MyMagic+ article from Fast Company magazine

[hopemax]

Another thing we (my Dad and I) always wonder. As the article stated, Disney culture did not allow for things like wi-fi infrastructure, until NGE "forced" the issue. So in 3-5 years, when all this "cutting edge technology" MDE uses is "ancient and clumsy" as this type of technology is prone to do (for instance, my 2 year old iPhone is now crap, and our still functional except for the apps don't support it, original iPad dinosaur is worse than that) will the culture allow it to be updated? Apple and everyone will be developing their wearable tech, integrating it with everything under the sun, updates should be required and expected...so what will Disney's culture allow them to do? The proper software and hardware improvements?

Other computer systems are in desperate need of upgrades (riding Spaceship Earth a car was constantly rebooting the screen and I think it was XP, ditto over in the Musical Figment thingy at Image Works.) so I end up envisioning stuff like this happening. This stuff isn't "install, and ignore."

 

[BJones82]

Another thing we (my Dad and I) always wonder. As the article stated, Disney culture did not allow for things like wi-fi infrastructure, until NGE "forced" the issue. So in 3-5 years, when all this "cutting edge technology" MDE uses is "ancient and clumsy" as this type of technology is prone to do (for instance, my 2 year old iPhone is now crap, and our still functional except for the apps don't support it, original iPad dinosaur is worse than that) will the culture allow it to be updated? Apple and everyone will be developing their wearable tech, integrating it with everything under the sun, updates should be required and expected...so what will Disney's culture allow them to do? The proper software and hardware improvements?

It already shows it has the ability to be upgraded, Apple pay (Apple's watch and iPhone 6) are compatible with the system and it took no hardware to do that... The infrastructure is there and set, something other parks do not have including other Disney Parks and has he stated in the interview at the end of the article something they are looking at at all the parks because it is the future... Generally speaking once a company goes through this painful of a tech upgrade they never want to do it again so they staggered upgrades to avoid it... So we will most likely always be seeing them upgrade and replace WiFi Access points, adding fiber, replacing computers and server functionality. If they plan it correctly now they will not need to do massive upgrades again, they just always need to keep the current infrastructure upgraded and current so the projects stay manageable.

That is just my experience in I.T. I know Disney is much smarter than me with large project planning and budgeting, my only experiences is with companies up to 500 employees but that is how it SHOULD be handled lol...

 

[wdisney9000]

Assuming those numbers are true (I am not saying I don't assume they are just saying provided they are not meant to be argumentative or anything) then the boom is huge for them and if they can keep it going great but they have much more room for growth.

My point is still true though I was maybe not making it clear what my point was because my post was all over the place. The infrastructure upgrades that WDW has made and is now using with MM+ puts them in a place to offer a better experience which gives people a much more streamlined experience than what USF can offer without playing catchup regardless. MM+ and Apple Pay(Or other NFC) payment options available or which will be available in WDW are directly related and USF is not in position currently to offer this. They are attempting to give people a one stop stay with on site resorts but they are not able to offer the same functionality of one device being everything you need like WDW can.

That was my point and is very true. The MM+ system as a whole was a huge risk and gamble and giving Disney the ability to keep up with the fast growing world of NFC, wearable, and smartphone technology is extremely valuable in the future. Especially as a younger generation begins to be the ones coming to WDW. For instance, I go to WDW because all i need to bring to the park is my smart phone and Magic band. I cannot do that at USF even if I stay on property. I would at minimum need cash and my room key(I am not sure if your room key at USF is also your park pass)... Very soon as hinted in the final interview in this article all you will need is your smart phone if you want, this is not something USF can offer now or anytime soon... Big disadvantage and ultimately will hurt them because eventually they will have to pay for the infrastructure but at that point WDW will have perfected it and everyone will love it there...

I attached a link from USF about what payment options are accepted at USF for reference.

https://www.universalorlando.com/Resort-Information/Payment-and-Banking-Options.aspx

I'd really like to know how many people actually leave their wallet or purse in the room due to having a magic band? Especially the parents with children. Most have strollers and backpacks as well, so citing the convenience of the magic band allowing you to not need anything else is silly. We don't have kids but we still bring a back pack to the parks for water, hand wipes, snacks, put our phones in, etc. I imagine there are few people who visit the parks with strictly their magic band and phone. If we visit Uni, all we need is the same back pack we use at WDW to hold everything.

