MyMagic+ Efficiency Update

[Lucky]

They have created longer waits on more rides to make this seem like a great idea.

However, now that they've increased your wait for, say, SSE, that longer wait eats into the time you saved not waiting in line for Mission Space.

I honestly wonder if we will all end up spending more time in lines than before. Where a FP used to mean a quick ride on Space, it now means a quick ride on Space, but a longer wait for HM.

I'm eager to hear how this all shakes out.

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought when this whole idea was first brought up that it was billed as a way to reduce waiting time, using virtual lines, allowing people to spend more time in gift shops or going to walk on attractions or just relax. That doesn't seem to be the case at all now.

 

[Bairstow]

I don't intend to try.
I do wish there were some way of testing signal interference, though.

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought when this whole idea was first brought up that it was billed as a way to reduce waiting time, using virtual lines, allowing people to spend more time in gift shops or going to walk on attractions or just relax. That doesn't seem to be the case at all now.

I'm not sure I follow.
Once the magic bands are fully implemented for all guests, how will the bands and the Fast Pass Plus system negatively impact the capacity of any ride?

 

[Cousin Huet]

We will be doing the testing in September as they sent us the package today to set everything up and select the bands and all that, so I should be able to give a report in mid-September on how it went and if we liked it or not. It gave us a bonus 4th Fastpass after selecting 3, but it was for the Haunted Mansion that is usually not much of a wait anyways. It is nice knowing that we have three of the attractions for the kids locked down during a close time period already though and can start off going to attractions that are highly sought after before they get crazy. I will give a full report upon our return on how it went and I plan to use the pay function too just to see if we spend more that way than in the past as I track all that stuff with receipts each time we go. I like to do different things to see what works out better for us.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

If it can pre order my drinks or calculate the required replenishment rate at the Cave De Tequila its a winner in my book.

 

[Clamman73]

If it can pre order my drinks or calculate the required replenishment rate at the Cave De Tequila its a winner in my book.

LaCava needs RapidFill margaritas!

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

LaCava needs RapidFill margaritas!

If it gets them Ill have a rapidempty bank account.

 

[ford91exploder]

I guess its kind of a gift AND a curse to have been able to visit back then and see WDW in such a glorious (and affordable) state.
I used to think I just remembered it being better because I was a child and was fascinated by everything in WDW. But I remember learning at a young age how Disney was the standard of how coorporations should be run. As I grew older and neared the age of being able to get a job my parents would harp on how Disneys customer service was second to none and I could learn a thing or two from how they conducted themselves.

Talk to my parents nowadays and its another story. They visit WDW but only to be there with the grandkids, they dont visit on their own anymore because the decline has been enough for them to not enjoy it knowing what it once was. And they are both extremely well comupter/technically oriented and could care less about MM+ . I guess that makes them doom and gloomers. but when I explained the difference between doom and gloomers and pixie dusters to her (she lurks on these forums occasionally). She chuckled and said "they dont know what REAL pixie dust was like back then or else they would be doom and gloomers". I love asking her about Disney after she has had a few glasses of wine. She gets FIRED UP and will go on a tangent. It's awesome.

Exactly, My first visit was in the beginning of the Eisner era, The parks were jewel like in their maintenance everything WORKED there were no dead bulbs in the lights on Main St etc

 

[luv]

I'm not sure I follow.
Once the magic bands are fully implemented for all guests, how will the bands and the Fast Pass Plus system negatively impact the capacity of any ride?

In order to make this seem like a great deal, they are adding FP to rides that don't need it. This increases the stand-by time, which makes waits for those rides longer than they were before.

You save time on one, but wait longer for others.

People who never came before wont know the difference, though. They'll just see that they're saving time on Soarin and won't think twice about waiting 20-30 minutes for SSE.

It's a bit like raising menu prices, cutting menu items and selling the dining plans. People who don't remember the food being cheaper and having a better selection think the dining plans are great.

 

[Bairstow]

In order to make this seem like a great deal, they are adding FP to rides that don't need it. This increases the stand-by time, which makes waits for those rides longer than they were before.

Except for you, since you'll have a fast pass.

 

[RSoxNo1]

I'll say one thing for them- they do a good job of presentation when they send them to you.






photo hosting sites

Are they microwave safe?

