When recently interviewed by the Orlando Sentinel,  Tom Staggs said “MyMagic+ was really built to evolve. So while it’s fully rolled out in Walt Disney World, we’re still looking at ways we can add additional features … That fleshing out will continue for some time, maybe forever.”

Disney’s MagicBands

Disney’s MyMagic+ certainly has evolved since my first encounter with the program in late 2012. The app offered had some interesting uses, and they were only just beginning to test the new “FastPass+” system when my family arrived for our Thanksgiving 2012 vacation. We weren’t one of the lucky testers, but we knew it was coming. My last two trips have been greatly aided by MyMagic+, but not without some headaches.

The system consists of 4 different features to help guests plan and enjoy their Walt Disney World Resort vacation. These features include My Disney Experience (via the http://disneyworld.disney.go.com site), MagicBand (the wristbands that replace the former plastic keycards), FastPass+ (advanced reservation of park rides, attractions & shows) and the PhotoPass Memory Maker (photography services that are guests are able to download after their trip). Some of the additional features that Disney plans to roll out over the next year include transportation, shopping and expanding advance meal selection.

Personally, I’m most excited about the features regarding transportation. We have all had the struggling of figuring out how to get from one resort to another. Preliminary plans include allowing guests to receive notifications of transportation arrivals and departures, as well as viewing transportation route times, stations and stops and then choosing an option similarly to a FastPass. I enjoyed on my March 2014 trip the screens at Port Orleans that gave us a pretty good idea to when the next bus would arrive. Having that information available via text or on the app would help in the mad dash of “getting out the door” in the mornings!

Apparently the the MyMagic+ team is working on a feature that would allow you to not only purchase items, but schedule a time to pick the item up. I could see this if you knew your child was set on that plush Mickey that he saw in some other stroller. Rather than go store to store wasting valuable park time, you could search on your phone while waiting in line for the 7 Dwarfs Mine Train to purchase the item and then happily pick up the plush as you are heading out of the park after Wishes.

Be Our Guest is the first counter service restaurant to offer advance meal planning. Simply put, advance meal planning (AMP) means you order your meal before you ever get to the restaurant. Think of it as calling in an order togo, but instead of taking the food home or to work, you actually sit in the restaurant and enjoy the meal. My family was able to use this option on our last family trip and I loved just checking and sitting down. It saved us a lot of time! While my husband and I were pleased with our meal, my daughter on the other hand had changed her mind and was upset with the meal she picked. I did have the option to change the meal- but she didn’t realize until the food arrived that she no longer wanted the item. This option expanding to other Quick Service restaurants could really increase your time in the park- just think, no standing in line to order your meal Sunshine Seasons in EPCOT or ABC Commissary in Hollywood Studios! I’m not sure how they will roll this out, but I love the idea. Especially as my girls get older and a little more set in what they do and don’t want!

I believe that these changes could really benefit the guests that come to Walt Disney World. The savings in time these features bring will make the trip even MORE memorable because you aren’t stuck waiting in line or waiting.

What features do you see being the biggest advantage for your next Walt Disney World Resort trip?