VWL Groupies & Lovers Thread (Special Collectors Edition 2.0) updated 21 June 2023

[DVC Jen]

It has a DROP CEILING. Unacceptable. Looks like my basement.

it does look like a basement

 

[ottawagreg]

Just saw this on the web.

New Digital Key Feature Coming Soon to My Disney Experience App

by Thomas Smith, Editorial Content Director, Disney Parks

At Walt Disney World Resort, we are always looking for ways to wow our guests with new technology that enhances their experience. The My Disney Experience app is a perfect example, with recently introduced features like mobile order and online check-in that are providing families and friends with additional choices to make their vacation even more enjoyable and convenient. Today, we are unveiling another exciting app feature: a digital key.

Coming soon to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a new feature in the My Disney Experience app will allow guests to quickly unlock their hotel room using a digital key on their mobile devices, providing them with another seamless room entry option that brings added ease and flexibility to their experience.

Guests can also use their digital key to unlock the hotel entrance gate and common area doors requiring a key, which may include pools, fitness centers, elevators and club level lounges. Arriving travel parties that have checked in online may even use their digital key to bypass the need to visit the front desk, giving them the opportunity to go directly to their room when it is ready and start their vacation even faster.

The feature represents the latest evolution of keyless room entry, which we began offering with the MagicBand, the unique all-in-one device that effortlessly connects the vacation choices guests make in My Disney Experience. Guests may use either or both options to enter their room during their stay.

So how does it work? To use their digital key, guests can opt in and activate the feature on their check-in day through a brief set up process in the app. To enter their room, guests tap the “Unlock Door” button and then simply hold their phone against the door lock. Check out the video below to see a sneak peek of the feature in action.

 

[ottawagreg]

Sleepy That pic is actually taken in a room next to Tortugas Tavern, near the restrooms, close to one of The Sorcerors Game locations

Its snowing here, I wanna go back to FL

I recognized it from sorcerers game. My daughter plays. I carry notebook with cards. I looks like a decent place to grab a bite. Have you dined there? Worthwhile? We are inside of 90 days. Things are looking up!

 

[twinklebug]

New Digital Key Feature Coming Soon to My Disney Experience App
by Thomas Smith, Editorial Content Director, Disney Parks

At Walt Disney World Resort, we are always looking for ways to wow our guests with new technology that enhances their experience. The My Disney Experience app is a perfect example, with recently introduced features like mobile order and online check-in that are providing families and friends with additional choices to make their vacation even more enjoyable and convenient. Today, we are unveiling another exciting app feature: a digital key.

Coming soon to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a new feature in the My Disney Experience app will allow guests to quickly unlock their hotel room using a digital key on their mobile devices, providing them with another seamless room entry option that brings added ease and flexibility to their experience.

Guests can also use their digital key to unlock the hotel entrance gate and common area doors requiring a key, which may include pools, fitness centers, elevators and club level lounges. Arriving travel parties that have checked in online may even use their digital key to bypass the need to visit the front desk, giving them the opportunity to go directly to their room when it is ready and start their vacation even faster.

The feature represents the latest evolution of keyless room entry, which we began offering with the MagicBand, the unique all-in-one device that effortlessly connects the vacation choices guests make in My Disney Experience. Guests may use either or both options to enter their room during their stay.

So how does it work? To use their digital key, guests can opt in and activate the feature on their check-in day through a brief set up process in the app. To enter their room, guests tap the “Unlock Door” button and then simply hold their phone against the door lock. Check out the video below to see a sneak peek of the feature in action.

You don't want to know the number of times I forget and leave my phone behind when I go out, be it on vacation or not. I'll take a pink magicband please.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

So how does it work? To use their digital key, guests can opt in and activate the feature on their check-in day through a brief set up process in the app. To enter their room, guests tap the “Unlock Door” button and then simply hold their phone against the door lock. Check out the video below to see a sneak peek of the feature in action.

Oh yeah, that sounds easier than using a MB.

You don't want to know the number of times I forget and leave my phone behind when I go out, be it on vacation or not. I'll take a pink magicband please.

MB for me too!

Active the feature, tap unlock, hold the phone up against the lock - yikes!

 

[rkstocke5609]

Just saw this on the web.

New Digital Key Feature Coming Soon to My Disney Experience App

by Thomas Smith, Editorial Content Director, Disney Parks

At Walt Disney World Resort, we are always looking for ways to wow our guests with new technology that enhances their experience. The My Disney Experience app is a perfect example, with recently introduced features like mobile order and online check-in that are providing families and friends with additional choices to make their vacation even more enjoyable and convenient. Today, we are unveiling another exciting app feature: a digital key.

