In the Cards or a Stacked Deck?

[menamechris]

I would put my vote in for this being a short-lived experience. KP works so well in World Showcase because parents are LOOKING for things to do with their children. KP offers something extremely entertaining to young people who otherwise would be bored. There is no such problem in the Magic Kingdom. In fact, I would think the average child would be annoyed if their parents wanted them to do a scavenger hunt for hours instead of riding rides.

As far as gearing the experience to regular visitors - I think it will have steady players for a year or two. By that time, most eveyone who wants to play will have played - and I can't imagine too many people planning a day at the MK for the purpose of doing this. The novelty surely will wear off after one or two games...

 

[NoChesterHester]

I hope this is a huge hit. Huge.

I freely admit I am excited to try it on my next trip. That isn't why I'm hoping it succeeds however. My gaming days are long behind me and this just isn't that interesting to me.

- I hope it draws people out of line for rides and provides ever so small added capacity.

- I want to see this concept executed well. Really well. I think this is obviously 2.0 (after KP), but this sort of tech could add serious interactivity to the parks. Real next gen, not this card playing at a screen crap. Real interactivity like Kim Possible on a park wide every attraction type scale. All hidden. All waiting for the geeks to dive in.

 

[Nemo14]

Technology isn't bad. I am all for progress. However, when it comes to theme parks, the technology comes to the story, not the other way around. You don't say, "Here is this new, cutting edge mechanism we have, let's put it to use." You say, "We want to tell this story, but the best way to tell it doesn't exist using modern technology. Let's make it happen."

Technology for the sake of technology is not beneficial.

I think all of this emphasis on the technology platforms is an example of the industry as a whole being lazy. Instead of trying to create experiences that deal with the new dynamics, it is easier to just compete with the little games. I think that, in time, the luster will wear on these as well once people go through the variations and there is no longer anything new to experience.

I'm a teacher, and I see this in my field all the time. It's so much easier to teach a kid by handing him an I-pad and a couple of apps than to make them work for an actual education. Real "thinking skills" are being replaced with button-pushing skills, and we're producing a generation of students who couldn't survive without electronics. Pretty sad....

I don't see folks tweeting from their Doombuggies, do you? I have yet to see one person updating their FB status while inside Hogwart's at IOA, have you? I don't see people playing Angry Birds in the ToT queue at ANY park, do you?

Actually we were at WDW last weekend, and we saw this frequently. My husband even commented about how peole are really missing out of the wholwe experience.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

My comments were regarding Kevin's column and the concept in general. I can't talk about experiencing it myself, so I'm refraining from it (although that doesn't often stop folks who haven't visited parks around the world that I have or experienced some of what I have behind the scenes from telling me that I am talking out of my behind!:brick

My questions are: does this dilute the lands further? (it would seem so) was this the best use of capital? (one could simply look at how much is falling apart and think maybe not) does this kind of implicitly say 'we know the MK is boring and hasn't had enough new things?' (again, seems so) is this best direction Disney can go in theme park experiences when UNI is building things like Potter? (I don't think so, even if I were to enjoy the experience).

That's where I am coming from.

I don't see folks tweeting from their Doombuggies, do you? I have yet to see one person updating their FB status while inside Hogwart's at IOA, have you? I don't see people playing Angry Birds in the ToT queue at ANY park, do you?

It just seems like a great excuse to lower the bar in general, even if the specific thing may not be so bad.

I've seen people post pictures and statuses while in Hogwarts at IOA, yes. I've also seen people on their phones in line at ToT and just about every other queue on property.

Just because you haven't seen something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I have also seen those three offenses you mentioned above. I guess you either missed them or decided they didn't fit into your argument. Technology is now a driving force in people's lives and it isn't changing. Of course I don't agree that Disney should lower the bar in order to have it in the Parks, but a small lower cost diversion like this seems fine to me. Tech in our pockets is here to stay though, you'll need to hop in your delorean if you want a world without it.

 

[rsoxguy]

Perhaps a little insight before the stated opinion for the sake of perspective. I’m 48 years old. Part of my job requires an enormous amount of reading, “thinking”, and the ability to interact well with others. I still watch cartoons almost daily, and I joke around way too much. I don’t own a smart phone, I don’t have a Facebook, Twitter, or Youtube account, and this is the only forum to which I am a member.

