WDW Veteran Just Back -FP+ Exp.

[MarieA]

Disney is getting rid of KTTW cards from all resorts by January 20th. Here is a link to the rollout:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3217107

In addition, legacy Fastpass is scheduled to be removed from DHS and Epcot by the end of January so no more double dipping of fastpasses. It appears everything will be FP+ by the beginning of February.

I am a little confused. I thought originally we were going to be able to choose between MB and cards. I am a DVC owner and an AP holder. I have no desire to wear the MB and neither does my DH nor do we want to plan our vacation 60 days out (FP+). We decide what park we will be visiting at breakfast and then will only ride the rides with short wait times. It has worked for us for the last 7 to 8 years.

We have a trip planned for early May. Are you saying that by May we will be unable to get a KTTW card to open our room door as well as one for our AP instead of a Magic Band?

 

[Joe Dirt 1972]

I really don't want to plan what rides I am going on 60 days out.

Its all a cash grab to get everyone to stay at a Disney resort and not stay off site. You will see a huge decline on the offsite hotels attendance in the next few years as a result.

Why stay offsite if you cant get fastpass+ til you get to the park, while anyone staying on site can book 60 days ahead of time.

I would spend the money to stay on site to ensure I got on 3 headline rides a day instead of taking my chances

 

[mommajo143]

I am a little confused. I thought originally we were going to be able to choose between MB and cards. ... Are you saying that by May we will be unable to get a KTTW card to open our room door as well as one for our AP instead of a Magic Band?

My understanding from reading fine print somewhere or another very recently is that KTTW will go away but RFID enabled cards will be available, albeit difficult to obtain (ie you will need to provide explanation on why to a CM supervisor or someone like that)

 

[diskids2]

I appreciate your post. Our concerns about this "test" swayed our family vote to skipping WDW this year for our somewhat typical summer vacation...putting our vacation $$ elsewhere.

We do plan to try and go back in January, 2015...but that could be in jeopardy depending on how things are going.

Again, thank you for your honest, level headed post!

 

[vinotinto]

I'm confused about the uninformed part.

We are going in 2 weeks. We got the lovely flash drive package. Didn't everyone? If you are informed enough to know about park hoppers and fast pass and see that things are changing, don't you do a little research? (If you are reading this, well, obvs...I am always researching on the dis whether we have a planned vaca or not).

Having been there at some of the same time as the OP (Jan 5th - 12th), I can tell you that this time of the year there are a substantial number of visitors from all over the world, especially South America, Canada, and Europe, and many of them do not book directly with Disney, but as a an air-land package through their local tour companies/operators. WDW is not sending the flash drive nor the bands in advance to other countries, so many visitors arrived onsite to gray bands and no clue.

 

[psac]

I am a little confused. I thought originally we were going to be able to choose between MB and cards. I am a DVC owner and an AP holder. I have no desire to wear the MB and neither does my DH nor do we want to plan our vacation 60 days out (FP+). We decide what park we will be visiting at breakfast and then will only ride the rides with short wait times. It has worked for us for the last 7 to 8 years.

We have a trip planned for early May. Are you saying that by May we will be unable to get a KTTW card to open our room door as well as one for our AP instead of a Magic Band?

My wife kept her MB attached to her purse the whole trip and never actually wore it. Obviously not as thin as a card, but you can keep it in your pocket as well. You don't actually have to wear it.

Our MBs worked perfectly for every scan (room, park, etc.), every time. Obviously that's not the same experience as everyone else.

The AP itself is still a card, but works best when linked to the MB, so you theoretically no longer need the card. However, carrying the card as a backup is still advised! (As you can imagine from what you're read here!!)

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

We just got back and had zero issues with MB/FP+. We loved them and they worked perfectly.

 

[Mommy2Corinne]

OP - love your writing style! While your post made me chuckle, I'm sorry that you had such a negative experience. I would absolutely be disappointed/angry if I were you, and I think all of your points are valid. IMO Disney has *really* missed the mark with this new system.

 

[MarieA]

My understanding from reading fine print somewhere or another very recently is that KTTW will go away but RFID enabled cards will be available, albeit difficult to obtain (ie you will need to provide explanation on why to a CM supervisor or someone like that)

Thanks for the info. I called the number on the package I received and they weren't any help.

 

[MarieA]

My wife kept her MB attached to her purse the whole trip and never actually wore it. Obviously not as thin as a card, but you can keep it in your pocket as well. You don't actually have to wear it.

Our MBs worked perfectly for every scan (room, park, etc.), every time. Obviously that's not the same experience as everyone else.

The AP itself is still a card, but works best when linked to the MB, so you theoretically no longer need the card. However, carrying the card as a backup is still advised! (As you can imagine from what you're read here!!)

I appreciate the information. I see you are a DVC owner as well and a fellow Staten Islander.


My DD had the MB for her trip in October. She said it was uncomfortable for the first day or two and then she got used to it. I really don't like wearing things on my wrist in the heat so I would rather have the RFID card. The card will be easier to store in the small crossbody purse that I carry to the parks. Most of the shorts I bring have small pockets or no pockets so that wouldn't work.

 

[mrsltg]

I am a little confused. I thought originally we were going to be able to choose between MB and cards. I am a DVC owner and an AP holder. I have no desire to wear the MB and neither does my DH nor do we want to plan our vacation 60 days out (FP+). We decide what park we will be visiting at breakfast and then will only ride the rides with short wait times. It has worked for us for the last 7 to 8 years.

We have a trip planned for early May. Are you saying that by May we will be unable to get a KTTW card to open our room door as well as one for our AP instead of a Magic Band?

If the CM I spoke with is to believed, there will always be an option for a KTTW card type key. However, you will have to ask and tell them why you won't be using a Magic Band. It makes sense because in addition to the bugs in the system, people have skin allergies and sensory issues, etc., that will always be an issue regardless of how perfect the system is. These cards simply won't be readily available. For example, my dd has pretty severe eczema. It wasn't a problem this time because the weather was cooler, but during the summer months her joints are very difficult to manage and they become very painful. Adding a rubber band to her wrist won't be an option regardless of how great the system works. She's a minor, so I we can obviously carry her band for her, but an adult who is a solo traveler may not consider that an option. We shall see.

I do want to clarify that we had a wonderful time on our trip. Our experiences, while annoying, did not ruin our vacation or sour our attitudes. We just continued on and had fun. That said, if I had more problems with the test that required a more time consuming solution on my part, I would not have had such an enjoyable time. I certainly understand those who do not or cannot simply roll with it.

 

[MrsSilvaStrat]

Disney is getting rid of KTTW cards from all resorts by January 20th. Here is a link to the rollout:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3217107

In addition, legacy Fastpass is scheduled to be removed from DHS and Epcot by the end of January so no more double dipping of fastpasses. It appears everything will be FP+ by the beginning of February.

Well there goes our back up plan! Thanks.

 

[Pooksie]

The AP itself is still a card, but works best when linked to the MB, so you theoretically no longer need the card. However, carrying the card as a backup is still advised! (As you can imagine from what you're read here!!)

You will still need your AP card to take advantage of the perks like discounts on merchandise and food. Those things are not coded into your MDX account when you link the card to the account. At least not last time I tried. Food for thought.

 

[mommajo143]

Thanks for the info. I called the number on the package I received and they weren't any help.

Hope you have some luck. I'm trying to see where I read this at... Things change so stinking fast lately ...