What's Still On and What's Now Off

[TrainsOfDisney]

They do offer the phone charging stations around the parks.

Where? Other than Magic kingdom.

I’d be surprised if a significant number of parties at Walt Disney World lack a smartphone. 80% of Americans already own a smartphone.

Mobile Fact Sheet

Americans today are increasingly connected to the world of digital information while “on the go” via smartphones. Explore the latest patterns, trends and statistics that have shaped the mobile revolution.

www.pewresearch.org

Can 80% run the Disney app? I’ve only ever had an iPhone so I’m not sure how many non-Apple phones can run it or not.

I know for a while my old iPhone couldn’t run the current Disney app which was a considerable negative at Disneyland where my pass included maxpass.

 

[GoofGoof]

Where? Other than Magic kingdom.

The fuel rod things? I thought they had them all over. I thought the gimmick was supposed to be trade them in anywhere for a fresh battery.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

The fuel rod things? I thought they had them all over. I thought the gimmick was supposed to be trade them in anywhere for a fresh battery.

Ohhhh yeah. I thought you meant places like tangled toilets and storybook circus.

 

[UNCgolf]

Because I dont want to scroll through pages to see what’s been mentioned or not. I find the idea of mandatory online check-in honestly a pretty reasonable thing to do. So in regard of “what’s off” it could be in-person hotel check-in. Which I already didn’t do anyways.

https:///2020/04/online-check-required-disney-world-vacations-ba1/

They'll have to make sure the system is working better than it was in January. I did online check-in (don't really see why you wouldn't barring some kind of special circumstances), but when I arrived I still didn't have an assigned room in the app. Ended up having to go to the lobby and check in manually to get my room number. It was ready (and had been since well before we arrived) but the app just never processed the information.

 

[UNCgolf]

For checking in you don’t need the app. Can’t you checkin online from home and use your magic band once you arrive to get into the room?

You need the app to get your room number. They may email it to you as well, but you couldn't get that without a working smart phone either (and still has the same issue I just posted about where if their systems aren't working correctly you're still going to have to see a CM in the lobby).

 

[Scubacat]

They could deploy a few of the touchscreen kiosks for those without a device or who still prefer to check in at the resort.

 

[MisterPenguin]

They could deploy a few of the touchscreen kiosks for those without a device or who still prefer to check in at the resort.

Triggered!

 

[zengoth]

Over the last decade or 3, adaptation of new tech has been gradual. If grandma couldn't find the online shopping cart icon or couldn't figure out POP at the grocer, old tech was still allowed. I have a feeling this will change going forward and a sort of forced/rushed adaptation is going to occur - leaving some people out and struggling. Will folks without the latest phones show up at Disney? Sure they will - and Disney will have to step up their game by making sure their system can handle more and making sure there's reasonable accommodation for those who need. But the world at large will be updating their systems to less analog and more digital as well, so Disney won't be alone.

 

[marni1971]

I’d be surprised if a significant number of parties at Walt Disney World lack a smartphone. 80% of Americans already own a smartphone.

Mobile Fact Sheet

Americans today are increasingly connected to the world of digital information while “on the go” via smartphones. Explore the latest patterns, trends and statistics that have shaped the mobile revolution.

www.pewresearch.org

Maybe, but you’d be surprised how many overseas visitors travel without one.

 

[nickys]

For checking in you don’t need the app. Can’t you checkin online from home and use your magic band once you arrive to get into the room?

They do offer the phone charging stations around the parks. Or you just eat from the food carts or table service I guess. I’m not sure how all people doing mobile ordering helps unless they go to a be our guest style system where the bring the food to your table. If everyone is lining up to pickup mobile orders isn’t that just as bad as lining up to order from the cashier. I guess it saves contact with the cashier but not the mob of others you are waiting with.

International guests need to stop at the front desk for two reasons:

1) To collect their magic bands, which don’t get sent out
2) To get their room number, because Disney won’t text to international numbers. In part, that’s because some mobile providers charge to receive texts from certain numbers / categories etc.

On-line check in pretty much serves no purpose for international guests. I do it anyway, but only because it’s another step on the road to arriving.

 

[nickys]

Or the app has issues. Or the in-park wi-fi has issues etc

Disney can encourage mobile ordering, but it shouldn't be mandatory.

