My Magic + details ...

[Kman101]

As a local, FP+ sounds ridiculous and totally unecessary. Most of FP itself was not necessary. It served a good purpose some of the time.

I'm not negative towards WDW at all (though reading all of these threads all of thse years has been quite eye-opening), even though it's been a bit for me to visit the parks (financial reasons), however, at this point, I am leaning towards returning to Universal for a while. It's just more appealing right now honestly and frankly, new FLE isn't really making me want to rush to the parks and I consider myself to be pretty unbiased towards both Universal and WDW. I enjoy them both for so many different reasons.

As for the magic bands? MEH. It's fine but at least there will be the OPTION of a card. With FP+ they really aren't giving many options. It sounds like a future planning nightmare, honestly and one I just don't want to deal with. I could be wrong, it could be great but it sure doesn't sound like it will be. Even for the 'hardcore planner'.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Two important notes....

First: MSEP FP+ viewing is directly across from the castle, inside the hub.

Second: Wishes FP+ viewing is from the rose garden.

 

[AstroBestSonic]

Will the MagicBands be free for annual passholders that buy their annual pass after the system has been fully launched? I don't have one but will it be free for me when I order it? I have a feeling I have to pay for mine.

 

[croboy82]

Don't be silly. We all know that only SoCal locals visit Disneyland. It's just a little local amusement park for locals only.

Europeans go to Disney World. Only Southern Californians go to Disneyland. Except for the Swiss. And the Brits. And the Germans and French. And the Japanese and Koreans. And Canadians. And that very nice family from Auckland, New Zealand I chatted with in line for Radiator Springs Racers last week, who were told by their friends back in Auckland that they simply can't miss a couple days at Disneyland. Otherwise, everyone is going to WDW while only Californians go to Disneyland.

By the way, Harry Potter opens at Universal Studios Hollywood in 2015. It's about a 45 minute drive from Disneyland.

Haha another reason not to come to WDW when HP will finally be in Hollywood too

Well I guess people in the USA might think noone from Europe comes to Anaheim but I've met quite alot of Europeans there and I have two friends who are visiting LA and therefore will go to Disneyland too.

Of course there are lots of Europeans going to WDW cause it's cheaper (and I don't mind just the costs ).

 

[lebeau]

I still don't understand how it works for someone who decides to visit only a day or two in advance.
Can't be good...

I don't think Disney much cares about those people. They want the families on the BIG trips.

 

[Kman101]

Yeah, WDW never seemed to give much of a crap about their AP holders, IMO, at least in the last several years. There's just really no incentives at all and it's too bad. Not to mention the fact that the MK is near $100. For a DAY.

 

[Lord_Vader]

Here is a catch on that. They limit the amount you can charge. Once you hit that limit you have to go to guest relations or you hotel to get it increased. This happens to us every year. The process from getting into the line at guest relations to being done averages 20 minutes. So yes it is an inconvenience, but how we work around it is to have our CC with us so when it happens we are able to finish our purchase. If I was had to go all the way to guest relations to increase it and then go back to finish the purchase, screw it, I can live without the purchase. Also not everyone has a CC so if Disney makes it a requirement lots of non CC teens will not be making purchases.

It is not that difficult to authorize them to clear the account, we have always picked up the phone and called in or kept up with it and when we were approaching the limit had it cleared the night before before it would have maxed out.

 

[englanddg]

It is not that difficult to authorize them to clear the account, we have always picked up the phone and called in or kept up with it and when we were approaching the limit had it cleared the night before before it would have maxed out.

Yeah, same for me. I've literally been at a venue and hit the charge max on a KTTW card, called the front desk of the hotel (not guest relations), authorized clearing out the account charges to my CC on file, and then walked back to the cashier and used my KTTW card to check out.

Very convenient, and a good reason to program your hotel front desk number into your phone.

With MM+, not something I'm concerned about.

 

[ParentsOf4]

Yeah, WDW never seemed to give much of a crap about their AP holders, IMO, at least in the last several years. There's just really no incentives at all and it's too bad. Not to mention the fact that the MK is near $100. For a DAY.

Disney used to love its AP holders. When I was an AP holder, prices were held in check and discounts were pretty good. Lately, it's the exact opposite:

• Annual Passes up 17.3% in 2 years.
• Premium Annual Passes up 12.3% in 2 years.
• Children under the age of 10 now are charged the full adult AP price.
• AP merchandise discount was cut in half.
• TIW price went up 33%.

It looks like Disney decided its AP holders were not spending enough per visit or, alternatively, assumed anyone who signed up for an AP would go no matter what the price.

 

[OrderMuppet]

Two important notes....

First: MSEP FP+ viewing is directly across from the castle, inside the hub.

Second: Wishes FP+ viewing is from the rose garden.

Thanks, Dave, I was wondering that. The hub for MSEP makes sense. The rose garden, slightly less so, because then you're going to get AngryFirstTimer complaining that "the fireworks in my photos didn't line up with the castle the way they do on the tv commercials!" It's one of the only places that can be roped off, though, so there ya go. I predict this one may not last as long as some of the other FP+ options.