 

[mickey2008.1]

We leave in 18 days and can participate in the test of mmy, but from this thread, we can also use normal paper FPS as well as planned FPS+, is this correct?

 

[dadddio]

Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought when this whole idea was first brought up that it was billed as a way to reduce waiting time, using virtual lines, allowing people to spend more time in gift shops or going to walk on attractions or just relax. That doesn't seem to be the case at all now.

Not on the Internet, anyway. Never confuse the Internet with reality.

 

[ford91exploder]

Back to a older post, If one subtracted the Orwellian tracking, made the reservation window 48 hours or so and and increased the FP+ to say 1 per hour, you could have a virtual line doing this would have made MM+ awesome, Instead we get the love child of Orwell and OCD Sigh...

 

[openendedsky]

So I got an invitation to test MM+ from September the 7-9. Made FP+ reservations and it gave us a Bonus FP for Little Mermaid, and, while I don't really care for the ride much and found it extremely underwhelming, thought that was decent as it generally has a higher wait than most of the rides. They didn't just stick me with one for Tea Cups or something ridiculous. I'm excited and nervous to see how it goes. My only real complaint so far is that it didn't let me select specific times for each ride, but rather, a set of options for time ranges to redeem my selections.

 

[cbsav]

So I got an invitation to test MM+ from September the 7-9. Made FP+ reservations and it gave us a Bonus FP for Little Mermaid, and, while I don't really care for the ride much and found it extremely underwhelming, thought that was decent as it generally has a higher wait than most of the rides. They didn't just stick me with one for Tea Cups or something ridiculous. I'm excited and nervous to see how it goes. My only real complaint so far is that it didn't let me select specific times for each ride, but rather, a set of options for time ranges to redeem my selections.

We will be doing the testing in September as they sent us the package today to set everything up and select the bands and all that, so I should be able to give a report in mid-September on how it went and if we liked it or not. It gave us a bonus 4th Fastpass after selecting 3, but it was for the Haunted Mansion that is usually not much of a wait anyways. It is nice knowing that we have three of the attractions for the kids locked down during a close time period already though and can start off going to attractions that are highly sought after before they get crazy. I will give a full report upon our return on how it went and I plan to use the pay function too just to see if we spend more that way than in the past as I track all that stuff with receipts each time we go. I like to do different things to see what works out better for us.

Just so you know, the "bonus" FP can be changed to any ride you like. You aren't locked into HM or Mermaid for that 4th FP. Just change it as you would the time of the experience in the app or on the site.

 

[cheryl1976wdw]

Headed to the world in October staying at beach club villas. Cannot seem to schedule our Fastpass + attractions. Get error saying "Selected date must be within at least one party members Fastpass+ selection window". Anyone else encounter this type of error message? Is is possible that you need to be within a specific number of days from your travel date? Thanks

 

[cbsav]

TESTING EXPERIENCE UPDATE -JUST BACK (Sorry for the long post, but want to be as detailed as possible regarding the errors)

So my wife and I just got back from a short 4 day trip at WDW. We were staying at POP for this short trip and, as such were part of the test. I previously posted some skeptical/cynical thoughts earlier this month and thought it right to come back and post my experience. Overall, on a scale of 0-10 for the who MM+ set up, i'd give it a 4. My gut reaction - leaving out the tinfoil hat that will track everything you do, sell it, yada, yada that has been discussed ad nauseum and whether i agree with or believe it - is thatthis is a solution to a problem that 100% did not exist and did nothing to actually enhance our trip in any way. That being said, some aspects were a nice convince and some things a pain in the a**.

The Technology Experience/Issue:My wife and I linked 3rd party tickets to the bands prior to the trip and were going to upgrade them to APs upon getting there on our first day.(MB or not, upgrading 3rd party tickets is never hassle free and usually takes a manager to or experienced CM to jump in as they forget to bridge the price.) We got to Epcot and used the bands to get through the turnstyles fine, then onto the part i dreaded - the upgrade. This upgrade and purchase of TiW took close to an hour. First 2 CMs at Epcot guest relations said that we couldn't upgrade b/c APs weren't allowed to be linked to the bands(false). After some back and forth and me explaining that phone MDE CMs indicated it could be, the CMs agreed it could but would mess up our FP+ reservations(false).Then after a chat with someone else in the back it was agreed that they could do it - side note, why not just talk to that person in the first place instead of assuming. For this lengthy process we were give FP vouchers. Everything seemed to be fine, the APs were on the app and we use 2 of our 3 FP+ reservations just fine. Tried to make a purchase with the band, no such luck - hmmmm.