Now that we have that out of the way, I think that we need to keep this in perspective. Disney is only giving that which the upcoming generation is seeking. Should Disney, on a philosophical note, stick to their guns and provide more rides that cater to purists such as Haunted Mansion? Sure, I'd love that. But their existence is not based on the need to change societal patterns. Their job is to make money, and, apparently, technological drivel is currently helping them to make money.

Me? I have little to no use for the things that Disney is producing in order to keep the ADD generation happy. I prefer to look, listen, and enjoy. I don’t play along with most of the technological additions being made to the Parks. If someone else does, more power to them. I can’t expect Disney to custom tailor the parks to my needs. When I feel that they have lost the balance too far in one direction, I’ll spend my money on a nice little hotel on Key Largo.

 

[janoimagine]

I have little to no use for the things that Disney is producing in order to keep the ADD generation happy. I prefer to look, listen, and enjoy.

I could not agree with you more. I go on vacation to get away from things like my iPhone, Laptop and the outside world.

 

[dreamfinder]

Having played several hands/rounds/whatever of the SMK, I still think it shows great promise. It's not another ADD stimulation, the medium/hard levels will require some amount of thought and planning by the guests that currently isn't apparent in the easy level being tested. As it currently stands it's really no different than coloring the Duffy on a stick. Most of the game takes place in out of way nooks (except Fantasyland) and utilizes fairly well themed spaces that if not active, look pretty much like they could have been there for ages (outside of the cameras, need to hide those better). And the easy level is a great way to keep a young kid distracted while their older siblings hit up SM/BTMRR one more time. They get to help defeat villains and save the MK.
Admittedly the need to explore in MK isn't nearly as great as it is in WS, but anything that helps get people to stop and look at whats around them instead of just running full tilt to the next E ticket is a good thing in my book.
They will absorb a small amount of guests, I'd wager on par with a new A ticket or so. And beyond the initial development and install costs, the continuing operation of this is pretty small. I'll admit that they could have found some place other than the fire station to install the check in, (look at the one in Liberty Square, pretty gosh darn small and unobtrusive).
The cards have the ability to be as popular as any pin/vinylmation (Magic was huge for a while and still has a pretty solid fan base) without having to be installed in every shop on property. Not in terms of sales, but getting people excited about going to the park, and interacting with other guests.
You don't have to partake in the game. You don't like it? Fine, just walk right by. It's not like the outlay dedicated to the game caused an E ticket to not be built. Yes its part of a much larger NextGen project, but on the whole, I imagine that every WDW visitor will like/benefit from at least some portion of the project. If having something like this helps to speed up the adaption and increase the buy in, sounds good to me.

 

[Knightspast81]

Why is it that people are always complaining that WDW doesn't do anything special in the parks in a way that is comparable to DL, yet they are also complaining when they finally do something to enhance the park? I've spent the last 3 weeks playing this, and it is really, really fun, especially for all of the locals and Disney Geeks that are constantly going to the parks. The soft opening for this is today, and I'm spending my day off at MK. In the words of a great man I work with as a Ghostbuster...."haters gonna hate"....:king:

 

[71jason]

was this the best use of capital? (one could simply look at how much is falling apart and think maybe not)

You're not thinking like an MBA, Spirit. It's hard to show shareholders how fresh paint and working light bulbs--or even a new ride--directly contributes to the bottom line. It's easy to show them how much money SotK Magic Cards Series 7 (with the elusive Mr. Toad "chaser" card!) made.

Honestly, this seems like a much better successor to pins than vinylmation. Low price point for beginners, easy to carry, cheap to produce, potentially endless variety to get the hard core fans into a collecting frenzy. If this takes off, I expect new cards monthly.

 

[KevinYee]

I tried to make this point in the Eddie Sotton thread as well, but I think FastPass is playing a role here.

When you have FP available, it makes you want to build boring FP queues and interactive standby queues, which need the interaction because now they move artificially slowly. But the interaction hasn't yet been truly "fun" anywhere. I do think 21-st century technology will eventually find applications - tabletop / touch computing on the walls, let's say, or AR-type devices that turn the line into a scavenger hunt.

