Your experiences using MDE app in parks to change fp times?

[bjs1228]

In a few short weeks, we will be in the parks using the new system for the first time. I have everything set up the way that I think I want it, but who knows for when we are actually there! How easy is the app to use to move/change fps? I believe I have read some say it is easier to use a kiosk to do so? Thanks

 

[MississippiMom]

Hopefully, by the time you are there, Disney will have more of their "bugs" worked out. We were in parks for five days, and never knew what we were going to get with MDE.
-The first day, we could not make any changes on our iPhone MDE app. Never used a kiosk that day. (Epcot)
-The second day, we could easily make changes on MDE, & visited a FP+ kiosk to keep adding. Unfiortunately, we discovered that at the end of the night, it would not let us cancel the unused Fantasmic FP+ that we were not going to use.
- The third day, we did not have any problems with MDE.
- The fourth day, MDE app would allow changes, but it was loading incorrectly pretty regularly. This error was also occurring at the FP+ kiosks, and guests would have to scan their tickets/magicbands more than once, so the system would pull up all of the names and attractions associated with the card. Super annoying and made the lines move extra slow.
- The fifth day morning was he!! . . . Seriously! Both the MDE app and the kiosks were a mess, and the CMs were as frustrated as everyone else. The names of the attractions kept showing up as "unknown", availability would disappear, and windows of time would reflect 10 minutes instead of an hour. You could tell a glitch had occurred, because during mid-afternoon many of th FP+ lines were longer than the stand-by lines, and the CMs were trying to direct people to go stand-by, explaining it would actually be faster than FP+.

There were tons of Disney CMs around surveying guests on their experiences. Hopefully, they collected some constructive FP+ comments.

 

[bjs1228]

Oh, dear! Sounds like they may need more than a few weeks to get that all straightened out. lol Thanks for sharing!

 

[TJA]

We've been twice using the new FP+ system (Easter week and 4th of July week) and had a very easy time with MDE app and making changes. It was so easy, in fact, I really couldn't believe it because I had read so many horror stories here on the DIS.

I used the app every single time I made changes. Sometimes after scanning our MB to get on a ride, I would go on the app and move the time up for our next FP. That was a tip I learned on the DIS after our first FP+ trip! Worked like a charm. There were a couple times when I couldn't move a time slot for the most popular rides like Mine Train. Otherwise, it was easy and quick.

I only used kiosks to book the 4th and 5th FP+. It went ok. Some machines were not working well, others were just fine. No crowds at kiosks in Epcot and AK. Some large crowds at MK kiosk near the philharmagic show.

 

[SillySallySews]

We used the app a few times during the last week of June to make some minor adjustments with no problem. The WiFi was leaps and bounds better than it was last year.

We only tried to use a Kiosk once and it was to get a 4th. We didn't make it to an actual screen as we were approached by a CM with an iPad. It was the least positive experience with a CM I've ever had, but honestly I don't hold it against him because I imagine that's got to be the absolute most frustrating job in the parks right now. We requested six different rides (they can't tell you what's available, you tell them what you want and they can only check if they have it) with no availability before we gave up and just did what we wanted stand-by.

 

[princeprincess]

We are currently at Disney and have been in the parks the last 3 days. The app is VERY glitchy! I have had problems every time I've tried to change a time or attraction. Sometimes it gives me a time I didn't choose and other times it will label the current fp as unknown. Used the kiosks a couple of times with no issues, but the app is driving me crazy. I'm not a phone person on holidays but I feel like I spend more time trying to fix errors on the app than anything.

 

[bjs1228]

I hate to hear that! Hope the app is working better today.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I was there in over Memorial Weekend 2014. It was a PITA to access MDE in the parks unless I used my phones data plan.
We actually ended up going over my phones Data plan that trip and I had to pay the cell phone company extra.

The free wi-fi was awful. I figured it was because it was busy and everyone and their brother were trying to access it.

We also didn't use the 4th FP anyplace because by the time we were trying for them (3rd FP used in late afternoon), the times were either so far out that we knew we wouldn't be in the park or they were all gone for the day for the ride we wanted (IE: RnRC at DHS, Soarin' at Epcot, Space Mountain at MK)

But we were used to having that happen with the paper FP so I wasn't surprised - just a little bit annoyed like always.