Disney to launch NextGen 'My Disney Experience' app for iPhone, iPad and Android

[lebeau]

Phew... Windows Phone version will be coming. Well, assuming that the app isn't "teh suck."

Yes, I am the one guy that owns a Windows Phone, apparently. (Love it, BTW!)

I have one too. It is great. Not a ton of apps, but everything I need.

 

[Fraisie]

Also, if it's like the actual Disney parks app, it won't be available on the Canadian app store for months.

 

[mousefreak]

I'm really excited for this and how it could enhance our vacation. Hopefully its ready for our Sept 2nd arrive and works on my crappy Samsung phone.

 

[fosse76]

I think the point of this is to eliminate a step where you have to go pick up a paper ticket, wait in line to purchase a paper ticket, or have a paper ticket mailed to you.

Which will increase the line at the gate, instead. When you purchase online tickets to Disneyland, the ticket taker is who switches out your computer printout with a "hard" ticket. First they scan the print-out and then they scan the "hard" ticket. In this case they would be scanning a phone, which can take even longer, since the reflective quality of your phone's screen make it harder for a scanner to read the barcode. So people who already have the proper ticket media now have to wait longer for those people who have to get their ticket.

 

[DisneyJoe]

To be fair, if the app had your GPS location wrong that's the fault of your device not the app. All the app does is get your GPS from the device.

You would think it should be that easy.

Google maps knew precisely where I was and so did foursquare/Facebook and twitter. Mobile magic had major issues.

 

[Cdn Gal]

Even with free wi Fi we will get charged by at&t even though our phone is through Telus in Canada. Also, why should I be expected to potentially 'rent' a phone just to get fast passes? What also about families that save and save and save for this one vacation and then again have to have the technology in order to enjoy it.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Even with free wi Fi we will get charged by at&t even though our phone is through Telus in Canada.

Why would you be charged by AT&T to use a free Wi-Fi network that AT&T does not control? Do Canadian telecoms charge for access to the phone's built-in Wi-Fi radio?

 

[ScoutN]

It sounds like you have an investment or personal connection to the Touring Plans app, Redsox.

How so? Because he realizes the Official Disney App is junk? It is no shocker that the inhouse App provided is very below par as it happens with several other parks across the country as well. The Official Busch Gardens App has much lower satisfaction ratings than the BGWFans App. Actually looking at the ratings of the Touring Plans App vs Mobile Magic it seems that the overall opinion is in TP's favor. So in your words that means that all those have an investment or personal connection to them?

 

[Florida_is_hot]

Can not see how Telus can charge for using WiFi?

Going to the States I turn the radio off (can not afford roaming), turn on WiFi.
Not on any cell network they can not tell.

 

[RSoxNo1]

It sounds like you have an investment or personal connection to the Touring Plans app, Redsox.

Not sure if this is tongue and cheek or not, but I'll address it regardless. We have had Len Testa and Fred Hazelton on our show to discuss their product. Len has even sent me a free copy of the Unofficial Guide Color Companion. I am also a paid subscriber to touringplans.com for both Disney World and Disneyland, and have purchased several Unofficial Guides off of Amazon. I buy them and I support them because I think they do a fantastic job.

For what I need it for (character locations and times, maps, event times, etc.), it's been the best app I've found (and I've tried MANY). The wait times apps that I've had have been complete crap, so that's not a big deal to me either way. I don't think it works well having guests of the parks sending in wait time info. I'll rely on Disney itself for that. The idea that the TP app relies on "previous statistical information" to calculate wait times is a joke.

While I understand your needs differ than mine, the previous statistical information is usually more accurate than Disney's information. Disney has no excuse because they have access to the primary information. Touringplans.com doesn't have access to the primary information, just hundreds of thousands of pieces of data that they've accumulated over the years that is being revised every 5 minutes as new information becomes available.

Disney is choosing not to give guests the most accurate information because it's not in their best interest. TouringPlans.com is choosing to give their users the most accurate information that they can because it is in their best interest.

As for GPS, I've never needed it. I can look up and see where I am. I don't need my phone for that. Yes, that should be improved, but I'm sure it's more a reflection of the massive usage of 3G within the park, rather than the app itself. Hopefully, wifi throughout the parks will help that.