Checked-in to the hotel, told front desk that the band didn't work for charging and was told we just needed to fix our pin; she reset it and we put in a new pin (1st CM error). Walk to our room, bands don't work on the door.Call down to front desk and told to stop by the front desk to fix it - should be quick (foolish comment/assumption by CM not knowing the problem).

The next morning we stop by the desk to figure out the issue, this is where it gets good. First CM scans the band, and looks at the computer all confused saying that i have 3 tickets on my account which is probably causing the problem (2nd CM error). She calls over another CM that seems to know a little more. They mess around with the computer trying to link and unlink the "3 tickets" all the while i know for certain they have no clue what they are doing but in the interest of the "test" and social experiment i let them continue on (3rd CM error, and I guess my 1st). After about 25 minutes, i say forget it, i don't need to be part of the test, to which they responded no, you really should participate it'll be worth it and we value the feedback...i say I’ll think about it and leave.

I get back to my room, log on to the MDE site and notice my band is no longer there and the 3 "tickets" are. Oh and they weren't 3 tickets at all they were my AP, my KTWC, and my old inactive upgraded ticket. Shouldn't someone who works there with access to the back end system be able to figure that out rather than a guest who logs on to front end and can figure it out in 5 mins? But I digress.

Back to the front desk to now explain that the band is no longer in my account and needs to be relinked. She says the band is still on my account (4th CM error)but isn't working for the room or charging b/c its defective (5th ish CM error).She says that we should still be able to get in the parks and use FP+ with it though (6th CM error)but she calls over the "expert" to confirm. He does confirm that we'll be fine in the parks(7th CM error), but if we want room access and charging we'll need to get another set of bands. This process of coding and linking will take about 20 minutes. Mind you, we've already been here this time 25 minutes. We say thanks but no thanks as we want to get to the parks b/c it's getting late, and as long the FP+ and park access works we're fine - again reconfirmed.

Guess what?! We get to DHS and we can't get in with the bands! Luckily we have out APs and use those to get in. One of the MDE CMs checks our band and says to stop over to guest services or the MDE area to get it fixed. Of course! We head over to the MDE people at Sid's. Complete confusion by one CM and a frustrating conversation - i explain that the bands don’t seem to be linked to the account and we can't get in to the park or use FP+. She says that the FP+ reservations are still in the system, I say that isn't the problem, i explain the problem again and the conversation repeats - this goes on like a bad Abbott and Costello routine for 10 minutes (8th CM error). Finally a CM enters the conversation who appears to understand the technology enough to realize there is an issue with the bands and he calls over the MDE Specialist (blue shirt with MDE Mickey Logo)! To quickly summarize the next 45 minutes -at some point one of the CMs we dealt with incorrectly coded the bands as defective/damaged rather than re-encoding them to the hotel reservation.We needed to be issued new bands which needed to be activated, linked to our accounts and then encoded with our hotel reservation in some system call "Lilo" - side note, this system is SLOW, very very slow, and the navigation screen doesn't look very user friendly either. The MDE expert was walking 2 CMs through the process as he was doing it and they were very confused as well. The MDE specialist was able to link the new bands to our APs and FP+, but we'd need to have the hotel "Encode" the bands to our reservation as they couldn't do it there - Why the hell not?!?! They didn’t know. The expert said to just go back to the hotel and tell them to encode the bands, that's all. Of course we go to the hotel and explain this and they look at us like we have 6 heads (9th CM error), so we say screw it before they mess it up again. We go through the rest of the trip with no room access or charging on the bands.

Moral of the Story: The front line CMs are not at all, remotely close to understanding how to use this technology and should not be allow to change anything in the system (aside from scheduling FP+) without sign off from a MDE Specialist. My multiple hour ordeal could have been limited to 15 min if this was done in the first place.

