Here now - Disney's "technology" is NOT magical

[golden2323]

We arrived on Saturday and the MDE system was down all day. Impossible to book new fast passes or make any changes. Cast members were great, but it was clearly visible that they were beyond frustrated. The system is back up, but the mobile app is a joke - we can rarely even check wait times, much less make changes to our fast passes during the day.

We also bought Memory Maker, which has worked fine up until this evening. We were chosen as "Family of the Day" at Chef Mickey's and the photopass photographers photographed the entire thing - from my girls opening Chef Mickey's, the two of them autographing Mickey's autograph book, and photos with Mickey - they transferred the pictures to my band, just like all the other photopass photographers have done, but the pictures did not show up. I'm heartbroken. Since we were part of the "ceremony" we didn't take pictures, and depended on the photopass photographer. None of our ride photos are showing up either, despite being told that they would be there more than once.

 

[999DoomBuggies]

I had to use the web version on my phone. The mobile app is generally garbage. Download a third party app for wait times. I use touring plans and another app or two.

How is the weather? How are the crowds?

 

[pbruce706]

I suspect if you contact Photopass or memory maker and give them the details of the pictures, time, who was wearing what, and so on, they'll be able to find the pictures.

 

[abctriplets]

Yep. We were the family that opened the park on Saturday (got any photos of us?). Fastpass broke early on but we got some paper passes and it did come online late in the day. The transition to old school paper passes was a bit rough (it seemed they went through three plans, resulting in me walking across the park unnecessarily a few times). But I think we actually made out better (we used fast passes on 12 rides throughout the day)

But I don't see my photos either.....thought maybe it needed 24 hours? Should I be panicking? (Last night I made my photo pass online account and entered in the card numbers - still nothing)

 

[lizard1]

I suspect if you contact Photopass or memory maker and give them the details of the pictures, time, who was wearing what, and so on, they'll be able to find the pictures.

This! Call them and unless there was a problem with the equipment, they should be able to locate them for you. Also remember that it can take some time for the pictures to show up.

 

[2010_Bride]

They will find your photos for you.
We were missing about 7 or 8 last year from MNSSHP and when I contacted them by email with dates, approximate times and a description of those in the photos they found all of them in about a week

 

[btk2333]

interesting that you and casjen are there at the same time and having opposite experiences- just shows that everyone's experiences are different I guess - enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

[Mad Hattered]

interesting that you and casjen are there at the same time and having opposite experiences- just shows that everyone's experiences are different I guess - enjoy the rest of your trip!

Here is what they were handing out yesterday. The MDE crashed(app and all kiosks). It was the same for everyone.

 

[btk2333]

Here is what they were handing out yesterday. The MDE crashed(app and all kiosks). It was the same for everyone.

my apologies I should have said "outlooks on experiences."

 

[Mad Hattered]

my apologies I should have said "outlooks on experiences."

I can see where one's "outlook" might be diminished if they booked their rides 60 days in advance and dining at 180 days, only to have them wiped out all at once. I would probably be soured by that "experience".

60% of the time it works every time.

 

[golden2323]

Thanks for the suggestion of calling - we've called and we're waiting to see if they find the pictures. Hopefully they'll be able to locate them - I suspect we may have better than normal chances, since we opened Chef Mickey's today.

Today, FP+ has worked fine - we've had no issues, but yeah - when you have bent over backwards to secure FP for 7DMT and A&E and the whole system shuts down - it definitely affects how you feel about the whole thing.

 

[btk2333]

. But I think we actually made out better (we used fast passes on 12 rides throughout the day)

I can see where one's "outlook" might be diminished if they booked their rides 60 days in advance and dining at 180 days, only to have them wiped out all at once. I would probably be soured by that "experience".

Seems like everyone who dislikes FP+ would've gotten exactly what they wanted- and did anyone actually lose their Dining Reservations spots? Disney has a back up of that at every restaurant I believe (printouts of the ADR's at the minimum)

 

[Mad Hattered]

Seems like everyone who dislikes FP+ would've gotten exactly what they wanted- and did anyone actually lose their Dining Reservations spots? Disney has a back up of that at every restaurant I believe (printouts of the ADR's at the minimum)

I would have made out like a bandit yesterday! I would have collected a legacy FP at every ride possible and then take a stress-free vacation later in the year and ride all of our favorites without any hassle whatsoever (they were good thru the end of the year).

And yes, the Dining reservations were lost as well. At least that is what they reported on the WDW Magic forums. I mean, I assume that you could have your confirmation numbers printed out and take with you. But then that would seem stupid to have to do that with the "new technolgy".

 

[abctriplets]

My online fastpass reservations never vanished nor did my dining reservations. When the system first crashed we were given a pass to any ride. Then they set up fastpass hubs, but when I got there they said to go to the specific ride. So at Peter Pan they hand wrote a pass on a handicap? Then they (re)instituted the hub location. For much of the day though I bet you could stock up if you wanted since nothing was tied to your card.

 

[abctriplets]

Oh the only thing that affected me was that the line for my scheduled thunder mountain fast pass was huge, presumably because everyone else was using their anytime pass

 

[disneybirds]

We were there yesterday and weren't offered paper fastpasses. Our fastpass for Kali River Rapids was cancelled and they just said to go to another ride. We didn't even end up using our 3 fastpasses.

Our dinner reservations in Epcot were fine.

 

[btk2333]

I would have made out like a bandit yesterday! I would have collected a legacy FP at every ride possible and then take a stress-free vacation later in the year and ride all of our favorites without any hassle whatsoever (they were good thru the end of the year).

