MagicBands WILL become a thing...

[lazyboy97o]

I generally don't carry my lanyard if I have to bring my purse, though. And I never once said that I was speaking for everybody. Just that I can see why certain people would choose certain things over another, but it's not my place to say, well, hey, you're just inconveniencing yourself, whenever somebody might have a certain reason for doing things their way. If somebody is being totally rude and inconsiderate and holding up the line, then okay, that's not cool, but if somebody wants to use a magic band, that's fine and I don't really see how any of us can look down on anybody else because it fits their plan better.

The reality is that we do sometimes inconvenience ourselves. Sometimes its a weighted choice. Sometimes its just habit. I am sure we have all had times where somebody has shown us a better way to do something that just never entered our thought process. We tend to like the way we do things. Finding it to be a hassle to get cards out of a bag is not an inherent function of the card. Just as finding it to be a hassle to take a card out of a pocket which holds other items is also not an inherent function of the card. With the MagicBand, since it is removable, the annoyance of feeling it on ones wrist is not an inherent function of the MagicBand. And despite this feature being stated repeatedly, people still raise concerns about the MagicBand becoming an annoyance with prolonged wear which indicates to me that when they become available some people are going to realize they were inconveniencing themselves when they are finally told they could have just taken the MagicBand off when it become annoying.

 

[Monty]

Is it three FP per park per day, or just three FP per day?

The way I've seen it is you can book three in one park per day.

Once you're there you're supposed to be able to re-book un-used FP+, but it hasn't been clear if you can park hop and re-book in the new park. I suppose that's a "yet to be determined" bit.

 

[Tim_4]

Or potentially longer as well. If Disney's statistics are correct then the average guest uses between 1 and 2 FP's per day. Now if everyone automatically gets three... that is a huge jump in usage.

I doubt many guests get one or two fastpasses. My guess would be it's more like half the guests get 3 or 4 and the other half get zero. I think most non-users will stay non-users in the new system. Plus, just about every attraction will have FP+ capabilities which will spread the demand over more options.

 

[Monty]

I doubt many guests get one or two fastpasses. My guess would be it's more like half the guests get 3 or 4 and the other half get zero. I think most non-users will stay non-users in the new system. Plus, just about every attraction will have FP+ capabilities which will spread the demand over more options.

I think it will only spread demand over more options for rides those of us who "know" won't bother requesting FP+ for. You won't see me requesting an FP+ time for Maelstrom any time soon.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

I think that's the piece that has a lot of people upset about NextGen. They evaluate it from OUR perspective but the people here know the system and often beat the system. NexGen isn't FOR us, per se, because we don't need it. We do our research and come prepared and everything else. But we're a very small percentage. NextGen is Disney adapting to the low-information, ill-informed guest whose life is built around the release of the next iPhone. Those folks are becoming an even bigger majority (of society, not just WDW vacationers), and their money is just as green as ours.

I agree, and I recognized that right away with this program... And I'll admit it's one thing I don't like about it.

Currently, those that CHOOSE to be more prepared and do some homework will benefit from that. Those that don't won't have the same experience. We, in a sense, controlled our own destiny. With this new system, Disney is taking all that control away from us completely and taking complete control themselves. I've always lived my life by the idea that the harder I work, the more I'll be rewarded. This whole system is the antithesis (is that the right word?) of that.

It's Communist or Socialist park touring.

But it's worse than that, in my mind. Because the key to this whole thing... The whole reason Disney is doing this... Is that they can then take that "ultimate level playing field" that they're creating, and then alter that in any way they see fit, and benefit whoever they like, for whatever reason they like. And it will cost those that aren't in that lucky group in the form of longer stand-by times. And we'll likely NEVER know, because there will be no way for us to. There's no way any of us will know that 20% of the people in the park have three more FP's than us that day because they booked their onsite package using the right booking code 6 months earlier... All you're going to know is that you really FEEL like you spent more time in stand by lines this trip than before... But have no real way to prove why.

 

[flynnibus]

Or potentially longer as well. If Disney's statistics are correct then the average guest uses between 1 and 2 FP's per day. Now if everyone automatically gets three... that is a huge jump in usage.

You can't come to that conclusion without more information... you need to know how many FPs the people outside the average actually use to see if incrementing by 1.. overtakes how many you took away from others.

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Plus, just about every attraction will have FP+ capabilities which will spread the demand over more options.

And longer stand by lines at attractions that don't need it because of that.

 

[Tim_4]

It's Communist or Socialist park touring.

There will still be ways to beat it. We just haven't learned them yet.