 

[cbsav]

Other Testing Feedback, particularly about FP+

The Good: When our bands worked, and we used FP+ it was nice. Our first day we got to the Epcot at 1:00pm and were able to ride Soarin’ and TT with out 60+ min waits on standby. We wouldn’t have been able to do this without FP+. The last day we booked 4 FP+ at MK and were able to use them all, and it helped use see a lot more in a shorter amount of time (though we did wait 25-30 min for HM w/o FP+).

The Bad: The main problem I see with the FP+ is that I foresee wasting/not using a lot of FP reservations (this maybe a result of how my family tours). Over our trip we had 14 FP+ booked and only used 8 of them. We usually park hop and decided to book the FP+ in the park we were going to hop to. Also, our plans are always in flux as we’re “go with the flow” people. Well one day we didn’t get to the 2nd park until later than expected, so we lost out on 3 FPs – we tried to rescheduled but there weren’t any left. The other day, b/c of timing circumstances we didn’t park hop at all, but couldn’t change to experiences in the park we were staying b/c none were left. If this is the case, I guess I could make them for the morning, but I don’t see the point as the lines are usually short…I want the FPs the afternoons when the lines are longer.

The Whatever: Even though we didn’t have room charging privileges, I never found an instance where I said “Wow it would be better to use this band.” The times I charged to the room, I just pulled out my KTWC and that was it. That extra 5 sec really didn’t kill my day… I really can’t understand those that are so enamored with this feature…are you really that lazy that you can’t go in your pocket??

Please note, I did speak with a large number of guests who were not having any issues at all. My guess is that they had purchased a package and didn’t need CMs to make any updates or changes to their accounts.

In the end, I do find it to be a waste of investment even though FP+ was nice when I was able to use it, it just isn’t necessary nor in the charging or room access. One of the CMs I spoke with said there were a number of other features that were going to roll out soon which are much better than the 3 that are being tested. He couldn’t elaborate on them though, I’ll believe when I see it.

So that’s about it, sorry for the long posts! Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[openendedsky]

Just so you know, the "bonus" FP can be changed to any ride you like. You aren't locked into HM or Mermaid for that 4th FP. Just change it as you would the time of the experience in the app or on the site.

I know, but considering we used our other FP choices on rides we enjoy the most and would have the longest waits, I'm indifferent about changing it. Thank you, though.

 

[WDWFanDave]

TESTING EXPERIENCE UPDATE -JUST BACK (Sorry for the long post, but want to be as detailed as possible regarding the errors)

So my wife and I just got back from a short 4 day trip at WDW. We were staying at POP for this short trip and, as such were part of the test. I previously posted some skeptical/cynical thoughts earlier this month and thought it right to come back and post my experience. Overall, on a scale of 0-10 for the who MM+ set up, i'd give it a 4. My gut reaction - leaving out the tinfoil hat that will track everything you do, sell it, yada, yada that has been discussed ad nauseum and whether i agree with or believe it - is thatthis is a solution to a problem that 100% did not exist and did nothing to actually enhance our trip in any way. That being said, some aspects were a nice convince and some things a pain in the a**.

The Technology Experience/Issue:My wife and I linked 3rd party tickets to the bands prior to the trip and were going to upgrade them to APs upon getting there on our first day.(MB or not, upgrading 3rd party tickets is never hassle free and usually takes a manager to or experienced CM to jump in as they forget to bridge the price.) We got to Epcot and used the bands to get through the turnstyles fine, then onto the part i dreaded - the upgrade. This upgrade and purchase of TiW took close to an hour. First 2 CMs at Epcot guest relations said that we couldn't upgrade b/c APs weren't allowed to be linked to the bands(false). After some back and forth and me explaining that phone MDE CMs indicated it could be, the CMs agreed it could but would mess up our FP+ reservations(false).Then after a chat with someone else in the back it was agreed that they could do it - side note, why not just talk to that person in the first place instead of assuming. For this lengthy process we were give FP vouchers. Everything seemed to be fine, the APs were on the app and we use 2 of our 3 FP+ reservations just fine. Tried to make a purchase with the band, no such luck - hmmmm.


Checked-in to the hotel, told front desk that the band didn't work for charging and was told we just needed to fix our pin; she reset it and we put in a new pin (1st CM error). Walk to our room, bands don't work on the door.Call down to front desk and told to stop by the front desk to fix it - should be quick (foolish comment/assumption by CM not knowing the problem).

