Disney 2.0

Liliane Opsomer, TravelMole’s special Disney Correspondent offers a road map through Disney’s new digital labyrinth

This week, Disney has unveiled a much-anticipated wealth of new high-tech products for use at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The company has announced a new "Magicband" called Walt Disney World MyMagic+, as well as a revamped new website, "My Disney Experience" and a new app, FastPass+ which lets guests pre-select FASTPASSES prior to their Disney vacation, 4 new park maps and PhotoPass+.

If all of this is confusing to you that means that you are paying attention.

Dare I undo the magic and shed some light on all this? First off all guests who do not want to use the new program and all or any of its components do not have to do so.

Park tickets they may have bought already will not be affected in any way. Just as in the past, guests can visit the parks without pre-selecting their FASTPASS attractions or experiences. If they wish to continue to use the existing FASTPASS system, at least for now, they can.

Let’s start with the new app, "My Disney Experience."

The app is free and can be downloaded easily from iTunes, Google play and Amazon apps. The app provides wait times, FASTPASS return times, and the ability to view menus and book dining reservations, manage and share itineraries with family and friends, find details about nearby Disney characters, attractions, entertainment, park hours and schedules. While on the go, the app lets guests change the FastPass+ choices they made on the website prior to their Disney vacation.

On the regular Disney website under the tab marked, My Disney Experience guests can download the free app and  make the FastPass+ choices for attractions, shows, VIP viewing areas for parades and fireworks or character meet-and-greet experiences. Dining reservations, menu browsing and trip planning are also offered. 

Remember these picks can be changed on the website before you go and via the app while on the go. I must admit that I am concerned about this hakuna matata (that means "no worries") approach. What if you want to make changes and all the FASTPASSES for that day are gone? I also wonder why three passes? At this point no news has been released regarding these concerns and I must admit defeat for now. Time will tell and I’ll be watching!

FastPass+ is included in the park admission, so no worries here. New park maps for all 4 parks were released January 8^th and they feature the latest physical changes to the parks.

Are you are still with me? Wait…there’s more.

Picture this: with PhotoPass+ you will have digital files of all your PhotoPass photos, attraction and dining photos taken during a visit to Walt Disney World in one handy package.

There is no limit to the amount of photos you can add to the PhotoPass+ card. Print packages at select dining locations are also included – think character meals. Once back home, you can view your photos and order a Photo CD with all the high-resolution photos plus a limited license agreement, which allows you to print photos at any local photo-processing center.

The package comes at a cost of $199.95 for Walt Disney World and includes the PhotoPass+ card and lanyard, a gallery CD with over 300 stock photos, print packages at select dining locations and digital downloads of select attractions. The package is available for $149 if you order PhotoPass+ at least 14 days prior to your departure to Walt Disney World.

The bracelet that binds them all is a radio frequency identification-equipped wrist band, duped the "Magicband."  It will be distributed to guests staying at Walt Disney World Resort hotels, Annual Passholders, as well as those guests who purchase the PhotoPass+ package.

The bracelet serves as a guest’s admission ticket, access to FastPass+ selections, PhotoPass card, a room key and if you wish credit card. For purchases made over $50 the use of a PIN number will provide additional security. For fashionistas, Disney plans to introduce collectible sets of the MagicBand, accessories and charms.

Should you lose the Magicband, you (or a helpful Cast Member) can deactivate it using your smart phone. According to Tom Staggs, Chairman of Disney Parks and Resorts, "The bands themselves will contain no personal identifiable information."

MagicBands through RFI can relay all sorts of personal details, allowing cast members to interact with guests on a more personal level. This would especially work well during character meet-and-greet sessions letting the character welcome a guest by name or wishing a child a happy birthday. Another usage would be in the new interactive queuing areas where the RFI wristband would relay information to the animatronics, which in turn would be able to interact with guests.

Guests who stay at non-Disney hotels will receive a card with RFI capability to enter the park and to use FastPass+ as well as the touch-to-pay system. These guests can participate in My Disney Experience and should they wish they could purchase the MagicBand. Prices were not announced as of today.

To sum it up: guests will not be required to use MyMagic+, but they will have to if they want to take advantage of FASTPASS+, however the current FASTPASS will still be available to guests who do not use FASTPASS+.

Guests do not have to wear a bracelet and should they choose to do so – fashion obliges after all- they do not have to empower the Magicband with data or capabilities they don’t feel comfortable with.

However, if you fully use MyMagic+, Disney itself will be watching your do’s and don’ts, allowing them to refine their offerings and marketing, so watch my regular Disney column here at TravelMole for updates.

–Liliane Opsomer, special Disney correspondent to TravelMole US/North America

Liliane Opsomer is the co-author (with Bob Sehlinger) of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World with Kids 2013  (Wiley)

Disney phone app, photo Liliane Opsomer