Spirited News and Observations and Opinions ...

[Belowthesurface]

Welcome. Please enjoy your stay and keep your shoes off the furniture.

Oh, and The Mom's pies are out of this world.

Spirit,

You've influenced me to post. You've also met me before

 

[WDW1974]

Gee, it's not like there are any conspiracy-minded *cough* Spirits anywhere around here...

Anyone who would question giving a second or third look to protecting children ... I'd question their motives frankly.

Why so eager to defend Disney at all costs, Monty?

Oh, and this isn't a conspiracy (but nice shot to reject the entire subject), this is something that Disney is quite proud of (just don't look behind the curtain).

 

[Belowthesurface]

Disney doesn't owe you anything. They've come up with a program that they believe enhances the guest experience. If you choose to opt out because you don't "like" it, too bad. It's the same as those who bemoan the loss of Horizons, if you don't like it being gone that may very well leave you with a less enjoyable experience... Oh well.

This is not done to enhance anything except the REVENUE at any cost. If you think this was done with Guests in mind... oh brother. Don't give me the "this is a business... blah blah blah" line.

I mourn the loss of Horizons because it was left to rot on PURPOSE and represented more than just an attraction.

For the folks who drop serious $$ at Disney, this company does owe them something.

 

[steve2wdw]

this is something that Disney is quite proud of (just don't look behind the curtain).

Yeah....you might find James Franco (the one person I don't like in the Oz trailers).

 

[Darth Sidious]

I found one!

But seriously...I don't see a conspiracy.
I see a legit inquiry being made, and Disney being handed a PR nightmare.

There is some THERMITE PAINT on those bracelets!

 

[WDW1974]

Something YOU made up?

Just checking to see if you were awake, Lee ... just checking!

 

[donaldtoo]

Would a new show at DHS be to big of an announcement?

I heard a rumor they were gonna' announce replacing the Big A$$ Hat with a Big A$$ Shoe.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

I heard a rumor they were gonna' announce replacing the Big A$$ Hat with a Big A$$ Shoe.

 

[WDW1974]

Reading the letter I see a Congressman that got all fired up over a massive amount of unfounded conjecture in a newspaper article firing off a ranting series of questions that have for the most part been addressed in a few lines by Disney. I expect they'll have lawyers draw up a formal response and the kerfuffle will fade from memory...

The only earthshattering news will be that guests who opt out will not get the enhanced experience that comes with opting in.

Monty, you saw what you wanted to see. You never opt to look at Disney with anything in the way of a critcal eye because you are addicted to the place.

I am quite sure that most folks saw considerably more than you did. ... And most folks are smart enough to understand that a few PR lines (lies?) that a corporation tosses out in no way answers what the Congressman asked.

But your World view doesn't have room for an option where Disney does vile things for profit. Doesn't matter whether I see it and ask questions or others here or respected journalists or even respected Congressmen ... what matters is that you love WDW and can't possibly leave open the possibility that its leadership works in ways that can be repugnant to some of us.

Like I've said before, Pixie Dust is a strong force.

 

[WDW1974]

PR wise...the damage is done. Regardless of the answers Disney gives. They're on the defensive now.

And I'm not worried about not getting the "enhanced experience" if I opt out. I'm worried of getting less than I get now.

No one from TWDC has yet explained how anyone will opt out, Numero Dos.
They only speak of opting in because in reality that's what everyone will have to do. Imagine a $7.75 an hour CM at a ticket booth with a line of 25 people trying to explain to people from another country (like Tennessee ... or Brazil) how RFID tech works and what MyMagic+ is ... just think of this logistically because the only reason Disney is saying this is an 'opt in' program is due to certain leaked info and the concern of legal action, which got a whole lot closer today.

Of course, this is a company that still doesn't have a straight answer as to what Lou Mongello's employment status is (apologies to Wannabe Lou) or why Jeff Lange is allowed to steal and sell Disney IP.

 

[asianway]

This boondoggle is a case study in why you need to include operations in these types of initiatives

 

[WDW1974]

Would a new show at DHS be to big of an announcement?

Permanent show? Likely ... but it depends ... Disney isn't having a great week (well, beyond the stock price, which is the only thing that matters anyway)

 

[Californian Elitist]

Like I've said before, Pixie Dust is a strong force.

And a seriously annoying one.

