My Magic + details ...

[ExtinctJenn]

My guess on the "FP+ only" is that it means the things like parade viewing spots, fireworks viewing spots, Fantasmic seating, etc. They mean that access to those "experiences" can only be done by making a FP+ reservation.
I highly doubt that it means that there will be entire *attractions* that are FP+ Only...

It has been speculated that the FP+ only expieriences would probably be just special meet and greets. This would make sense for the living character initiative since for Mickey to know your name and talk to you, you would need to have a MDX account setup.

Oh yeah I can't imagine any way that they could successfully implement an attraction that is FP+ only. Things like you mentioned Rob are very probable too I'd think! Maybe it's wishful thinking that soft openings will be FP+ controlled. LOL!!

Jeff - honestly that would not shock me (meet and greets) since they are so focused on them of late. The idea of the living character experience would be awesome but... unless it changed... the interview I watched with the genetlemen who does the voice of Mickey stated that when you see him "live" (i.e. not a show experience that was pre-recorded) he's actually standing in the wings with a microphone. I actually assumed until that moment that it was a voice recognition technology that fed his responses to people when they did that live M&G at D23 (or whatever it was). It may be now and if so the technology interface to say/know your name or something about you would be great!

 

[Jeffxz]

Oh yeah I can't imagine any way that they could successfully implement an attraction that is FP+ only. Things like you mentioned Rob are very probable too I'd think! Maybe it's wishful thinking that soft openings will be FP+ controlled. LOL!!

Jeff - honestly that would not shock me (meet and greets) since they are so focused on them of late. The idea of the living character experience would be awesome but... unless it changed... the interview I watched with the genetlemen who does the voice of Mickey stated that when you see him "live" (i.e. not a show experience that was pre-recorded) he's actually standing in the wings with a microphone. I actually assumed until that moment that it was a voice recognition technology that fed his responses to people when they did that live M&G at D23 (or whatever it was). It may be now and if so the technology interface to say/know your name or something about you would be great!

I expect it will still be a person in the other room doing Mickey's voice and watching through a camera. For certian expierences the person in the other room will still need to know the guests name and celebrations. The only reasonable way this can be done is by linking the rfid band/ticket to the same MDX account that reserved the FP+.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I expect it will still be a person in the other room doing Mickey's voice and watching through a camera. For certian expierences the person in the other room will still need to know the guests name and celebrations. The only reasonable way this can be done is by linking the rfid band/ticket to the same MDX account that reserved the FP+.

Ahhhh now that makes sense for sure!

 

[flynnibus]

My guess on the "FP+ only" is that it means the things like parade viewing spots, fireworks viewing spots, Fantasmic seating, etc. They mean that access to those "experiences" can only be done by making a FP+ reservation.
I highly doubt that it means that there will be entire *attractions* that are FP+ Only...

-Rob

I agree

I can see there being things you can only get by FP+ ... like a certain type of M&G.. certain seating/viewing.. etc.. but not fully on 'rides' that are only FP+. It doesn't make sense to not have stand-by for something like that.

 

[AndyS2992]

All this next gen stuff is really putting me off visiting WDW. This is just going to turn into one big mess and I can't believe no one at Disney saw the masses of downsides to the whole thing. They've essentially broken something that didn't need fixing and have lost billions of dollars in doing so. I like to visit two parks in a day but this completely messes that up.

 

[OFTeric]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...ts-sales-in-disney-world-test.html?cmpid=yhoo

Electronic wristbands tested at Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s Florida resort succeeded in boosting spending by guests, parks division Chairman Thomas Staggs said.
The bands serve as admission tickets, hotel room keys and credit cards. They were tested by 1,000 people at Walt Disney World in Florida, Staggs said in an interview at Allen & Co.’s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, without offering details. Guests spent more on average in part because they had fun with the technology, he said.

Looks like the magic bands will do what Disney wanted them to do... increase guest spending

 

[cslafferty]

Well, I'm sure this will brighten everyone's day:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...gic-has-boosted-sales-during-test-periods.htm

And I love this from DIS:
"Tom Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, says tests are showing that the bands have indeed aided in boosting guest spending. His

theory is that guests may be spending more because they are enjoying the technology."

 

[COProgressFan]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...ts-sales-in-disney-world-test.html?cmpid=yhoo



Looks like the magic bands will do what Disney wanted them to do... increase guest spending

In exactly 1 test, of a mere 1,000 guests....as reported by Tom Staggs, using oh-so-scientific methodology, I'm sure.

 

[cslafferty]

And you know there are people out there that will say "You know, I don't really need or want this, but I'm going to buy it so I can use my Magic Band!"

 

[muteki]

Boosting it how? To what degree? What kind of spending? What methodology are they using to determine that MM+ was the cause of the increase?

The numbers could be going up for all sorts of reasons (prices...summer...etc.) and they could attribute it to whatever is the most convenient at the time without giving more details.

 

[COProgressFan]

Boosting it how? To what degree? What kind of spending? What methodology are they using to determine that MM+ was the cause of the increase?

The numbers could be going up for all sorts of reasons (prices...summer...etc.) and they could attribute it to whatever is the most convenient at the time without giving more details.

Exactly. A couple tests with a small group in artificial settings doesn't really mean anything. I really don't think they can get any solid info until this actually happens and rolls out to everyone.

 

[Jeffxz]

Boosting it how? To what degree? What kind of spending? What methodology are they using to determine that MM+ was the cause of the increase?

The numbers could be going up for all sorts of reasons (prices...summer...etc.) and they could attribute it to whatever is the most convenient at the time without giving more details.