If it’s mandatory there is a problem for international guests.
Most credit cards have a 3% foreign transaction charge and a min of $3 on any transaction. And magic bands don’t work for mobile ordering. That’s a hefty premium to pay every time you want to eat or even buy a soda.

 

[nickys]

Where? Other than Magic kingdom.


Can 80% run the Disney app? I’ve only ever had an iPhone so I’m not sure how many non-Apple phones can run it or not.

I know for a while my old iPhone couldn’t run the current Disney app which was a considerable negative at Disneyland where my pass included maxpass.

On our last trip, my Samsung couldn’t run the app. And then there’s a data problem when the wifi Is unreliable. I left my phone in the room since all it was good for was telling me the time. I had a cheap watch to do that, and a magic band to charge everything.

 

[nickys]

They could deploy a few of the touchscreen kiosks for those without a device or who still prefer to check in at the resort.

As soon as Canadians are allowed across the border, some will still need to check in at the desk anyway. Little point having touch screens unless they can also deliver magic bands like vending machines.

 

[durangojim]

If it’s mandatory there is a problem for international guests.
Most credit cards have a 3% foreign transaction charge and a min of $3 on any transaction. And magic bands don’t work for mobile ordering. That’s a hefty premium to pay every time you want to eat or even buy a soda.

A couple of points. Very hard to buy anything at WDW for less than $3 and the MB is linked to your guest account and not credit card, so if you bring a load of cash and have the front desk apply it to your account at check in there is no 3% fee.

 

[ZoneOfTheEnder]

Tomorrowland, Epcot Center, and original attractions are gone for good. If they want to bulldoze everything they have now and replace everything with Frozen overlays and build more timeshares go right ahead. They already ruined everything.

Too true . . . Just wait if they update Journey into Imagination they’ll have to add in another “Movie” IP that will destroy that attraction and trivialize Imagination and Figment.

 

[Jeffxz]

You need the app to get your room number. They may email it to you as well, but you couldn't get that without a working smart phone either (and still has the same issue I just posted about where if their systems aren't working correctly you're still going to have to see a CM in the lobby).

Disney also sends plain sms text messages with the room number once it’s ready. Any cell phone can receive those, it doesn’t need to be a smart phone.

 

[pdude81]

I meant for online check-in. But yes Counter Service as well if they are going to enforce mobile ordering which will be its own problem beyond the mobile ordering.

As for mobile ordering... so if my phones battery is dead I can’t buy food?

They text the room number also. Flip phone will do. I think one person I they party having any cell phone is a reasonable requirement.

As for mobile ordering they can't expect every grandpa to work a smartphone and not "accidentally" order 6 beers. Soon enough after opening they'll have to have socially distances dining rooms, but who knows what their risk appetite is

Edit: now seeing nickys post above about international visitors. Hopefully they don't make you jump through too many hoops

 

[nickys]

A couple of points. Very hard to buy anything at WDW for less than $3 and the MB is linked to your guest account and not credit card, so if you bring a load of cash and have the front desk apply it to your account at check in there is no 3% fee.

Yes.

But not all guests stay on site. And magic bands cannot be used for mobile order payments at the moment.

 

[GoofGoof]

You need the app to get your room number. They may email it to you as well, but you couldn't get that without a working smart phone either (and still has the same issue I just posted about where if their systems aren't working correctly you're still going to have to see a CM in the lobby).

They texted me when my room was ready. You could also just go to the desk and ask.

 

[GoofGoof]

If it’s mandatory there is a problem for international guests.
Most credit cards have a 3% foreign transaction charge and a min of $3 on any transaction. And magic bands don’t work for mobile ordering. That’s a hefty premium to pay every time you want to eat or even buy a soda.

May sound a little doom and gloom, but for the first phase of the park opening I don’t think international travel will even be allowed yet. By the time flights ramp up we may not need to be as “touchless“. If the goal is to move toward touch free transacting as a long term plan then they need to address the issue with international travelers.

But not all guests stay on site. And magic bands cannot be used for mobile order payments at the moment.

I think part of going to fully touch-free would have to be integrating magic bands into the mobile ordering system and also issuing bands to guests who aren’t staying on property. As someone said earlier they could go with a few CMs with iPads for anyone without the app. I still think some people will prefer to pay cash for things and Disney won’t want to miss out on sales so they won’t want to go completely touch free long term.