MM+ Why we can't have nice things.

[flynnibus]

And still it blethers on.

And that's kind of his motivation ... And people are happy to oblige :/

 

[Captain Chaos]

Well Martin summed it up nicely... And I am sure that is barely breaking the surface... Thank you Martin...

 

[The Visionary Soul]

P&R development has been scaled back, and in most cases frozen, due to NextGen overruns. I'll let others reiterate what evidence is in the public domain since its Boxing Day and we have a house full.

The plenty of other things is the bare minimum or in some cases what was forced on TDO from Burbank. A few examples:

JC - six years late and needed before the canal leaked dry. No joke. The new deck a few years back was fast tracked when the neglected old deck actually rotted through.

PotC - mishmash of new effects that have major issues laid over 1973 infrastructure. Lighting that had to be shoehorned in. A damaged new boat fleet. And an audio system that's such a mix of 1973 and 2008 that numerous dead areas and mis matched speakers leave glaring audio holes and unbalanced BGM.

Splash - years of bare minimum neglect had made it a laughing stock. They had no choice to spend big or they could have potentially lost the building.

BTM - track worn and obsolete systems. The track will still need totally renewing along with most of the mountain since patching up will only do so much. See Anaheim in how to do it right. Show scenes and effects still not working.

CBR - technical success after years of neglect. Again close to loosing the attraction.

Diamond Horseshoe - the what? Oh. The seasonal QS building?

Liberty SQ Riverboat. The sole remaining moving attraction on ROI. Still a tug of power between keeping it open and saving money to moor it permenantly.

Haunted Mansion - excellent refurb, now with flawed Fastpass and queue layout and unnessecary, failing extra queue interactions.

Hall of Presidents - excellent refurb. Exterior was so neglected it partially collapsed during the refurb.

Small World - tangled toilets path routing now brings the traffic pinch point solely to the small world / pan corner. Worse traffic management area in the park.

Peter Pans Flight - still waiting for the 1992 DLP enhanced visuals let alone the newer - and newer still planned - Anaheim overhaul.

Snow Whites Scary Adventures - really.

FLE - not my call. Personally a fantastically themed area with two new good D tickets and a nice restraunt that the park dearly needed. Mermaid ride has multiple issues discussed elsewhere. I'll mention the cheaper electrical as opposed to mechanical ride system rotation device that malfunctions far too regularly.

Storybook Circus - not my call. Nor my thing so I'd be biased.

Space Mountain - discussed to death elsewhere. Budget slashed to bare minimum overhaul. Asbestos removal and skyway demolition also lumped into ride refurb budget to reduce available money even further. Track now in a real sorry state and asthetic overhaul - of what was possible with any remaining money - was a bandaid fix.

Tomorrowland stage - pushed through via entertainment not ops. Guest area lost to staff parking. New stage not WDI certified nor designed. Sound and light bleed into surrounding land theme.

Buzz Lightyear - where's the new guns? Still on hold?

Peoplemover - bare minimum. Damaged RVs. Failing drive system and PA. Theming actually less that before.

Carousel of Progress - bare minimum maintainence.

Tomorrowland Terrace - even when Cosmic Rays is a dozen or more people deep at each register - as you expect it to be at meal times during anything but the quietest times of year - remains closed. It used to be open year round when the park had less guests annually. For example.

Spectro - 'Nuff said.

MSEP - so worn and patched up there's a good chance it will not stand up to being shipped anywhere again.

Magic Memories and You / Celebrate the Magic - infrastructure installed to boost photopass sales. Failed so much that Disneyland photos were also used, taken that day and sent via the web. Budget to move Main Street projectors to inside buildings frozen so any moving around the roof or underneath the roof area during a show shakes the projection housings.

Wishes - reduced budget. The order from above was cut the number of shells used, or shorten the show.


This is purely off the top of my head in the park that's received the most love and charges the most (and constantly rising) admission price. We could talk about Epcot or DHS where the real problems are.

I'll mention Sorcerers as a diversionary C ticket equivalent. So I'm being fair. I won't mention A Pirates Adventure since those who work it have declared it rather less than successful.

So much for being brief. Oops..

I agree with everything you said here, but keep in mind that many of these decisions came out of Florida's corporate offices, not Burbank's.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

MM+ is not the issue. The issue is that MM+ represents a Disney that believe in blue ocean strategy instead of growth and improved experiences. If MM+ was coming alongside transportation infrastructure and new attractions most of us wouldn't have an issue with it.

MM+ is rooted in basic technology upgrades that have been needed for years. Even if they didn't spend the more than 2 billion on it that they are spending, at minimum, at least 1 billion in tech upgrades was needed to begin with anyway. No one should have a problem with that first billion spent. As far as transportation upgrades, well, I'm with you all the way, just wish it was more than automated monorail trains coming.

As far as blue ocean strategy is concerned... there's nothing wrong with using blue ocean for a couple years to get everything running at its full potential. I just worry that they will try and stick with blue ocean for the long term... which would be a mistake.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

Someone should take @marni1971 's post, break it up into chunks, with pictures, use #DisneySide and post it to twitter.