Coming soon to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, a new feature in the My Disney Experience app will allow guests to quickly unlock their hotel room using a digital key on their mobile devices, providing them with another seamless room entry option that brings added ease and flexibility to their experience.

Guests can also use their digital key to unlock the hotel entrance gate and common area doors requiring a key, which may include pools, fitness centers, elevators and club level lounges. Arriving travel parties that have checked in online may even use their digital key to bypass the need to visit the front desk, giving them the opportunity to go directly to their room when it is ready and start their vacation even faster.

The feature represents the latest evolution of keyless room entry, which we began offering with the MagicBand, the unique all-in-one device that effortlessly connects the vacation choices guests make in My Disney Experience. Guests may use either or both options to enter their room during their stay.

So how does it work? To use their digital key, guests can opt in and activate the feature on their check-in day through a brief set up process in the app. To enter their room, guests tap the “Unlock Door” button and then simply hold their phone against the door lock. Check out the video below to see a sneak peek of the feature in action.

Another choice is fine, I think it could save on those nasty trips back to the lobby when magic bands fail to open the door to your villa...but I prefer the MB also. I NEVER take my phone to the pool area.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Another choice is fine, I think it could save on those nasty trips back to the lobby when magic bands fail to open the door to your villa...but I prefer the MB also. I NEVER take my phone to the pool area.

The MB accesses your MDE account information and I'd expect that your phone will be doing the same thing so I'd expect trips to the front desk regardless.

 

[rkstocke5609]

So, a quick wrap up. Sunday, my dad (83) came up from Fort Myers. We gave him a tour of the Wilderness Lodge property and then introduced him to Blizzard Beach - he said it would be too cold but we insisted, as I refused to take him to a park based on the crowds and the fact that it would cost twice as much and the long lines, etc. He had an awesome time. He loved the family raft ride from the top of mount gushmore, lazy river, & really liked the wave pool (he had never seen one). Had to chase him out of there to make it to Morimoto (he loved that too..)

Today, we did a few FP’s at Studios, DD did RRC for first and loved it. Then pool time, then California Grill for dinner (pictures to follow). Fireworks from the catwalks atop Contemporary complimentary with our dinner receipt.

Tomorrow we will enjoy a few MK FP’s and pool time before loading onto the ME at 4:40 pm for the sad journey back to the Minnesota snow. It was 45 when we left, and of course I only wore shorts assuming Spring was surely arrived. Add to that we were at the top of the ramp at the airport which means the car got snowed on like 3 or 4 times while we were gone. It could be ugly..

 

[rkstocke5609]

The MB accesses your MDE account information and I'd expect that your phone will be doing the same thing so I'd expect trips to the front desk regardless.

Well, in that case pretty useless in my mind..

 

[TCRAIG]

So, a quick wrap up. Sunday, my dad (83) came up from Fort Myers. We gave him a tour of the Wilderness Lodge property and then introduced him to Blizzard Beach - he said it would be too cold but we insisted, as I refused to take him to a park based on the crowds and the fact that it would cost twice as much and the long lines, etc. He had an awesome time. He loved the family raft ride from the top of mount gushmore, lazy river, & really liked the wave pool (he had never seen one). Had to chase him out of there to make it to Morimoto (he loved that too..)

Today, we did a few FP’s at Studios, DD did RRC for first and loved it. Then pool time, then California Grill for dinner (pictures to follow). Fireworks from the catwalks atop Contemporary complimentary with our dinner receipt.

Tomorrow we will enjoy a few MK FP’s and pool time before loading onto the ME at 4:40 pm for the sad journey back to the Minnesota snow. It was 45 when we left, and of course I only wore shorts assuming Spring was surely arrived. Add to that we were at the top of the ramp at the airport which means the car got snowed on like 3 or 4 times while we were gone. It could be ugly..

View attachment 313555 View attachment 313553 View attachment 313554 View attachment 313556

Beautiful Pictures - thanks for posting!

 

[jimmytammy]

Great pics Ron!! Very cool that you brought your Dad, wish I could get my folks to travel with us to WDW these days. My Dad is is 86 now and though he still works everyday(not because he has to, because he wants too)and mom is 78, its harder for them to go off long distances.

