crowds. We love Disney World so we won't let it ruin our future trips.

 

[JanaDee]

Thank you so much! I guess I should have been aware that my daughter's Ipod Touch would get this app but I wasn't. So much has changed since our last visit over two year's ago and I'm quite anxious about the changes.

I'm completely anxious about long lines and the lack of FP for those who do not stay on property.

Off-property guests can't use MDE ~ as of right now, anyway.

 

[vacationer1954]

I would be surprised if this is something Disney hasn't thought of and thought through. Companies today want to attract people with smartphones today just like they wanted to attract people with telephones in their homes back in the 1950s, televisions in the 1960s, color televisions in the 1970s, VCRs in the 1980s, and so on, because they had more money to spend on things that people who didn't have those things.

 

[Marionnette]

Off-property guests can't use MDE ~ as of right now, anyway.

Off-site guests won't get MBs but they can still use MDE to keep track of their ADRs and check park hours, attraction wait times & parade times.

 

[kamik86]

So the Magic band stores your name... So what? What information is someone going to be able to get about you with just your name. I would understand if it had your credit card number but it doesn't.

Honestly if you want to be worried about security I would be more worried about the number of employees with access to your credit card number on disney's main system then those that could skim something off a magic band.

 

[Marionnette]

So the Magic band stores your name... So what? What information is someone going to be able to get about you with just your name. I would understand if it had your credit card number but it doesn't.

Honestly if you want to be worried about security I would be more worried about the number of employees with access to your credit card number on disney's main system then those that could skim something off a magic band.

No, the MBs do not store your name. They store a code which, when scan and interpreted by Disney's computer system, can identify the wearer by name, the resort at which they are staying, the tickets which are linked to it, the FP+ which are associated with it and the charging privileges it has. The bands themselves have nothing other than the code stored on them and if you make up a name when you register them, they will not have your real name printed on the inside of the band, either.

 

[crisi]

I would be surprised if this is something Disney hasn't thought of and thought through. Companies today want to attract people with smartphones today just like they wanted to attract people with telephones in their homes back in the 1950s, televisions in the 1960s, color televisions in the 1970s, VCRs in the 1980s, and so on, because they had more money to spend on things that people who didn't have those things.

Yep.

"I can't afford a smartphone and a Disney trip" translates to Disney as "I'm going to take a cheap Disney trip which will have very little margin for you in it." When it comes to making everyone happy, they'd rather have a guest in a high margin Deluxe room, eating high margin meals with high margin alcohol and buying high margin souvenirs, getting VERY high margin photopass pictures (there is a money machine for Disney) than someone who comes down and spends very little money.

As the parks operate closer and closer to capacity, it becomes better for Disney to prioritize those that will spend significant money - and come back and spend more - over those of us with frugal tendencies.

 

[Wishes Count]

Actually we made up names for our Magic Bands for our trip in November 2013 and I asked to see the screen at numerous rides to see what showed up. At every ride our REAL names were displayed not the names on our bands.

That's because it isn't reading the names printed on the bands. But rather the name on the profile it is attached to. So it reads Joseph on your profile instead of Big Joe which is printed on your MB

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