So, here's a few thoughts, as promised, on the Magic Bands, FP+, refillable mugs, etc.
We finally made it home, good travels, but a long trip, especially after a lackluster but busy week.
I can reiterate, that in the future, I'm far less likely to return to WDW if the rule of the day is Magic Bands, Fast Pass Plus (with no regular FP system), and the continued decline in foodservice offerings (including the new 'rapid fill' program). The only good use I found for the MB was when swimming at the resort, we didn't have to worry about bringing the room key with us.
My individual Magic Band had a very tiny RFID chip, that was NOT located in the area of the Mickey head. How would I know? Well, after a week of trying to get the damned thing to activate the Mickey heads, or the security resort gate, or the laundry room door, you learn how to work it. Many times, especially at the resort, I had to take it off, and forcefully hold it up against whatever sensor I was trying to get it to activate. Not the case at the parks for entry or for FP+ use, as those went more smoothly. Definitely the most awkward part of the band is trying to use it to buy things (for the record, mine NEVER worked for room charging). Trying to rotate your wrist, or get the band positioned just perfectly, is nothing more than a ridiculous hassle. Took out the RFID KTTW card, and had NO issue whatsoever. Didn't have to even touch the readers in many instances...which leads me to feel that the bands are a step backwards, not forwards.
Not in all, but in many, CM encounters, it was clear that there has been a serious lack of training, and some of these folks hated the band as much as I did. They simply can't do their jobs as well. It adds unnecessary time to transactions at registers, whether food or merchandise. My band did finally (after getting some help at the resort) for the dining plan. However, since it wouldn't work for room charging, I couldn't use it to tip the servers. After a couple of days, I learned to tell them up front that they should know that they would need my KTTW card, and to not even try to use that with the handheld scanner (yep, even my KTTW card wouldn't work for charging anything unless it was swiped at the register...you know, the way they've done it for years?).
CMs seem very frustrated and overwhelmed, both from a system that is just not working properly, the ever-expanding test of them, and the lack of training. Asked a lot of pointed questions, and I was able to get some very candid responses along the way. I certainly won't give any specifics here, as I don't want anyone to have any repercussions, but one of the most interesting replies I got (and not that it's news to any of us), was when I struck up a conversation about the bands, and the CM discussed how they'd recently been through some basic training and were advised that the core of the system was so that they could gather data on guest patterns and behaviors. Or, at least that's what they got out of the training.
Oh-just thought of one neat, but creepy use we experienced...got an email with a 'special' FP+ for Be Our Guest for lunch. Took advantage of it, and bypassed the 1 to 1 1/2 hour line, went in, ordered our food, and did NOT get a rose to put on the table. 10 minutes or so later, our food rolled up to the table and we were served. Yep, they do know exactly where you are.
On to FastPass plus...a limit of three is crap. I felt ok with it, as the parks weren't super busy (but much busier than I thought they'd be), and I could use the legacy FP system. But, I can't see liking the limit of 3 at the MK. The other parks...well, there's not that much to do at them anyway. HS, for instance, it was really nice to be able to book TSMM ahead of time. We got to the park mid morning, and the FP for the day were gone already. Had also booked RNRC and Fantasmic, but the rain was so horrendous that we left and didn't go back that day. EPCOT FP+ was nice for TT and Soarin'...but here's the impact that we all knew would accompany the new system...there was a wait, almost all day, for Spaceship Earth in the Standby line. A wait for a people eater ride. During a less than busy time of year. Not just any wait...15 to 20 minutes almost all day. As the afternoon wore on, it quieted down, as everyone was riding Maelstrom (again, though, FP+ is artificially inflating the ride times there).
Enough on that for now...refillable mugs...well, we were at PORS, and I'm not sure if they changed the volume that's dispensed, but I could have overflowed all of our mugs. If they weren't free as part of the dining plan, there's no way I'd spend the money to buy them. But, to each their own. Asked a CM how they were being received (after watching an interaction with a guest that had a paper cup that had 'expired'), and said overall no big impact to them. There really wasn't a big problem with soda theft there, in their opinion. Values are a different story...said that's where all the money was being lost. Also, thought they might not get rolled out to all the Deluxe resorts.
And, one last tangent...I was really disappointed with the quality of the food everywhere this year. And, with the quality of service in several locations. Like many, I've seen the decline over the years, but this year it really just smacked me in the face, and it's so disappointing. Even the expensive character meals are, well, just not that good anymore.
I did complain (mostly about terrible housekeeping towards the end of our time there), and did get comped some, but even with that, as I explained to the 'mgmt' CM...I knew I was going to have a hard time coming home to friends (2 different families of 5), and tell them that they should still go to WDW.
Oh-and as for the 'increased' guest spending...it was such a hassle, that we just didn't buy any of the generic merchandise this time to speak of. Spent about 60% less than we usually do on property. Came home with a happier wallet.
So, @
WDW1974 thanks for the warnings way back when...you were right. And, for @
alissafalco and @
Soarin' Over Pgh I apologize for the delay in getting my thoughts on here.
