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wogwog , I completely understand what you're saying. We love our iDevices in our home but we're not the all-fired networked bunch it seems the rest of the world is. My youngest has a Facebook account but he's not very absorbed by it. The rest of us don't go there. A lot of what you described is what I see as a people problem. Each generation is seen as the downfall of society for one reason or another. The current generation is the head-up-the-tush or -in-the-phone bunch. Nobody communicates. They text or whatever. Hubby went off on a tirade about it 2 days ago. We don't bother going to movies anymore because it can't be done without visual interruption from glowing phones. People in general seem to lack the ability to see outside of themselves and be aware of the impact of their actions upon others. Its courtesy. Or common sense. Sadly, these appear to be diminishing qualities that I, personally, sorely miss.
People walking into people because their faces are in their iDevices. Kinda like when I'm driving and need to interface with the GPS in my car. I pull over. People needing to interface with their iDevice should also pull over out of the way. But this is common sense stuff again. Right? I mean, on a vessel as massive as Allure I know I'm gonna be lost and need those deck plans. Instead of running around trying to find one I'm happy to know I'll have my interactive map to help me find my way. I'll be pulled over out of the way searching, tho. Trust me!
Its no secret I've been resistant and not fond of this whole MM+ thing in the parks. I, too, feel like there was nothing so difficult about the key cards that we needed a bracelet. I feel like the $$ spent on all this is: A. Way too much & B. Could've been utilized better on other more pressing needs. I've been on team what-the-eff on this one since day 1. Then there's the possibilities of just how far (uncomfortably far) Disney can go with the tracking and data mining. Creepy. No matter how many reasons I come up with to disagree and dislike it, MM+ is happening. Make no mistake. It's here, it'll continue to expand in its implementation, and it's not going away. Much like family, I love Disney but I don't have to like everything they do. Right? I'm in no hurry to go try out the new system. I'm happy enough to sit back & observe from afar as they work out the kinks. It'll take time. Doesn't make it any prettier at this moment with all the hiccups & issues with the system. I can't imagine anything of this scope & scale rolling out perfectly for anyone. Could it have gone better than it has? Prob'ly but, again, it is what it is. I can think of tons of examples of huge undertakings where you get so deep there's no other option but to buck-up and soldier on, obstacles be damned. Right?
Totally not sympathetic or making Disney's excuses. I think I've become resolved. It is what it is. They're gonna do what they want & there is NOTHING I can do about that. I haven't been to the 4 parks in 2 years. No plans to do so in the foreseeable future. I'm done being flustered or irritated. No sense in it.
Now, what the Fantasy app did show me is that there are some aspects of the MM+ thing that do have their value. As regulars to the ships a lot of stuff takes no real thought. I know a lot walking onto the ship already. Same with the parks. We, as the voracious fans, walk into the parks already knowing a lot of ins & outs. We know so much that explaining things to a first timer can easily fill a whole day & night and scare them right out of their skin. LOL! Disney is finding ways to make pertinent info available to the masses in a way that the masses will receive it effectively. Is everything in these parks/ships apps super useful for me? No. But it's not just about me. Better to get too much info available than too little. The average guest needs the crazy info. Now it's being delivered to them in a format that streamlines it. I can tell you the Fantasy app delivered all the info contained in 7 multi-page printed handouts + more. The menus are not in the Navigators. Neither are deck plans. The deck plans are a great, super useful addition! How many guests do you help get where they need to be? We do it often.
Having used the Fantasy app has opened my eyes to the value in an app for parks info. Being a first time cruiser on a different cruise line on the largest cruise ship in the world next month has really opened my eyes to the apprehension people who don't know the ins & outs the way we do feel. Additionally, this IS the direction the industries will be going. Better to know it and know my options than not.
I get all the reasons you dread yet another iDevice brain-sucker. Trust me, I do! The device use doesn't cause the people issue as much as the head-planted-in-the-tush people do. The apps themselves are incredible tools. Maybe with some effort on Disney's part to create awareness of space & situation so people will think to pull over to interface would help. Think of texting while driving. Early on there was no automatic awareness of the danger of texting while driving. Everyone did it. Now? Different story.
I've tried to turn over a new leaf and put more effort in finding the positives in all things. It takes more effort but the things I dislike are most important. I need to focus on positives and live in that energy. Where MM+ previously turned my stomach and I rejected it on every level, I'm trying to clear my mind, be open, and consider the facets from a space of non-bias from my previous negative feelings. It's not entirely easy but I will say overall its rather liberating.