 

[orky8]

MM+ is rooted in basic technology upgrades that have been needed for years. Even if they didn't spend the more than 2 billion on it that they are spending, at minimum, at least 1 billion in tech upgrades was needed to begin with anyway. No one should have a problem with that first billion spent. As far as transportation upgrades, well, I'm with you all the way, just wish it was more than automated monorail trains coming.

As far as blue ocean strategy is concerned... there's nothing wrong with using blue ocean for a couple years to get everything running at its full potential. I just worry that they will try and sick with blue ocean for the long term... which would be a mistake.

Yeah, I think you and are largely agreeing. If a $1B technology upgrad was needed, fine. But you can't sell that to the public as your new attraction -- it is just a cost of business that needs to be sucked up. But TDO views it as the next great thing instead of what it actually is -- a necessary infrastructure upgrade. That's crazy!

 

[WDWDad13]

There's really no argument to be made against that list as far as I can see but no doubt he will try, in the process accusing you of being some sort of Universal fan-boy who is intoxicated by butterbeer and taking a pointless, irrelevant cheap shot against the competition whilst providing nothing of any substance to refute your points.

I see nothing wrong with his list.....surprised? I tell it like it is too ya know. He forgot many new additions though which was the main argument overall

 

[TubaGeek]

Someone should take @marni1971 's post, break it up into chunks, with pictures, use #DisneySide and post it to twitter.

I'm not too knowledgeable regarding Twitter, but... that's an idea?
I mean, could advertising a Twitter tag blow up in Disney's face that easily?

 

[TubaGeek]

I see nothing wrong with his list.....surprised? I tell it like it is too ya know. He forgot many new additions though which was the main argument overall

You promised to add things that we "conveniently forget", so... now it's your turn. Let's see your additions to the list of additions.

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Yeah, I think you and are largely agreeing. If a $1B technology upgrad was needed, fine. But you can't sell that to the public as your new attraction -- it is just a cost of business that needs to be sucked up. But TDO views it as the next great thing instead of what it actually is -- a necessary infrastructure upgrade. That's crazy!

Oh, it was marketed to the big boys in Burbank that way... that they could spin the infrastructure upgrade as a way to increase guest spending if they spent a little more on it. (Which by the way, is accurate, the system will increase what the average guest will spend... ) The problem like you said is that the public won't buy it unless it is flawless... and it is certainly not flawless.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I'm not too knowledgeable regarding Twitter, but... that's an idea?
I mean, could advertising a Twitter tag blow up in Disney's face that easily?

In order for something to be "trending" on twitter it would have to reach a very high level of activity (think hundreds of thousands, if not millions using the same #). I doubt a group of angry Disney nerds would get much attention, but the message is more likely to build organically from there than on here or some specific site (like D-Troops, who's message only worked if you actively sought it out).

 

[GoofGoof]

So you choose to ignore people that are pro-Disney or who don't agree with everything you say?

I am pretty sure things are beyond repair at this point, but I'll take a shot at ending this conflict.

Here is my unsolicited advice, you can take it or ignore me. I think if you can understand and acknowledge this one fact you might start to feel less confrontational...you don't have to agree with everything TWDC does to be pro-Disney. You don't have to only see the positives. I am a DVC owner. I regularly visit WDW with my family. We have a great time. I still see the negatives and some of the stuff bothers me, other stuff I find silly or even ridiculous. The point is that it's OK to disagree with people and it's OK to express your opinion but there is no need to label everyone with anything negative to say as a hater and become confrontational when you disagree with them. It seems like you feel persecuted or that you are alone here in being pro-Disney. That's not the case there are others who feel similarly they just don't feel the need to confront every person with a negative opinion.

 

[FrankLapidus]

I see nothing wrong with his list.....surprised? I tell it like it is too ya know. He forgot many new additions though which was the main argument overall

Not really, like I said there is nothing in that list that can be argued against.

Well then, if he forgot them then why don't you follow Marni's lead and make a similar list of the "many" new things that you claimed have opened at WDW in the past year and put the main argument to bed once and for all? If your list is as comprehensive as Marni's then you need not worry about "spin".

 

[CDavid]

so I don't want the best for Disney?

I accept the way the company is run...it is a business and they are making money...lots of money.... that doesn't mean I think they should/could do a lot better in the Orlando parks

That's the difference - Many of us do not accept the way the company is run. We still expect Disney to meet the standards which it set for itself many years ago. When it doesn't, it shouldn't come as a surprise we're so critical.

You may not think they can do better in Orlando, but the legacy Disney is coasting on today was built at a time when they indeed did so much better. It was a business back then, too.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

Argggh!!!

Jimmy be wondering why ye mateys don't be getting a petition together to send to those scallywags at Disney to look into the supposed lack of maintenance? Lots of huff and not enough puff.

Argggh!!!

Jimmy Thick- Will people ever understand MM+ is a needed application beyond limited fastpasses? Nah.