 

[71jason]

it is really, really fun, especially for all of the locals and Disney Geeks that are constantly going to the parks.

Serious question, not trying to troll. And I suppose I could direct this at Kevin Yee as well, as he made a similar point in his review. I'm going to assume you're either a local or a Disney geek (full disclosure, I would consider myself both). Why do you constantly go to the parks if you're bored with them? Why not try Uni, or Sea World, or Pirate's Cove mini golf, or Dave & Busters, or Winter Park, or Blue Springs, or a movie? I can't understand someone undertaking the hassle to visit the MK--and it is a hassle even when you practically live on property--if you're just going to be bored the whole time.

 

[MickeyPeace]

- I hope it draws people out of line for rides and provides ever so small added capacity.

.

This is the first time I've seen this mentioned. I've been thinking this all along.
I think a major part of why this was created was for this purpose. As the park gets more and more crowded, there is no off season anymore, this is a way to keep people off the attractions and out of the lines.

 

[Monty]

Serious question, not trying to troll. And I suppose I could direct this at Kevin Yee as well, as he made a similar point in his review. I'm going to assume you're either a local or a Disney geek (full disclosure, I would consider myself both). Why do you constantly go to the parks if you're bored with them? Why not try Uni, or Sea World, or Pirate's Cove mini golf, or Dave & Busters, or Winter Park, or Blue Springs, or a movie? I can't understand someone undertaking the hassle to visit the MK--and it is a hassle even when you practically live on property--if you're just going to be bored the whole time.

The poster you quoted never once suggested boredom. Just said the game was enjoyable and was playing it a lot. :shrug:

 

[ght]

While I personally have no desire to do any sort of game like this in the MK, I can see how some will like it. If it is unobtrusive I won't have a problem with it. I just don't understand how someone can go to the MK and want to spend their time running around the park playing a game, but if that is want they want to do good for them, just stay out of the way while you do it (I can envision getting run over by a bunch of pre-teens trying to get to the next video screen).

 

[KevinYee]

I wouldn't say the locals are bored - just that they are more likely to do a 'side' game like this than the 'core' activities (the rides they've seen 40 or 80 times in their lives). And it's new, so newness always attracts.

I also think the collecting/trading mentality is going to come into play with this game.

 

[KevinYee]

Forgot to add:

I think Disney knows perfectly well this isn't a game for first timers or very infrequent visitors. The capacity isn't there to handle thousands of folks. Thus, I think it's aimed at the regulars pretty squarely.

 

[71jason]

I wouldn't say the locals are bored - just that they are more likely to do a 'side' game like this than the 'core' activities (the rides they've seen 40 or 80 times in their lives). And it's new, so newness always attracts.

I think you're sidestepping the question here with semantics. If people prefer something new over something they've done 80 times, it's an indication they are "bored." And if they're attracted to something new, why not something new outside MK or WDW? You are still operating under the assumption locals (and I'm guessing "Disney geeks") are going to go to WDW no matter. Having had several friends who "take a break" from WDW and let their passes lapse for a year or two, I'm curious why that is.

I also think the collecting/trading mentality is going to come into play with this game.

Total agreement here, for the record, probably even among fans who never play the game.

 

[KevinYee]

Hm, I guess I don't follow the logic entirely. Doing something new over doing something old is not an indication of boredom; merely of familiarity. I can absolutely not be "bored" with Sum of All Thrills but still skip it in favor of Habit Heroes because the latter is new today.

I'm not bored by Disney World at all. Why would I go there if I was bored?

 

[fillerup]

No opinion since I haven't seen or done this, but I took the time to watch a 13 minute Youtube vid of the Fantasyland part and I guess I don't quite get it.

Someone enlighten me please but I didn't get where this is really a game at all. The person doing it basically went and activated 6 or 7 screens and watched animations and then held up cards when they were told to.

I'm sure it could be great fun for smaller kids but I don't see the game part of it and it doesn't much strike me as high tech at all.

 

[KevinYee]

What you saw is the easy mode - there is no 'game' to it yet; no way to lose. It's for little kids. The medium and hard modes aren't available yet, but reportedly you should expect to lose a LOT on the hard level.