When I first saw the post yesterday about the phones opening doors, my initial reaction is "why"? MB is doong the trick and who wants to have to keep up with their phone around the pool

 

[rkstocke5609]

Great pics Ron!! Very cool that you brought your Dad, wish I could get my folks to travel with us to WDW these days. My Dad is is 86 now and though he still works everyday(not because he has to, because he wants too)and mom is 78, its harder for them to go off long distances.

When I first saw the post yesterday about the phones opening doors, my initial reaction is "why"? MB is doong the trick and who wants to have to keep up with their phone around the pool

Ya know, it may be that this “added benefit” will just open the door for charging for the magic bands that we have been getting for free since the inception of the program/technology. This actually makes sense to me because it solves the problem of wearing them for those that hate them and opens another revenue stream — the mouse is probably more excited than we are...

 

[sleepydog25]

Ya know, it may be that this “added benefit” will just open the door for charging for the magic bands that we have been getting for free since the inception of the program/technology. This actually makes sense to me because it solves the problem of wearing them for those that hate them and opens another revenue stream — the mouse is probably more excited than we are...

This. My wife essentially said the same thing. She surmises that phones will take the place of MBs, and that doing so will then enable Disney to charge for MBs across the board for those who insist on using them or who don't want to use their phones. It's the next logical revenue increasing step for the company who now charges to park at their resorts. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the currently free app incurs a fee down the road. I mean, if you have to use your phone, why not charge for it? Let's see, $3.99 for the app versus, say, $19.99 for an MB. The clear winner would be the app. Captive audience.

 

[rkstocke5609]

This. My wife essentially said the same thing. She surmises that phones will take the place of MBs, and that doing so will then enable Disney to charge for MBs across the board for those who insist on using them or who don't want to use their phones. It's the next logical revenue increasing step for the company who now charges to park at their resorts. I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the currently free app incurs a fee down the road. I mean, if you have to use your phone, why not charge for it? Let's see, $3.99 for the app versus, say, $19.99 for an MB. The clear winner would be the app. Captive audience.

Then we’ll need Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, & T-Mobile stores at Disney Springs to replace phones that get stolen poolside (or wherever..)

 

[DenLo]

I keep thinking how easy it is to use the MB on my arm versus trying to get my phone out when my arms full of packages or luggage. Also there have been reports that other hotels that use an app to open the door don't work most of the time.

 

[pineapplepalms]

I think it could be nice to have the digital key as an additional option, although I hope they don't get rid of MBs. The digital key would be especially nice at VGC since they don't have MBs. There have definitely been a couple of times where DH has locked the car keys inside the car, but luckily we were able to unlock it using the app on my phone.

 

[rkstocke5609]

AP’s do matter....

 

[Granny]

So, a quick wrap up. Sunday, my dad (83) came up from Fort Myers. We gave him a tour of the Wilderness Lodge property and then introduced him to Blizzard Beach - he said it would be too cold but we insisted, as I refused to take him to a park based on the crowds and the fact that it would cost twice as much and the long lines, etc. He had an awesome time. He loved the family raft ride from the top of mount gushmore, lazy river, & really liked the wave pool (he had never seen one). Had to chase him out of there to make it to Morimoto (he loved that too..)

Today, we did a few FP’s at Studios, DD did RRC for first and loved it. Then pool time, then California Grill for dinner (pictures to follow). Fireworks from the catwalks atop Contemporary complimentary with our dinner receipt.

Tomorrow we will enjoy a few MK FP’s and pool time before loading onto the ME at 4:40 pm for the sad journey back to the Minnesota snow. It was 45 when we left, and of course I only wore shorts assuming Spring was surely arrived. Add to that we were at the top of the ramp at the airport which means the car got snowed on like 3 or 4 times while we were gone. It could be ugly..

Ron...I've really enjoyed your "real time trip report" along with all the pictures. It has been fun to read your observations of this trip. While I know the parks were packed, it was great to hear how you just went with the flow and adjusted accordingly. And having your Dad join you for Easter had to be a lot of fun. I'm thinking of an 83 year old on Rock n Roller Coaster...wow! It sounds like a full day with him, capped off by a great meal and fireworks. We appreciate you taking the time to post so many pictures and share your trip while we meander through the last throngs of winter! Thank you.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I read a rumor (just a rumor) that once Toy Story Land opens at DHS that the rides in that land - Slinky Dog, Toy Story Mania and the Alien Swirling Saucers will be the Tier 1 attractions there and all others will be Tier 2 including RnR. Works for us!

 

[rkstocke5609]