News Round Up 2019

[The Pho]

Yes it will be shorter and the bridge is being removed so it will be a flat track now.

I wonder if they can figure out a way to load/unload guests in a more timely manner? The wait seems to happen there as it's pretty common for cars that have gone around the course to be lined up waiting to unload. I can see a shorter course only adding to the congestion at the end of the ride.

It’s being designed that way so all those future drivers can really experience traffic in it’s full glory!

 

[scrappinginontario]

It’s being designed that way so all those future drivers can really experience traffic in it’s full glory!

My 9yo was able to drive her own car our last trip. She got off and exclaimed, 'Wow! Driving is a lot harder than I thought!!'

 

[dina444444]

My 9yo was able to drive her own car our last trip. She got off and exclaimed, 'Wow! Driving is a lot harder than I thought!!'

I think driving the speedway/autopia cars is way harder than a regular car lol my ankle is usually screaming at me after riding because of the resistance pushback the gas pedal gives.

 

[Tigger's ally]

It’s being designed that way so all those future drivers can really experience traffic in it’s full glory!

They're moving it to Atlanta?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I think driving the speedway/autopia cars is way harder than a regular car lol my ankle is usually screaming at me after riding because of the resistance pushback the gas pedal gives.

Oh yes! It's still good to keep her on her toes though as she thinks that's how hard I'm working when I drive.

 

[JaxDad]

It’s being designed that way so all those future drivers can really experience traffic in it’s full glory!

Only if they are also texting and eating a burger.

 

[tlmadden73]

Yes it will be shorter and the bridge is being removed so it will be a flat track now.

I wonder if they can figure out a way to load/unload guests in a more timely manner? The wait seems to happen there as it's pretty common for cars that have gone around the course to be lined up waiting to unload. I can see a shorter course only adding to the congestion at the end of the ride.

I see a shorter track just making it more congested and longer wait times as well. With less cars on the track at one time, doesn't that reduce its capacity? Really not sure why they just don't keep it shut down and replace it with something else .. it's not like there isn't precedent for shutting down attractions with no immediate replacement in mind (Stitch, Wonders of Life Pavilion, etc.)

 

[sachilles]

I see a shorter track just making it more congested and longer wait times as well. With less cars on the track at one time, doesn't that reduce its capacity? Really not sure why they just don't keep it shut down and replace it with something else .. it's not like there isn't precedent for shutting down attractions with no immediate replacement in mind (Stitch, Wonders of Life Pavilion, etc.)

I'm sure "seasonal operation" is just around the corner.

 

[Katrina Y]

Not sure when you read the article and noticed there is an update. The boldes part at the end is mine as it addresses your concern

“UPDATE: The authorization hold placed on the guest’s credit card on file will be any remainder due on the reservation plus an extra $100 for incidental expenses. In the event that room and/or MagicBand charges exceed the original $100 hold, supplemental holds will be added to the card on file automatically. Authorizations on the guest’s credit card will not exceed the current balance due plus the $100 incremental charges.”

Will they reimburse the $100, if there weren’t any accidents?

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Will they reimburse the $100, if there weren’t any accidents?

not sure what you mean by accident, but it should just be a hold, not really a full charge that needs reimbursing. it's just they have that temporary hold on your credit card of that amount until they determine the final cost and then that amount gets permanently charged to your card. I don't know the exact timing of a hold being "un held" but I think for credit cards it is pretty quick (longer for debit cards)

 

[sachilles]

The big issue is with a debit card, it is holding your actual cash. On a credit card, it's just your credit line.
A hold will be cleared with a charge using the authorization code.

Long story short, this will cause some teething issues for guests that prefer their Debit card instead of a credit card.
Credit card users won't notice this change.