Not to mention the tests consisted primarily of Deluxe resort guests.

 

[pheneix]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...ts-sales-in-disney-world-test.html?cmpid=yhoo

Looks like the magic bands will do what Disney wanted them to do... increase guest spending

Tom Stagg's statement is intentionally misleading. He referenced one very small moderate successful test out of many. Most of these tests have been such disasters that guest spending was the least of their concerns.

EDIT: With respect to guest spending, they were dealing with a test pool working with new technology who were told to "use your wristband to make purchases!" as a selling point like it was an exciting new revolution in the world of vacations. No doubt these wristbands are going to fuel some impulse purchases because of the uniqueness of the technology, but as it rolls out and becomes standard the "coolness" will wear off and guest spending patterns will level off to.... exactly what they would have been anyway.

 

[awilliams4]

All this FP+ hate in some ways leads me to believe there are many out their rooting for it to fail. Kinda like rooting for a President from a different party than your own to fail. Knowing the latter at least is true, that is pretty sad. One post suggests how Disney is losing Billions, the next shows that Disney is making money. Ha.

 

[WDWYankee15]

I can't read through 42 pages of this forum, so can someone let me know what are the changes that are coming to the Disney PhotoPass Service?

I read on the Orlando Theme Park News website that the Disney PhotoPass Service will soon receive some enhancements in the near future as part of the MyMagic+ project and that for this reason, the availability of Magic Shots will be temporarily limited to only a few locations.
Magic Shots are currently available at the following locations:

• Magic Kingdom Park: Main Street USA at Main Street Bakery and Casey's Corner
• Epcot: Spaceship Earth near Club Cool
• Disney's Hollywood Studios: Crossroads of the World and Hollywood Boulevard at Celebrity 5 & 10
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Tree of Life - Discovery Island, Tree of Life - Discovery Island Alcove, Tree of Life - Africa/Asia Pathway
• Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park: Cross Country Creek
• Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: Castaway Creek

What are the enhancements that are coming? When are they coming?

Also, how long is the temporary limiting of Magic Shots? From when, to when?

Thanks for any information someone could share.

 

[muteki]

All this FP+ hate in some ways leads me to believe there are many out their rooting for it to fail. Kinda like rooting for a President from a different party than your own to fail. Knowing the latter at least is true, that is pretty sad. One post suggests how Disney is losing Billions, the next shows that Disney is making money. Ha.

It's not going to fail. It can't at this point. But articles like the above are exactly how you manage something like this. Keep saying everything is great, all because of whatever you are doing (no matter how much of a stretch it is...) and hope that no one calls you on it.

MM+ won't "fail". It will be changed and molded and tweaked and adjusted continuously to the degree that someone can keep saying its the best thing ever with a straight face. It will be interesting to see where we will end up a year from now.

Not to mention the tests consisted primarily of Deluxe resort guests.

With easy availability of FP+ attractions and unlimited standard FPs on top of that. To see the recent test as anything other than a technical exercise is crazy.

 

[lostpro9het]

All this FP+ hate in some ways leads me to believe there are many out their rooting for it to fail.

I, for one, am hoping it fails if they intend to implement the system the way they are testing it, i.e. No regular FPs and limited to just 3 FPs a day via the band.

It's not going to fail.

I agree, they will probably burn through millions to save face and create the illusion of success.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

All this next gen stuff is really putting me off visiting WDW. This is just going to turn into one big mess and I can't believe no one at Disney saw the masses of downsides to the whole thing. They've essentially broken something that didn't need fixing and have lost billions of dollars in doing so. I like to visit two parks in a day but this completely messes that up.

So don't use it... only if you use FP+ and it's related services do you have to worry about not being able to visit two parks in a day. Actually... even if you DO use it, you're fine. Just chose which park you want to use your FP+ functionality at. I get why some people are so against all this jazz but I don't get why so many folks say it's going to effect them in some way when ultimately it's only by choice.

 

[ExtinctJenn]

I can't read through 42 pages of this forum, so can someone let me know what are the changes that are coming to the Disney PhotoPass Service?

I read on the Orlando Theme Park News website that the Disney PhotoPass Service will soon receive some enhancements in the near future as part of the MyMagic+ project and that for this reason, the availability of Magic Shots will be temporarily limited to only a few locations.
Magic Shots are currently available at the following locations:
<deleted for content>
What are the enhancements that are coming? When are they coming?

Also, how long is the temporary limiting of Magic Shots? From when, to when?

Thanks for any information someone could share.

From what I understand the changes to the PhotoPass service aren't really fully related to MM+ other than the functionality of the band integrating with the camera scanner vs. having to carry a card around. The Magic Shots thing they've been slowly doing less and less frequently and at fewer locations over the last couple years so I'm not sure what they mean by "temporarily" or what MM+ would have to do with that. Interesting to say the least!

 

[asianway]

Tom Stagg's statement is intentionally misleading. He referenced one very small moderate successful test out of many. Most of these tests have been such disasters that guest spending was the least of their concerns.

EDIT: With respect to guest spending, they were dealing with a test pool working with new technology who were told to "use your wristband to make purchases!" as a selling point like it was an exciting new revolution in the world of vacations. No doubt these wristbands are going to fuel some impulse purchases because of the uniqueness of the technology, but as it rolls out and becomes standard the "coolness" will wear off and guest spending patterns will level off to.... exactly what they would have been anyway.

What was the direction given to the Financial Analyst arriving at this conclusion? Dummy up some control sample to compare to the MM+ test data? You know, data they dont have which is why they started MM+ to begin with?