The next morning we stop by the desk to figure out the issue, this is where it gets good. First CM scans the band, and looks at the computer all confused saying that i have 3 tickets on my account which is probably causing the problem (2nd CM error). She calls over another CM that seems to know a little more. They mess around with the computer trying to link and unlink the "3 tickets" all the while i know for certain they have no clue what they are doing but in the interest of the "test" and social experiment i let them continue on (3rd CM error, and I guess my 1st). After about 25 minutes, i say forget it, i don't need to be part of the test, to which they responded no, you really should participate it'll be worth it and we value the feedback...i say I’ll think about it and leave.

I get back to my room, log on to the MDE site and notice my band is no longer there and the 3 "tickets" are. Oh and they weren't 3 tickets at all they were my AP, my KTWC, and my old inactive upgraded ticket. Shouldn't someone who works there with access to the back end system be able to figure that out rather than a guest who logs on to front end and can figure it out in 5 mins? But I digress.

Back to the front desk to now explain that the band is no longer in my account and needs to be relinked. She says the band is still on my account (4th CM error)but isn't working for the room or charging b/c its defective (5th ish CM error).She says that we should still be able to get in the parks and use FP+ with it though (6th CM error)but she calls over the "expert" to confirm. He does confirm that we'll be fine in the parks(7th CM error), but if we want room access and charging we'll need to get another set of bands. This process of coding and linking will take about 20 minutes. Mind you, we've already been here this time 25 minutes. We say thanks but no thanks as we want to get to the parks b/c it's getting late, and as long the FP+ and park access works we're fine - again reconfirmed.

Guess what?! We get to DHS and we can't get in with the bands! Luckily we have out APs and use those to get in. One of the MDE CMs checks our band and says to stop over to guest services or the MDE area to get it fixed. Of course! We head over to the MDE people at Sid's. Complete confusion by one CM and a frustrating conversation - i explain that the bands don’t seem to be linked to the account and we can't get in to the park or use FP+. She says that the FP+ reservations are still in the system, I say that isn't the problem, i explain the problem again and the conversation repeats - this goes on like a bad Abbott and Costello routine for 10 minutes (8th CM error). Finally a CM enters the conversation who appears to understand the technology enough to realize there is an issue with the bands and he calls over the MDE Specialist (blue shirt with MDE Mickey Logo)! To quickly summarize the next 45 minutes -at some point one of the CMs we dealt with incorrectly coded the bands as defective/damaged rather than re-encoding them to the hotel reservation.We needed to be issued new bands which needed to be activated, linked to our accounts and then encoded with our hotel reservation in some system call "Lilo" - side note, this system is SLOW, very very slow, and the navigation screen doesn't look very user friendly either. The MDE expert was walking 2 CMs through the process as he was doing it and they were very confused as well. The MDE specialist was able to link the new bands to our APs and FP+, but we'd need to have the hotel "Encode" the bands to our reservation as they couldn't do it there - Why the hell not?!?! They didn’t know. The expert said to just go back to the hotel and tell them to encode the bands, that's all. Of course we go to the hotel and explain this and they look at us like we have 6 heads (9th CM error), so we say screw it before they mess it up again. We go through the rest of the trip with no room access or charging on the bands.

Moral of the Story: The front line CMs are not at all, remotely close to understanding how to use this technology and should not be allow to change anything in the system (aside from scheduling FP+) without sign off from a MDE Specialist. My multiple hour ordeal could have been limited to 15 min if this was done in the first place.

No questions...just a thank you for sharing the experience. I'm hoping that, since it appears we are stuck with this pile of 'magic', that if enough guests, particularly experienced guests, share experiences with MM+ here that it will get into the hands of people that can make necessary changes/updates. I completely understand that so many here are unhappy with the system, and I won't disagree. However, since we know that the folks from WDW are also lurking, sharing experiences here provides a forum for us to not only get the information on the flaws into the conversation, but also allows others to learn from the experiences and hopefully be prepared for what's to come if we are also visiting during this transition. If I had to guess, there's probably not as open an opportunity to provide this detailed feedback to the MDE team via the typical WDW survey system...

Thanks, again!