This is one of the main problems with Smart Phones being a driver for Next Gen. They need to address these issues first, before doing it on the fly. Fanboys are already skeptical of the changes, and the average guest is completely in the dark about it. They need this to work correctly the first time out, otherwise it could be disastrous.

As for menus and prices, I use an app called WDW Dining that I like a lot. Due to the high prices of food in the parks (due to a shortage of corn, I'm sure) I can understand why Disney wouldn't put that info on their own app.

The point of the Disney Parks Blog was to "Control the story". Disney was getting scooped by sites like this, and they wanted to avoid that in the future. They can "control the story" with the information like dining information or wait time information but they're chosing not to. If you go into a restaurant like the Brown Derby, they'll give you an iPad menu that you can filter by food allergies, vegetarian and vegan meals, etc. If they want to truly change the game, and truly give the guests the access that they're demanding, these are the types of things that need to be publicly available.

To be fair, if the app had your GPS location wrong that's the fault of your device not the app. All the app does is get your GPS from the device.

And this can be enhanced by improving the wireless access in the parks and cell phone coverage in the parks. Either way it's a problem that needs to be addressed if they want to have this be the driver of Next Gen. If the infrastructure isn't there to have the GPS component, than they need to find a way around it.

Fastpass reservations....

So it begins....

So how is it working, do we have details yet?

 

[jaredliu]

Fastpass reservations....

So it begins....

You wrote it like it was a bad idea.......

 

[wiigirl]

agreed i am glad that they came out with something like that

Me too!

 

[awhit066]

Even with free wi Fi we will get charged by at&t even though our phone is through Telus in Canada. Also, why should I be expected to potentially 'rent' a phone just to get fast passes? What also about families that save and save and save for this one vacation and then again have to have the technology in order to enjoy it.

I'd love some clarification about this. While I don't personally use any data on my phone, ever, I have traveled to the US from Canada with friends before who have used hotel (not Disney) free WiFi and didn't have any issues with being charged to use it. Were you using your phone for any other purposes other than WiFi that may have incurred a charge?

 

[Vader2112]

I'd love some clarification about this. While I don't personally use any data on my phone, ever, I have traveled to the US from Canada with friends before who have used hotel (not Disney) free WiFi and didn't have any issues with being charged to use it. Were you using your phone for any other purposes other than WiFi that may have incurred a charge?

It depends on the type of data plan you have.

 

[maryszhi]

make sure you manually do the wifi or you will be charged for using internet from your cell provider because you would be using the cell providers internet to access it.

 

[lazyboy97o]

It depends on the type of data plan you have.

Data plans have to do with using the cellular network, not Wi-Fi. If somebody is being charged to use the cellular network and charged to use somebody else's free Wi-Fi network, that seems like an awful deal.

 

[Vader2112]

Data plans have to do with using the cellular network, not Wi-Fi. If somebody is being charged to use the cellular network and charged to use somebody else's free Wi-Fi network, that seems like an awful deal.

The question was basically asking if you were using for purpose other than wifi would charges incur... Yes they would based upon plan and if tyou are not on the WIFI network The Data stream via regular cell signal. If you do not have a data plan you are charges by the MB for data transfer. If you have a data plan as you know you pay a monthy charge to stream X amount of data. Once you go over that then you are charged.

 

[lazyboy97o]

The question was basically asking if you were using for purpose other than wifi would charges incur... Yes they would based upon plan and if tyou are not on the WIFI network The Data stream via regular cell signal. If you do not have a data plan you are charges by the MB for data transfer. If you have a data plan as you know you pay a monthy charge to stream X amount of data. Once you go over that then you are charged.

The response to which you were replying was itself in response to a claim that the poster would still be charged for using Wi-Fi.

 

[Vader2112]

The response to which you were replying was itself in response to a claim that the poster would still be charged for using Wi-Fi.

"Were you using your phone for any other purposes other than WiFi that may have incurred a charge?"
Well maybe I was a little off...

 

[Crush Dude!]

No specifics yet, but early August.

AWESOME! Heading to WDW in 2 days