Couple of Easter things.

[fillerup]

Met some friends at Yacht today and walked over to Epcot. Very empty parking lots at Yacht and Beach.

Epcot crowd was very unimpressive compared to two days ago. Looked to me like a day in late April/early May.

Got my picture taken at IG because as usual the bio scan didn't work.

Surprised me a little - the (very nice) CM told me not to even try with the scan anymore, just hand my ticket to them and they'd see my pretty face on their IPads.

He also said I wouldn't need to bring ID with me anymore, although I will.

I didn't know this new approach had moved past testing phase.

 

[jlsHouston]

That seems strange that YC/BC empty. I tried to book 3 nights there this coming up week with the AP spring discount and nothing was available except at rack rate.... We ended up booking Dolphin ...

 

[Tom]

Met some friends at Yacht today and walked over to Epcot. Very empty parking lots at Yacht and Beach.

Epcot crowd was very unimpressive compared to two days ago. Looked to me like a day in late April/early May.

Got my picture taken at IG because as usual the bio scan didn't work.

Surprised me a little - the (very nice) CM told me not to even try with the scan anymore, just hand my ticket to them and they'd see my pretty face on their IPads.

He also said I wouldn't need to bring ID with me anymore, although I will.

I didn't know this new approach had moved past testing phase.

Is there a specific reason why your finger scan never works? I've been nearly every year since they implemented the very first biometric reader, and I have never had an issue with any of them. It's strange to read about so many people who have trouble.

You mentioned "handing your ticket over". Does that mean you have an AP, or do you just not use Magic Bands?

As for them not requiring ID, I also didn't realize they were going "live" with that method. Seems early to be relying on that technology to work.

I will also throw in my usual word of advice that nobody should ever go anywhere without photo ID on them. You have to think worst case, but what if you were to have a medical emergency or just plain fall over dead in the park? You're "John Doe" until they can track down a relative, which can be tough with nothing to go on.

 

[dreamfinder]

That seems strange that YC/BC empty. I tried to book 3 nights there this coming up week with the AP spring discount and nothing was available except at rack rate.... We ended up booking Dolphin ...

Eh, I don't put too much stock in a hotel parking lot at this point. A full lot may very well indicate a full hotel, or it may just indicate a convention going on. An empty lot may just mean that most of the guests flew down and either took DME or arranged for car service. 10-15 years ago before DME, sure, the parking lot would have been an excellent guide. But now I'm not so sure.

 

[fillerup]

Is there a specific reason why your finger scan never works? I've been nearly every year since they implemented the very first biometric reader, and I have never had an issue with any of them. It's strange to read about so many people who have trouble.

You mentioned "handing your ticket over". Does that mean you have an AP, or do you just not use Magic Bands?

As for them not requiring ID, I also didn't realize they were going "live" with that method. Seems early to be relying on that technology to work.

I will also throw in my usual word of advice that nobody should ever go anywhere without photo ID on them. You have to think worst case, but what if you were to have a medical emergency or just plain fall over dead in the park? You're "John Doe" until they can track down a relative, which can be tough with nothing to go on.

There's really no explanation why the bio readers work only about 30% of the time for me. It worked just fine until MM+ kicked in and we were issued new passes two years ago.

We use plastic passes. No interest in bands.

 

[fillerup]

Eh, I don't put too much stock in a hotel parking lot at this point. A full lot may very well indicate a full hotel, or it may just indicate a convention going on. An empty lot may just mean that most of the guests flew down and either took DME or arranged for car service. 10-15 years ago before DME, sure, the parking lot would have been an excellent guide. But now I'm not so sure.

I generally agree with what you said. The number of cars in a parking lot may be indicative of nothing. But the fact that there were no "Registered Guests Only" signs up on Easter Sunday and that we had zero problems entering tells me that the resorts weren't fully booked.

More telling was the light crowd in Epcot. We went over for a couple of concerts and the AG theater never fully filled for show #2.

 

[Tuvalu]

Was at MK today...the park was PACKED...Space Mountain and 7DMT both 120 minutes at 11 a.m.

On a positive note, the new hub garden areas are gorgeous and the new wide walkways helped to avoid that "trapped with nowhere to go" feeling.