It only really becomes an issue if someone uses a debit card at check in, but intends to use a different card at check out. The authorization won't clear, then it will hold the funds on the debit card up to 30 days(as of 5 years ago that was the case, i'm out of the biz now) and 60 days for canadian debit cards. It's a complete pain in the keester if you happen to be working in the hotel/resorts accounting department and have to deal with it. Less of problem with small community banks, but a huge pain with big banks like chase etc.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

The big issue is with a debit card, it is holding your actual cash. On a credit card, it's just your credit line.
A hold will be cleared with a charge using the authorization code.

Long story short, this will cause some teething issues for guests that prefer their Debit card instead of a credit card.
Credit card users won't notice this change.

It only really becomes an issue if someone uses a debit card at check in, but intends to use a different card at check out. The authorization won't clear, then it will hold the funds on the debit card up to 30 days(as of 5 years ago that was the case, i'm out of the biz now) and 60 days for canadian debit cards. It's a complete pain in the keester if you happen to be working in the hotel/resorts accounting department and have to deal with it. Less of problem with small community banks, but a huge pain with big banks like chase etc.

Thanks for explaining it better than I!

I suppose it could also be an issue for people that use a CC with a low limit as this could result in them hitting it via the hold that they weren't expecting

 

[Katrina Y]

not sure what you mean by accident, but it should just be a hold, not really a full charge that needs reimbursing. it's just they have that temporary hold on your credit card of that amount until they determine the final cost and then that amount gets permanently charged to your card. I don't know the exact timing of a hold being "un held" but I think for credit cards it is pretty quick (longer for debit cards)

Thank you! I was concerned it would be like a fee for incidentals.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

The big issue is with a debit card, it is holding your actual cash. On a credit card, it's just your credit line.
A hold will be cleared with a charge using the authorization code.

Long story short, this will cause some teething issues for guests that prefer their Debit card instead of a credit card.
Credit card users won't notice this change.

It only really becomes an issue if someone uses a debit card at check in, but intends to use a different card at check out. The authorization won't clear, then it will hold the funds on the debit card up to 30 days(as of 5 years ago that was the case, i'm out of the biz now) and 60 days for canadian debit cards. It's a complete pain in the keester if you happen to be working in the hotel/resorts accounting department and have to deal with it. Less of problem with small community banks, but a huge pain with big banks like chase etc.

But I can't see how this is any different than paying with a debit card at the gas station for instance that can put a hold on your card.

IDK, if I only had $100 in my bank account (whichever bank account I was using) I probably wouldn't be the type to do that at WDW.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Thanks for explaining it better than I!

I suppose it could also be an issue for people that use a CC with a low limit as this could result in them hitting it via the hold that they weren't expecting

It's $100 though. When I first got a CC at age 18 (like a month after I turned 18) I had like a $1,500 limit. I would not have used that CC at WDW. In the grand scheme of WDW let alone a vacation $100 isn't an astronomical amount.

 

[rteetz]

But I can't see how this is any different than paying with a debit card at the gas station for instance that can put a hold on your card.

IDK, if I only had $100 in my bank account (whichever bank account I was using) I probably wouldn't be the type to do that at WDW.

This is also pretty common in the hotel industry so Disney is just lining it up with everyone else.

 

[rteetz]

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[rteetz]

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[rteetz]

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EA Scraps Open-World Star Wars Game for Smaller Project

 

[sachilles]

But I can't see how this is any different than paying with a debit card at the gas station for instance that can put a hold on your card.

IDK, if I only had $100 in my bank account (whichever bank account I was using) I probably wouldn't be the type to do that at WDW.

The difference is how the authorizations clear.
Gas station authorizes $75. you pump $53 in gas, system uses the $75 auth to clear the $53 charge same day.
Hotels, the auth can last several days, because the auth is a check in. The auth clears on check out, usually after midnight on the day of check out.

An authorization is like a reservation for your money. The auth at gas pumps, hotels and few other instances like rental cars, is usually higher than the anticipated charge. That often causes a problem for people who think a debit card is just like a credit card.