And yes, the Dining reservations were lost as well. At least that is what they reported on the WDW Magic forums. I mean, I assume that you could have your confirmation numbers printed out and take with you. But then that would seem stupid to have to do that with the "new technolgy".

are we allowed to reference "other forums" - I just went over there and read the thread from yesterday - nobody's ADR's were given away, you just couldn't pull them up on the app- not exactly the same thing as losing your reservation

"You could use everything that you had reserved (as long as you remembered), you just couldn't access your information on the app or website. "

"folks that didn't [have screenshots] could find out the times for their FPs from the actual ride - just go up and scan, and then Cast Member could tell them when it was for. And same with dining. That is what I would have done if I hadn't had screen shots. A pain, yes, but doable."

"I work in a table service restaurant at MK and yes, we print out our reservations in the morning just in case the system goes down and we have do everything manually. Today we did have a couple guests come in to confirm reservation times because they couldn't access the app. However, the system we use to book, check in, or look up guest reservations is not tied to MM+. So if you came into any table service restaurant on property, your resort front desk, or guest relations, I'm 99% sure they could have looked up dining reservations for you. "

"If you had existing fast pass + reservations they still worked, but you couldn't access the app on your phone or at the kiosk to check the time."

Which is why it's always a good idea to have a paper copy of your ADR's (this was the case even before MDE)- but even if you didn't it seems they could still look them up for you

Not exactly a disaster... Also there were quite a few references to Universal's technical difficulties in that thread

 

[Cais]

We arrived on Saturday and the MDE system was down all day. Impossible to book new fast passes or make any changes. Cast members were great, but it was clearly visible that they were beyond frustrated. The system is back up, but the mobile app is a joke - we can rarely even check wait times, much less make changes to our fast passes during the day. We also bought Memory Maker, which has worked fine up until this evening. We were chosen as "Family of the Day" at Chef Mickey's and the photopass photographers photographed the entire thing - from my girls opening Chef Mickey's, the two of them autographing Mickey's autograph book, and photos with Mickey - they transferred the pictures to my band, just like all the other photopass photographers have done, but the pictures did not show up. I'm heartbroken. Since we were part of the "ceremony" we didn't take pictures, and depended on the photopass photographer. None of our ride photos are showing up either, despite being told that they would be there more than once.

Photos normally take 24-48 hours to upload and moderate. Someone does have to look at the photos to make sure nobody's flipping the bird or anything and it's the busiest time of the year.

A lot of times if no photos are showing up it's because people go to the Disneyland PhotoPass site. California photos only on that site, no Florida ones so of course no photos appear.

 

[Mad Hattered]

"You could use everything that you had reserved (as long as you remembered), you just couldn't access your information on the app or website. "

Progress?

"folks that didn't [have screenshots] could find out the times for their FPs from the actual ride - just go up and scan, and then Cast Member could tell them when it was for. And same with dining. That is what I would have done if I hadn't had screen shots. A pain, yes, but doable."

Pain and an expensive vacations don't sit well with me. YMMV.

"I work in a table service restaurant at MK and yes, we print out our reservations in the morning just in case the system goes down and we have do everything manually. Today we did have a couple guests come in to confirm reservation times because they couldn't access the app. However, the system we use to book, check in, or look up guest reservations is not tied to MM+. So if you came into any table service restaurant on property, your resort front desk, or guest relations, I'm 99% sure they could have looked up dining reservations for you. "

So, it's not certain.

"If you had existing fast pass + reservations they still worked, but you couldn't access the app on your phone or at the kiosk to check the time."

Progress?

Not exactly a disaster... Also there were quite a few references to Universal's technical difficulties in that thread

Really? Since I assume you read the thread, I guess you saw the post about 7DMT being emergency evacuated yesterday as well. And I wasn't even going to bring that up.

 

[btk2333]

Progress?

I'm not necessarily one who has ever said that FP+ is better than legacy- just that I'm ambivalent to the changes- there are some things that are better and some that are worse. 9 times out of 10 (actually 17 out of 18 since that's how many days I've spent at WDW with FP+) I've found the conveniences outwaying the negatives

Pain and an expensive vacations don't sit well with me. YMMV.

your mileage may vary? I would have had a screenshot, but I'm relieved to know that it would not have been necessary

So, it's not certain.

Actually the poster said he did know that no one's reservations were lost since they had a paper printout- he was 99% sure that ANY restaurant could look up ANY reservation- as long as you remembered at which restaurant you had a reservation you should have been ok- most people should have been able to remember that right?

Progress?

Again- not necessarily progress but not the end of the world either...

Really?

"If want to see a problem with stuff should have been at UNI Friday.. We stayed at lowes PB and had early morning access and express passes.. Got there early to ride new potter ride.. LOL what a joke.. Got there early to stand in line after it broke down 20 mins after starting rides for morning. Sat in line for 30 mins then after another 20 mins got on the ride.. Rode over half the ride with NO SOUND!! Was told sorry when got off that they were having issues and try again later. No pass to front or anything, just stand in line again later. Stood in line again later in day for 2 HOURS!!! Got on for it to stop at first screen and rode rest of way with no Sound or video.. That is the joke of Orlando.. It looks great but if that is what call ready for guest.. Well it open atleast 2 months to early since been open a month to public and still doesn't work most of time. Once im back Im going to write up complete post on terrible 2 days we had at uni. Well im off to epcot now.. "

I will note that you edited your post after I began my response, its always too bad when rides need to be evacuated- but it does happen...