 

[openendedsky]

The reality is that we do sometimes inconvenience ourselves. Sometimes its a weighted choice. Sometimes its just habit. I am sure we have all had times where somebody has shown us a better way to do something that just never entered our thought process. We tend to like the way we do things. Finding it to be a hassle to get cards out of a bag is not an inherent function of the card. Just as finding it to be a hassle to take a card out of a pocket which holds other items is also not an inherent function of the card. With the MagicBand, since it is removable, the annoyance of feeling it on ones wrist is not an inherent function of the MagicBand. And despite this feature being stated repeatedly, people still raise concerns about the MagicBand becoming an annoyance with prolonged wear which indicates to me that when they become available some people are going to realize they were inconveniencing themselves when they are finally told they could have just taken the MagicBand off when it become annoying.

I feel like it would just be common sense though, for people to know to take it off if they don't have to wear it, if they so choose to. It's not like taking it off would be that big of a deal. As for me, I'm fine with having the RFID card, for now at least. If they start changing the incentives for Magicband to a major degree, then I'd likely reconsider my options at that point.

 

[Tim_4]

And longer stand by lines at attractions that don't need it because of that.

Maybe. I'm not sure how many Flying Carpet FP+ they'll issue. Plus, since this is all done in advance, Disney can more accurately forecast ride and labor demand for the attractions with operational flexibility (additional coaster trains, etc.)

 

[openendedsky]

I know many people have said that there is a certain allotment of "reserved" FP+s, and then the rest are "day of", but I'm afraid that people like my boyfriend and I might get the shaft from this change of system. We rarely know more than a week ahead of when we'll be able to go to the parks, due to schedules, and often do things on the fly and play our days (or evenings) at the park by ear.

 

[darthspielberg]

Oh cool, a new look at the wristbands. I wonder what this thread will hold.

*pages of sarcasm*

Oh.

 

[openendedsky]

Oh cool, a new look at the wristbands. I wonder what this thread will hold.

*pages of sarcasm*

Oh.

what a constructive and informative post.

 

[disneyeater]

Why dont you read? I never denied the potential convenience of the MagicBand. I take issue with the assumption of a correlation. It's not a choice of keeping a card in a bag or the MagicBand.

I don't think anyone implied it was one or the other. This is one potential solution to a problem that has many solutions, and for some reason you seemed to take issue with that as a solution.

 

[flynnibus]

And longer stand by lines at attractions that don't need it because of that.

FP has always been about the net sum.. not about how long a line is at ONE attraction.

 

[darthspielberg]

what a constructive and informative post.

Haha, I suppose that's fair. I am just flabbergasted that this happens so often.

 

[flynnibus]

I agree, and I recognized that right away with this program... And I'll admit it's one thing I don't like about it.

Currently, those that CHOOSE to be more prepared and do some homework will benefit from that. Those that don't won't have the same experience. We, in a sense, controlled our own destiny. With this new system, Disney is taking all that control away from us completely and taking complete control themselves. I've always lived my life by the idea that the harder I work, the more I'll be rewarded. This whole system is the antithesis (is that the right word?) of that.

Or you could look at it as 'They are taking away the advantage of ultra planning out all your moves in the park and making it so there are a few things you don't have to stress over seeing.. everything else is back to what it was prior to FP'

The people who maximized FP were optimizing and planning their steps all along. It's hysterical that the same audience now is crying foul over 'having to plan'.

This is a knee jerk reaction because they are focusing purely on the 'advanced reservation' portion and not looking at how the system stands to work as a whole.

 

[djlaosc]

If they start changing the incentives for Magicband to a major degree, then I'd likely reconsider my options at that point.

It seems as though that is going to be the main thing - and that's one of the things that Disney hasn't released yet.

Before we can decide MagicBand v RFID Card, we need to know...

• Differences in experience offered (the "things" we get)
• Differences in information broadcasted/privacy (the "things" Disney gets)

Until we know this information, we can decide that we won't be wearing a MagicBand, but it doesn't mean that we won't carry a MagicBand...

 

[SirLink]

Maybe. I'm not sure how many Flying Carpet FP+ they'll issue. Plus, since this is all done in advance, Disney can more accurately forecast ride and labor demand for the attractions with operational flexibility (additional coaster trains, etc.)

Exactly whole reason for "Next Gen" never has been about "Guests" more to do with tracking/predicting the "inventory" moving through the park and knowing where to put the food carts to siphon of the money. Only way this will work is if the predictive software can predict down to the 1 in 10 people as opposed to 1 in 100 model.

 

[JenniferS]

That, and, you never actually know when you'll wind up needing all of that stuff. My boyfriend's mom is a walking first aid stand. And I've dealt with the first aid people at Disney, and would rather not have to again unless there were no other option.

I've had to use first aid services at least once on every single trip. One year our group of 7 required first aid at 3 parks plus a waterpark. I have always found them to be outstanding. Not good - outstanding! Hands down, some of the best customer service I have ever received on property.