Yesterday I posted details on the new Fastpass+ and Disney Magic Bands and I got some very interesting feedback on Facebook.
A few other Couponing to Disney readers have been able to test out the Magic Bands. Here’s what they had to say:
We just went this past weekend and found out they’re also doing fast pass for the night parade and fireworks. They had a special section with awesome viewing blocked specifically for this. We went at night so not sure if the 3 o’clock parade has this as well. – Shelly
We are going in 11 days. We are staying room only at AK and we were picked. We are FP+ing Fantasmic. The seats are in the center. So excited as we have never seen Fantasmic in all the times we have been there. We are also FPing lunch at Be Our Guest. – Cheryl
Just as an FYI-on the post it says that you can’t customize your fast pass+ time, but you can!! After Disney gives you times, you can go back and click on each individual ride that you’ve booked a fast pass for and change the time to a time that you’d rather go. So if they automatically give you afternoon times (happened to me when I wanted a Fastpass for Fantasmic-all the other fast passes were late in the afternoon), just click on the ride you want to change, choose “change time” and you will be able to select a morning time. – Bethany
We have room only at PO-RS and we were picked. I was never notified but thanks to this post, I checked. Today was the last day that I could customize and we used the resort address for the shipping since we are actually leaving for Florida on Saturday. – Dawn
If you are traveling in the next few months, log into your My Disney Experience to see if you are prompted to fill out your information for the bands! Just make sure your resort reservation is linked to this account.
Answers to questions asked about the MyMagic+ Experience (from a Couponing to Disney reader that was able to test this in early August):
How did they like using it? We thought it was absolutely brilliant. It definitely made navigating the parks a lot easier.
What problems did they encounter? The only problem we encountered was a stressed out Cast Member. We were told at Pop Century that we could use the 3 Fastpasses on the Magic Bands in addition to using our tickets in the Fastpass machine. Well apparently the Cast Members are being told different things and she was told that we could only use the 3 Fastpasses on our bands. So when she saw my wife using her tickets to get Fastpasses from the machine when she had on the band, she got very rude with us.
How did they feel about only having 3 passes per day? The above mentioned Cast Member said the average guest gets 1.5 Fastpasses a day. So they took that number and doubled it, giving each guest 3 Fastpasses per day. Well we aren’t average guests and we usually get 5-7 Fastpasses a day. So I definitely feel like this is going to be a huge let down in the system if they keep it at 3. I did notice that there are new Fastpass machines being installed for the bands (I saw one by the Barnstormer Fastpass machine) so I am hoping that you can only reserve 3 before arriving at the park but that you will be able to obtain more as you tour.
What were the crowds like and did they see others using them? When we were there, only 3 other resorts were testing them. So we saw a few people with them, but I don’t think enough people were using them to impact the crowds.
Did they try out the fp+ for characters, fireworks, parades or shows? No we were only there for 2 days. However a friend of mine was traveling at the same time and she used it for Fantasmic and Wishes and she said it was brilliant. The reserved seating area was amazing and she only had to arrive 15 minutes before show time.
We’re the cast members knowledgeable and able to solve problems? They seem to be very well trained on the Fastpass+. Almost all of them were very nice!
How did the app/wifi work while in the park? It worked great. I was even able to change a Fastpass time while we were waiting to get off the Pirates ride.
How do you get to be a tester? Right now they are picking select resorts to test the bands. log into your My Disney Experience to see if it prompts you to customize your bands.
Do you have to do a package to qualify? No we were staying Room Only!
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.
Debbie Thillman says
How do you put the fireworks and parades on your magic bands? I don’t see how they are loaded. We did our other ride fast passes, but I didn’t see how to load the firework and parades.
Bri says
We were excepted to try the magic bands.I have selected the colors names and got it all set up also with my shipping address. Now when I got to my Disney experience and go to magic bands it says 0 days left to customize your magic bands.when will they ship out to us and how will I know
JEAN MOSER says
How do you use the fastpass+ to reserve the lunch at Be Our Guest?
Leeanne says
We are leaving next Tuesday and were selected to try out My Magic+ as well. We have Magic Bands and were able to schedule FP+. We have Fantasmic!, Wishes, Illuminations, MSEP, and CADCT (3 pm parade) all with reserved seating/area!! We are so excited!! Also some days we are going to the park late in the afternoon and we loved that we were able to schedule some of our favs for later in the day. I am not sure how I feel about having to schedule but right now the ‘new’ has not worn off (and we are nerds!) so we are pretty stoked about it!!!
Kristine says
I sure hope Windows Phones have the Disney Experience App when I go in Feb.
Leigh Ann says
I’m so excited to try Magic Bands for our upcoming vacation!!! I’ve been reserving fast passes online, but not sure if I like the extra pre-vacation planning. It’s hard enough to plan your dinner reservations, but now you do your rides, shows, fireworks, parades, etc. too. And you can get fastpasses for rides that never had them before like It’s A Small World, The Haunted Mansion, Spaceship Earth, etc. I hope all the planning doesn’t take away the spontaneity that I enjoy while on vacation. We’ll see in about 18 days. :)
Kristin of Couponing to Disney says
I’m sure you will end up having an awesome time! :)