Just got back from a brief vacation at Disney and used the new Disney Arm Bands for everything. They open your room door, you can charge for food and even enter the Fast Pass + lane to get on rides quicker. Each person has their own band so the computer knows who you are and where you are when you use it. It also knows who spent the money and lists it on the bill at checkout.
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The most interesting feature is the way it works with the free MyDisneyExperience app on my iPhone. With the app you can link your arm band to your reservations and also your ticket for the parks. Then after everyone in your party is linked you can setup up the Fast Pass+ selections and the times for those Fast Pass+ rides. The app also has maps of the parks and with location service turned on, it will show you where you are at and also which direction you are pointing. I love
technology when it works and enhances your life.
But there are some bugs to work out. First, you are only allowed three Fast Pass+ rides per day and they have to be in the same park. If you like to park hop from park to park, then you have to pick the rides you want the most from one park and those get the fast passes for the day. I wish I could select a ride from different parks. I also wish it would automatically give me discounts. I have a season pass which gets me 10% discount on merchandise. But to get it I have to show my season pass card. They know I'm a season pass holder because they made me link it to the wrist band. So why do I have to show the card? Kind of defeats the purpose of having everything on my wrist! I suspect they don't want to do it because they will miss out on the profits from those that forget to use or bring their card with them.
Overall though I liked the wrist band and app. The app also allows you to change your ride selections and the times during the day for the Fast Pass+ rides. The app will show you wait times for rides and also where the characters are for kids to get autographs. Restrooms and restaurants also have a category so you can easily get a list of those on the app.
But there are some bugs to work out. First, you are only allowed three Fast Pass+ rides per day and they have to be in the same park. If you like to park hop from park to park, then you have to pick the rides you want the most from one park and those get the fast passes for the day. I wish I could select a ride from different parks. I also wish it would automatically give me discounts. I have a season pass which gets me 10% discount on merchandise. But to get it I have to show my season pass card. They know I'm a season pass holder because they made me link it to the wrist band. So why do I have to show the card? Kind of defeats the purpose of having everything on my wrist! I suspect they don't want to do it because they will miss out on the profits from those that forget to use or bring their card with them.
Overall though I liked the wrist band and app. The app also allows you to change your ride selections and the times during the day for the Fast Pass+ rides. The app will show you wait times for rides and also where the characters are for kids to get autographs. Restrooms and restaurants also have a category so you can easily get a list of those on the app.
So going to Disney World without your smart phone or technology on your wrist is quickly becoming a thing of the past. It took a little time to get used to the app and I'm sure they will improve it over time but I like it.
I got to keep the wrist band so maybe someday in the future I'll do a teardown and find out whats inside that technology on the wrist.
I got to keep the wrist band so maybe someday in the future I'll do a teardown and find out whats inside that technology on the wrist.
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