bethymouse
Well-Known Member
Will you be able to access both apps?
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Disney to launch NextGen 'My Disney Experience' app for iPhone, iPad and Android
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
muteki
Well-Known Member
That might be the case if you purchased the phone from Disney and as a perk of having it you had access to this information, but disney doesn't offer phones (though with this new service they might offer something equivalent for the duration of your stay).
I would think that as not everyone has a smartphone, Disney has to offer an option to use equivalent services to those that don't. I think it is okay to offer a tiered level of service if everyone has the opportunity to choose what they want, but not everyone can have a smartphone.
RSoxNo1
Well-Known Member
I totally disagree. I think TouringPlans' Lines app does a much better job than Mobile Magic. To me, it's flat out embarrasing for a third party company (Touring Plans) that doesn't have access to primary information to produce a better product than Disney does. That means Disney isn't doing there job correctly.
My complaints about Mobile Magic are as follows:
- Wait Time Information is not available when the mobile device thinks you're outside of the park
- The GPS tracker isn't accurate and will say that you're outside of the park when you're in the park (I had it thinking I was in Disneyland when I was in DCA).
- Presumably it's linked to the wait times outside of each attraction, yet it's not done in real time. When an attraction has re-opened after down time, this application should have that information before TouringPlans. This wasn't the case in California.
- Food Prices weren't available
- Wait time information on TouringPlans.com is more precise.
awhit066
Well-Known Member
I don't think this is overall a far statement. While a large number of people do own smartphones nowadays, for international guests (like myself) using even the slightest amount of data while roaming can mean HUGE fees and charges. I think if they can offer free, reliable wifi in the parks then the majority of guest could partake without paying an arm and a leg.
RockNation18
New Member
Going to Disney in a week...when will the app be released in August?
No specifics yet, but early August.
RockNation18
New Member
Thanks!...I'm hoping Disney releases it this weekend so I'll be able to use it next week
I would expect that when it launches it will largely be just the functionality that you get with Mobile Magic, but we'll see.
cslafferty
Well-Known Member
I have not had these problems with Mobile Magic and my iPhone. I like to occasionally check wait times while I'm sitting at home watching TV (wishing I was there!) I always get wait times, although since I'm not there, I can't verify that they are accurate - but they do give them even tho I'm not in the park.
myseaweedisgreener
New Member
They need to add menus to the app. I love the current app and I never had a problem with the wait times not being accurate but it was frustrating how little information there was about food.
Kevin_W
Well-Known Member
I haven't used the existing app much (except when at home and like to check the wait times). In the park I know what I want to do and where I want to go. If I need a show schedule, the paper one is just as convenient as pulling out my phone and launching an app.
I would love to see NFC uses like scheduling or redeeming a fastpass. I understand people against the next gen idea of scheduling your whole vacation in advance, but I love the concept of getting a fastpass for EE without sprinting to the back end of the park.
I would love to see NFC uses like scheduling or redeeming a fastpass. I understand people against the next gen idea of scheduling your whole vacation in advance, but I love the concept of getting a fastpass for EE without sprinting to the back end of the park.
mousefan1972
Well-Known Member
We are checking in this Saturday, which is the 4th. Hopefully that's not too early as I'll be downloading the app to my iPhone as soon as it's available. Thanks for the info!
Just look at Disney's website. It's got to be one of the worst websites by a major corporation.
Disney views wait times as proprietary information, and therefore wants to limit the ease with which that information is disseminated.
I've had that same problem, it's my biggest complaint about the app.
The last time I used the app, I had to relaunch the app for it to update the wait times. I agree that this information should be updated in real time.
Were they ever supposed to be available? I don't normally complain about the lack of information that wasn't promised.
- Wait time information on TouringPlans.com is more precise.
Jeff456
Well-Known Member
And those of us with international phones as well, I am not paying extortionate fees for data!
lazyboy97o
Well-Known Member
Are you getting actual times in minutes or the generic terms like "Ride Now," "Moderate," etc.?
GoofGoof
Premium Member
You may not be talking about the same app. There is the magic guide app that has wait times all the time or touring plans which also has wait times, but the mobile magic app (official disney app) only gives you wait times once the gps officially recognizes you as in the park. It is very sensitive too. I was staying at BLT and it would not give me MK wait times from my room. I figured I was close enough, but no dice. I had to actually be in the park. I love going on touring plans from home and wishing I was there.
Patricia Melton
Well-Known Member
I was not familiar with "RFID" so I had to look that up -- basically it's a little microchip or something that's inside a ticket or card or whatever and it can store information. I think this means that your Disney parks tickets will soon have RFID chips in them and that you can walk around and your card will transmit information to the FastPass machines and other things, and a computer system will then keep track of that info and the FastPass machines will then know what FastPasses you've lined up for and haven't used yet. So no more need to print out FastPasses and the only thing you'll have to carry around with you and hold onto will be your park ticket.
Some of the other information I've read on this indicates that in the future, probably the next wave of NextGen to come, you will also be able to use your iPhones somehow to do this...with a barcode on your phone that is your park ticket via some kind of app. I'm not clear if that's going to happen of if you're just going to be able to use your phone at the gate to get in and then they will give you a printed ticket at that time to use during your stay in the park.
Either way, it's pretty exciting. I love the idea of not having to worry about losing paper FastPasses. I've lost a few in my purse more than once and it's very heartbreaking to get somewhere thinking I have them and find out that I just don't know what I did with them in all the excitement of being in the parks.
Some of the other information I've read on this indicates that in the future, probably the next wave of NextGen to come, you will also be able to use your iPhones somehow to do this...with a barcode on your phone that is your park ticket via some kind of app. I'm not clear if that's going to happen of if you're just going to be able to use your phone at the gate to get in and then they will give you a printed ticket at that time to use during your stay in the park.
Either way, it's pretty exciting. I love the idea of not having to worry about losing paper FastPasses. I've lost a few in my purse more than once and it's very heartbreaking to get somewhere thinking I have them and find out that I just don't know what I did with them in all the excitement of being in the parks.
your not trolling at all actually it is a good question...I have noticed an increase in disney doing up the wireless around the resorts and parks. Also I have a feeling disney maybe looking at installing some ground based gps (linky)....
now getting back to your statement... there is no reason why they cant make available small tablets (repurposed droid bionics or ipod touch's) that people could rent, Or people could use a device such as those to run the programs. It would make a alot of sense. then you dont have to have a smart phone. Also if you can afford disney you can afford a 100 dollar used ipod touch or former smartphone. All that you need is a internet connnection and gps to use there app. I actually am going to set my MIL up with a old droid 2 with mobile magic. so she can use it a bit.
Also I think that app with ground based gps could work in reverse as a locator they could monitor the flow of traffic
What i am confused about is the RFID readers and how that is going to work with your phone (near field chip article). There are only a few phones that can do that currently the galaxy nexus, the galaxy s3 and supposedly the iphone5 will be able to... there are plenty of aftermarket ways to do it. NFC and RFID are the future.
But very few phones have the ability to do RFID that is what is confusing, the technology is in its infancy on smart phones and can be vulnerable to attacks if people are unresponsible with it