 

[WDW1974]

Spirit,

You've influenced me to post. You've also met me before

OK, the question is ... did I like you?

 

[asianway]

PR wise...the damage is done. Regardless of the answers Disney gives. They're on the defensive now.

And I'm not worried about not getting the "enhanced experience" if I opt out. I'm worried of getting less than I get now.

I figure the average WDW visitor has a 5th grade reading comprehension. We can argue this all year, but all Cletus is going to see is that Disney is spying on him with the magic bracelet

 

[Monty]

Anyone who would question giving a second or third look to protecting children ... I'd question their motives frankly.

Why so eager to defend Disney at all costs, Monty?

Oh, and this isn't a conspiracy (but nice shot to reject the entire subject), this is something that Disney is quite proud of (just don't look behind the curtain).

I don't see a need for a second or third look. You do.

I could equally ask "Why so eager to trash Disney at all cost, Spirit?", but you choose to be the way you are.

The fact is Disney is proud of it, I happen to think that overall it is something they should be proud of. They've stated that their privacy policy will be maintained and honoured, that parents need only give whatever info they see fit to give and that none of the data will be used to market to children. The 4th Amendment doesn't apply and there is no boogey man here...

 

[wdwfan4ver]

I was discussing this with a fellow MAGICal member earlier. I am pretty sure that Disney is going to 'announce' something next week. Nothing big ... nothing like mythical fifth gates, new EPCOT attractions, monorail expansion or the like.

I take it is something like a theme bathroom that has Robin Hood, The Black Hole, Winnie the pooh, or dumpo with Dumbo.

 

[steve2wdw]

Like I've said before, Pixie Dust is a strong force.

But it won't be long before a certain wand and company will be stronger.....

(and as a life long Disney fan, this worries me.)

 

[Lil Fort]

I think I wore out my like button finger getting caught up on this thread. I will be watching how all of this unfolds very closely before deciding whether to make my reservations for this coming fall. It was only a matter of time before MyMagic+ was vetted in the court of public opinion and I hope that it gets the attention and scrutiny that it deserves.

There have been a lot of analogies thrown around on this thread about how NextGen and MyMagic+ is like facebook, google or casino rewards programs. While all of those come close to representing parts of what Disney has planned (which boils down to datamining and providing rewards for what they consider good behavior) none of them comes close to representing the project as a whole.

If I were to compare NextGen and MyMagic+ to an existing product on the market, I would say that it most closely resembles the gadget that Progressive Insurance is peddling, which they claim will save you money on your car insurance if you let them monitor your driving habits. Both the Progressive gadget and the Disney MyMagicBand allow the respective companies to collect your personal information and reward you for 'good' behavior. Both look good on the surface. After all, who wouldn't want to save 30% on their car insurance or get discount coupons on Disney merchandise and extra fastpasses in the parks. But look a little deeper and things aren't quite so rosy. With every reward comes risk. What happens if your insurance company finds out that you blew through the stop sign at 40mph in a 30mph zone just before you got in an accident? Or on the same token, what happens if Disney decides that you didn't spend quite enough money to earn those extra fastpasses or the PIN code for your next trip? Granted, the risk of having your insurance rates skyrocket if your insurance company finds out you are a 'less than perfect' driver is a bit greater than the risk of having a 'less than magical' vacation. And yes, you can choose not to participate in either of these programs, but the carrots that they are dangling are enticing and hey... I've got nothing to hide (or do I???).

When I hear about cool gadgets like these, the question that I ask myself is whether these companies are doing this for my benefit, or for theirs... And of course that is a rhetorical question.

 

[scpergj]

You know, if you look closely at that letter while Brooks Barnes' story in the NY Times is used to frame the inquiry, much of the substance of what is in there comes directly from things we've discussed in this very thread. Also, to the doubters out there, have y'all noticed that nobody has challenged the sweeping scope of the technology being adapted for MyMagic+ (and we know there are lots of techies on this site who would love to deconstruct the Spirit and his sources, who forced Disney's hand in Nick Franklin's frazzled day of 'It's here, we're here, but we're not nearly ready'' rollout of MyMagic+).

You don't know the half of it there, man...

I do some interesting stuff in the tech world, and some EXTREMELY secure things. I'd LOVE to get my hands on documentation or even just a network diagram of how they are executing this. The database doesn't interest me quite as much - it's most likely quite simple...but the data warehouse? Oh, that I'd kill to see...