 

[nytimez]

It looks like Disney decided its AP holders were not spending enough per visit or, alternatively, assumed anyone who signed up for an AP would go no matter what the price.

Bad assumption, at least for me. I'm not renewing this year. I am taking a year or two off after going two or three times a year for quite a while now. They raised prices too high, too quickly and I don't want to show them that I'm willing to keep paying more for less (and I will send a letter to this effect as well).

I also want to see how this My Magic+ shakes out over the next year or so. I certainly don't want to be one of the guinea pigs.

 

[MissM]

Will the MagicBands be free for annual passholders that buy their annual pass after the system has been fully launched? I don't have one but will it be free for me when I order it? I have a feeling I have to pay for mine.

I actually worry it's going to be the opposite. I do NOT want to open my mail and find my passes have been "helpfully" converted to the bands and then have to deal with returning them and trying to re-activate my physical ticket instead on my next visit to the park. They want people on them so I think they're going to count on people just putting up with them and make it a hassle to opt out or revert back.

 

[flynnibus]

Here is a catch on that. They limit the amount you can charge. Once you hit that limit you have to go to guest relations or you hotel to get it increased. This happens to us every year. The process from getting into the line at guest relations to being done averages 20 minutes.

So why not talk to the hotel desk (you know.. that place you pass at least twice a day?) to either address the limit or paydown your account? If you simply flush some of the running tab down to your actual credit card then the limit isn't an issue.

It's simply about limiting liability.. and is easily corrected. And since it happens to you 'everytime' you know you can address it before it bites you.

 

[Virtual Toad]

Disney used to love its AP holders. When I was an AP holder, prices were held in check and discounts were pretty good. Lately, it's the exact opposite:

• Annual Passes up 17.3% in 2 years.
• Premium Annual Passes up 12.3% in 2 years.
• Children under the age of 10 now are charged the full adult AP price.
• AP merchandise discount was cut in half.
• TIW price went up 33%.

It looks like Disney decided its AP holders were not spending enough per visit or, alternatively, assumed anyone who signed up for an AP would go no matter what the price.

Not to mentIon the room discounts that APers used to enjoy have been cut back as well. Now they're usually no better than FL resident discounts. Where"s the incentive?

 

[merry68]

Not to mentIon the room discounts that APers used to enjoy have been cut back as well. Now they're usually no better than FL resident discounts. Where"s the incentive?

No incentive because the Suits have to meet certain goals pertaining to the Theme Parks and those darn APers are screwing up the profits and the Suits potential bonuses!

Seriously, I did not renew my AP late last year and am I grateful I passed. Right after my AP expired, the announcements were made regarding the merch discount being cut and TiW increasing in price.

I think it boils down to Disney marketing to those "once in a lifetimes guests" vs the repeat/regular attending guests.

And I don't want to see how this FP+ is going to screw with APs, because I think there will even be less incentive to being a Passholder once that FP+ is fully implemented. No thanks, don't want to be part of that at this time.

 

[Jeffxz]

Two important notes....

First: MSEP FP+ viewing is directly across from the castle, inside the hub.

Second: Wishes FP+ viewing is from the rose garden.

Any idea on what the capacities are for these areas?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Any idea on what the capacities are for these areas?

Well one would be the old SwanBoat dock (fireworks) and the other for MSEP was sizeable.

I have no earthly idea.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Bad assumption, at least for me. I'm not renewing this year. I am taking a year or two off after going two or three times a year for quite a while now. They raised prices too high, too quickly and I don't want to show them that I'm willing to keep paying more for less (and I will send a letter to this effect as well).

I also want to see how this My Magic+ shakes out over the next year or so. I certainly don't want to be one of the guinea pigs.

Sounds like me. For years we would fly half way across the country to visit WDW 2 to 3 times a year, for 10 days at a time, ALWAYS staying onsite. That started getting cut way back 4 or 5 years ago, and we started staying offsite when we DID make the trip.

We found Disneyland. We found TDL. DLP. HKDL. Cruise ships. Beaches.

And we're much happier for it.

We were talking last night about how we really don't care when we get back to WDW actually, because of all this MM stuff and nothing new to offer (we had been on TLM in Cali 20 times by the time FL's opened). We're planning a Fall trip to Hawaii with a Disneyland stop on the way back to hit Ghost Galaxy and the NBC overlay (plus Carsland which we haven't yet seen) and we couldn't be more excited.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Thanks, Dave, I was wondering that. The hub for MSEP makes sense. The rose garden, slightly less so, because then you're going to get AngryFirstTimer complaining that "the fireworks in my photos didn't line up with the castle the way they do on the tv commercials!" It's one of the only places that can be roped off, though, so there ya go. I predict this one may not last as long as some of the other FP+ options.

Theres nowhere on MSUSA that you can rope off for fireworks and not have an insane problem with traffic flow above and beyond what we already have.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Theres nowhere on MSUSA that you can rope off for fireworks and not have an insane problem with traffic flow above and beyond what we already have.

I don't care about the less-than-perfect view. Having an area roped off so some jerk can't appear 5 minutes into the fireworks and stand in front of me right before hoisting his toddler on his shoulders would be WONDERFUL.