 

[doctornick]

Many of the problems WDW is facing are created by WDW itself. Everyone would love to blame corporate in California for every little detail, but the truth is, the concept of MyMagic+ is solid. It's the execution of the program that was badly done, mainly the fault of WDW's own incompetent management team. (And to an extent, WDI) I'm all for blaming, but let's blame the right group of people.

Could you expand on this? I'd be curious as to what aspects that TDO has botched in terms of the rollout.

 

[ParentsOf4]

I agree with everything you said here, but keep in mind that many of these decisions came out of Florida's corporate offices, not Burbank's.

Yes and no.

You have to consider how budgets are done at large corporations. They are driven top-down and segments have to make do with what they are given while still satisfying EBIT targets.

Budgets are squeezed while revenue & profit targets are increased.

Ultimately, everything comes from corporate headquarters.

Ultimately, Burbank is responsible what for happens in Orlando.

 

[Jimmy Thick]

That's the difference - Many of us do not accept the way the company is run. We still expect Disney to meet the standards which it set for itself many years ago. When it doesn't, it shouldn't come as a surprise we're so critical.

You may not think they can do better in Orlando, but the legacy Disney is coasting on today was built at a time when they indeed did so much better. It was a business back then, too.

The way the company was run even 10 years ago has absolutely nothing to do with the way a business is run today. To keep using that dated analogy is nothing more than an internet crutch. Modern times call for modern solutions especially in the world of business. MM+ is a long term infrastructure upgrade that will pay for itself by positive guest word of mouth once fully implemented. And here is the funny thing, all other so called "competitors" will have their own version before you know it.

Disney is making the right moves here, people just can't see it because of the cost, but this moves the theme park experience to another level.

Jimmy Thick- How many bandwagon jumpers have not even tried MM+ yet have a negative opinion? 95%?

 

[The Visionary Soul]

Yes and no.

You have to consider how budgets are done at large corporations. They are driven top-down and segments have to make do with what they are given while still satisfying EBIT targets.

Budgets are squeezed while revenue & profit targets are increased.

Ultimately, everything comes from corporate headquarters.

Ultimately, Burbank is responsible what for happens in Orlando.

Responsible, yes. But the guys who are screwing everything up? They're all in Florida. You're talking about budgets. I'm talking about decisions. Two different apples my friend.

 

[WDWDad13]

well here you go...

Here is a sample list of things Disney has done at WDW within 2013.

Limited Time Magic (various things, shows, meet & greets, etc.) throughout 2013
Grand Floridian Villas
Les Halles Boulangerie Pattiserie (France Pavilion)
IBM THINK interactive exhibit (Innoventions)
Wilderness Explorers (Animal Kingdom)
Senses (spa)
Celebrate the Magic (changes throughout various seasons)
Habit Heroes (Innoventions)
A Pirates Adventure – Treasure of the Seven Seas
New bus color schemes
Rainforest Café Volcano rebuild
Joffery’s Coffee
Disney Junior (changes with new characters)
Tangled Themed restroom area in Fantasyland
Express Monorail and Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat wait time signs
Land of Oz Garden
Adventures Outpost Meet & Greet (Animal Kingdom)
Improvements made to WiFi service at resorts
Touch to Enter turnstiles
RFID Room key
Re-Discovering America: Family Treasures from the Kinsey Collection
Disney Springs announcement / construction underway
Starbucks
Spice Road Table (under construction)
Spring Break Dance Party
Boardwalk Bakery remodel
California Grill remodel
Princess Fairytale Hall
Festival of Fantasy (announced)
May the 4th Be With You (fireworks show)
Downtown Disney food trucks
Monstrous Summer All-Nighter
Epcot’s Character Spot (redesign)
L’Artisan des Glaces (France pavilion)
All-Star Sports arcade and food court major refurb
Sofia the First meet and greet
USB charging stations
Main Street USA concrete replacement
Articulated busses
Magic Kingdom bus loop expansion
Bamboo
Prince Eric’s Village Market
Glow with the Show
Polynesian DVC (announcement)
Disney Quest Halloween Party
Frozen meet and greet
Avatar land concept art (finally)
New nighttime entertainment at AK (announcement)
Fantasmic show lighting upgrades
Talking Mickey
Jingle Cruise
Fit2Run
House of Blues quick service (announcement opening soon)
New map designs
Park to Park bus relocation to MK
DTD bus from AK
Dawa Bar

Look I know most of you will go through this list and criticize most of it… the point being is that while they may not be building e-ticket attractions, they aren’t just sitting on their hands and doing nothing. We know major work is underway for Disney Springs and Avatarland… one can hope the DHS and rumors of areas in EPCOT will be down the road as well.

Plenty of things change at Disney… all the time…because of that, I don’t see WDW as being stagnant and stale. Do I want more? Heck yes. Do I think they should be doing more ASAP? Definitely. ...but just because they aren't building what YOU want to see doesn't mean they are doing nothing and based on my recent trip, they sure aren't hurting getting people through the gates