Some exciting changes are hitting Disney World right now.
The 100th anniversary celebration has begun, there’s a new ride in Magic Kingdom, and Happily Ever After has returned! But some of the things going on in Disney World are not all that pleasant. We still don’t have everything back since the COVID-19 closures, and technology that is supposed to make our lives easier — actually makes us want to tear our hair out sometimes. So, we’re taking a look at some of the biggest things that just aren’t working in Disney World right now.
1. Disney MagicMobile
Disney MagicMobile was introduced in 2021 as a digital “pass” that guests could add to the My Disney Experience app. You could then add this to your device’s digital wallet, which eliminated the need to purchase a MagicBand or use a physical card at most places those were used.
You could use your phone or Apple Watch to tap into the parks, pay for purchases using access points in stores and restaurants, tap in at Lighting Lane kiosks, scan into your Disney World hotel room, and link ride photos to your Disney account.
But, this service can be glitchy. As long as you have activated the photo service and enabled Bluetooth on your phone, you should see your ride photos show up in your My Disney Experience app automatically! Unfortunately, this is not the most reliable technology.
Many visitors rarely get their ride photos sent to the app. Some attractions have a photo viewing area at the end of the ride where you can scan your device to make sure the photos link, but many of the newer rides, like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, don’t have this option.
If your ride photos are missing, you do have the option to talk to a Cast Member or call the Disney PhotoPass Guest Support Team at (407) 560-4300. They can usually help track down your photos if you know approximately when you rode the ride. But, this is supposed to be a more convenient way to get your photos!
At Disney Resort hotels, this service is also quite glitchy. Using Direct-to-Room service is a convenient way to check in to your hotel. Theoretically, you should be able to check in on your phone, get notified when your room is ready, and head straight to your room — using your device to unlock your door.
However, this service tends not to be as functional as you would hope. Getting to your room with all of your luggage and being stuck outside your door can be a huge hassle — especially when the front desk is a long walk away.
2. My Disney Experience
The My Disney Experience app itself is also no stranger to glitches. This app allows you to Mobile Order food, make Advanced Dining Reservations, purchase and use Genie+, and much more. But it’s not always the most reliable app.
One of the convenient ways you can use this app is by Mobile Ordering food. Simply select a time frame you’d like to eat, order and pay for your food, then tell the app when you arrive so that they can prepare your order. When it’s ready, you’ll get a notification and you can head to the counter for your meal.
Unfortunately, the screen that shows the confirmation that it’s ready and which window to head to doesn’t always pop up correctly. This can be a hassle because you need this screen to be able to head to the window in a lot of locations.
You can find this screen by heading to the menu screen and selecting “Mobile Food Orders,” but again, this is supposed to be convenient, and it doesn’t always work as it should.
You also have the option to Mobile Checkout inside some Disney stores. When you are in participating locations, just start a Merchandise Mobile Checkout order in the app, scan the items you wish to buy, pay, then head to the Cast Member at the store exit to show them your receipt.
However, the location services don’t always work! Theoretically, the app will be able to tell you’re in a specific store and suggest it to you. But sometimes you can be inside said store and it thinks you are too far away!
The Car Locator service has a similar problem occasionally. When you try to have the app note where you parked, it should be able to make some suggestions based on where you are.
But, sometimes it thinks you’re not even in the parking lot when you pull it up. You can always add your location manually, but the location services in the My Disney Experience app tend to have some trouble sometimes.
3. No Mobile Ordering in Starbucks Locations
Speaking of Mobile Ordering, some of the most popular quick service locations don’t even use it.
There are a few Starbucks locations inside the parks that usually stay pretty busy: Main Street Bakery in Magic Kingdom, The Trolley Car Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Connections Cafe in EPCOT, and Creature Comforts in Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Even though outside of the parks, many Starbucks locations have Mobile Ordering, these four are some of the only quick service locations in the parks that don’t have Mobile Ordering. This means traditional standby lines — which can be long.
A lot of people head to Main Street Bakery in the morning for a sweet treat and a pick-me-up coffee. Without Mobile Ordering, that’s a lot of time to waste when you could be getting on rides!
4. Transportation
One issue many people have with Disney World is how transportation has changed. Since the closures of 2020, we have seen the return of some trams — but they are still missing from EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
These parking lots might not be as big as the one at the Transportation and Ticket Center, but after a long day of walking around in the hot Florida sun, their absence is very noticeable.
And don’t forget we no longer have Disney’s Magical Express. This was a free service that took Disney Resort hotel guests to and from the Orlando International Airport — but it ended in January 2022.
There are still ways to get from the airport, including Mears Connect and Sunshine Flyer. These are paid services, however, so many have an issue with this change and want the old service back.
5. Merchandise Delivery
Lastly, Disney Resort guests have yet another gripe with something that is no longer available. Previously, guests had the option to have an in-park purchase either taken to the front of the park and held until the end of the day or transported back to their Disney World Resort hotel.
Unfortunately, this was paused after the 2020 closures and neither has returned yet. Cast Members are able to ship an item back home for you, but for a fee. This is fully insured, so if an item breaks they will replace it for free. However, many miss the old free service that was offered.
Disney has a lot to offer, and we still think heading to the parks is worth it. But, there are a few things that have some room to grow. Which part of the Disney World experience do you wish would improve? Let us know in the comments!
We’ll continue bringing you all the latest from Disney World, so stay tuned to AllEars for more!
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Have you encounted any of these problems in Disney World recently? Let us know in the comments below!
I miss package delivery. In fact, I’m less likely to purchase items in the parks because it’s no longer offered, unless it’s small to fit in a backpack or I’m going to wear it in park. I just DO NOT want to lug around a bag of mercy all day
Regarding transportation, the boats on Seven Seas Lagoon that sailed directly between the hotels on that lagoon (Contemporary, Wilderness Lodge & Fort Wilderness) is still not operating. Also, even though the Cake Bake Shop is coming, I miss the Afternoon Tea service at the Grand Floridian. I hope they don’t repurpose the Garden View Tea Room. It was a perfect, elegant and tranquil way to have a respite from the heat & crowds at the parks. I suspect the Cake Bake Shop’s afternoon tea service will have a bit more crowds & bustle than the Garden View did.