Know what you’re missing
For most planning tools offered on the mobile app, there is an equal in park alternative. If you do not make FastPass selections before you arrive in the park, you can visit a kiosk where a cast member will help you out. Need help changing a dining reservation? Head right to Guest Relations. Want to view your PhotoPass pictures? Each of the parks has PhotoPass cast members with photo viewing kiosks located in a shop near the park entrance.
The one major disadvantage you will have while foregoing extra technology is the lack of access to wait times for attractions. If you haven’t visited a Disney theme park since this information became available on a mobile app, you may not think anything of it, however it is in some sense a disadvantage because so many other guests will be able to adjust their touring plans based on wait times.
The best way to deal with this is to spend some time researching what the wait times are generally like during the time of year of your visit. You can also use general wait time trends (like how wait times are often shorter early in the morning and late at night) to plan your day. Even without using the app actively, many guests find the wait time feature to be one of the most useful features. This feature also allows guests to see when rides and shows are not operating, which is information that all cast members do not have access to.
While you shouldn’t plan on rides being down during your trip, it does happen and you may be the last one to know without the use of the app. A cast member may be able to tell you if a certain ride does not run in the rain, but in most cases they will not know if a ride that was down is back up.
But consider what you’re gaining too!
There is no doubt that the majority of guests are glued to their smart phones during Disney vacations. Whether they are updating their FastPass selections or Tweeting about their vacation, the vast majority of people in the parks are probably using either a smart phone or tablet. These devices may have some convenient planning features, and help pass the time waiting in line, but you may actually find that you’re gaining something more important by not bringing them.
Without constantly having to check on your smart phone, you’ll be experiencing every part of your trip first hand, and in the moment. You’ll never miss out on the best parts of a show because you’re only experiencing it from behind a screen, and you’ll be able to fully take in the sights and sounds around you without notifications from the “real world” to distract you.
Sure, you may feel like you’re at a disadvantage in some ways but if you’re not comfortable planning a vacation on a mobile device a Disney vacation might not be the best time to learn. If you need assistance with any part of your trip, you will always be able to ask cast members who are happy to help. You may need to do some extra planning from home, but your trip will be just as fun and memorable as if you planned it on the go.
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