You also mention how much further down the road WDW will be compared to Uni in terms of infrastructure, especially in regards with touch to pay services.

Anything Apple, Microsoft, or Android release in terms of payment via your device will be available world wide in all types of venues. Disney adapted magic bands to be a form of payment which seems to be an unnecessary move according to the hint you mentioned thats at the end of the article. So will Uni actually have to do anything other than what any business, including WDW will have to do to accept a different form.of payment? Whatever they will have to do, I'm sure it won't cost as much as NGE has or take as long.

 

[Jeffxz]

So we're completely ignoring this article then? When something is announced is not necessary when something starts... It would be safe to say as well you may know more about this subject than me but I am just going off the article we are discussing in this topic, that article in an interview it states James Cameron Visits NGE while it is still in early development in WoL while he is working Avatar... That is all I have to go off of in here...

The article says nothing about James Cameron visiting WoL. The article says he visited the lab setup in the sound stage at DHS, which is perfectly in line with the timeline @Lee is describing.

How simple everything is now just a year after MM+ launched, check in online, pay with magic band, FP with magic band, room key with Magic Band, everything in one.

Yes, this all-in-one technology is magical. Some might even refer to it as a "Key To The World"

 

[DDLand]

Super simple answer: because we thought y'all might be interested in what I wrote! I found this topic fascinating -- I wouldn't spend six months+ reporting on it if I didn't -- and I'm hoping you all do too : )

You thought right. Thanks for spending your time doing this!

@WDW1974 you should be happy having his take. He's a technology writer. He doesn't owe his career to Disney, which allows him to be more objective. This is in contrast to some of the travel writers and the Orlando Sentinel. Oh, and the Disney blogosphere.

 

[GrumpyFan]

I was looking at only the last 2 years. See how you can make numbers look anyway you like? It's pointless to keep spouting off percentages, as they can mean anything the poster wants them too, just like I did, and lot's of others here are doing as well!

Point taken.

 

[wdisney9000]

Howdy! Thanks for your comment -- one thing that I'm surely impressed by: there's so much passion here and throughout this forum for Disney. It's great.

I would encourage you to read the piece, WDW1974, and can understand why you might be skeptical. A few thoughts to help ease your concerns:

- First off, no ulterior motives re: why I'm here! After spending months reporting a feature, we typically do live Q&As with our readers (like I did for my last feature on Amazon: http://live.fastcompany.com/Event/Amazon_2?Page=0). This time, we thought it might be fun to jump into one of the Disney forums instead, since this is such a specific topic. This forum seemed to have the most vibrant community (yes, I've been aware of it for some time), so we reached out a few weeks ago to the site's moderator, who very kindly welcomed us here.

I like that this is apparently a skeptical/probing community, as you say! It's good fun. And no, I do not intend on becoming some sort of "all-knowing NGE guru" who prowls these here forums from now until eternity. As much as reporting this story was a lot of fun, I'm already onto my next long-term assignment, so I'm afraid I probably won't be back here after this week (sorry, Stephen!). You mention that I filed the story and was paid (FWIW, I'm on staff, so I would've been paid regardless ; ), and then wonder why I would waste time with fans on a fan site. Super simple answer: because we thought y'all might be interested in what I wrote! I found this topic fascinating -- I wouldn't spend six months+ reporting on it if I didn't -- and I'm hoping you all do too : )

- Second, I appreciate your predictions about my sourcing, but again, I'd encourage you to read the story before painting it such a bad light. Yup, I talked to Tom; yup, I talked to Jim; yup, I talked to Nick; yup, I talked to a ton of CMs (with and without handlers, over multiple trips); and yup, I talked to a ton more former/current executives + Imagineers, employees, partners, and so on. Not quite sure why you're making so many assumptions about my work, but perhaps it's because you've had bad experiences reading other Disney pieces before this one? No worries if so; I stand by my reporting, and my only allegiance is to telling the truth to our readers.

- Lastly, nope, I'm not Moses.

If you don't have time now to read our ~9,000 word feature, perhaps this preview will suffice in the interim:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3044922/...illion-attempt-to-reinvent-its-iconic-theme-p

So I'll just go ahead and ask. You mentioned you took a trip to WDW. Was any part of it comped by Disney or did you pay out of pocket? Did you have anything at all comped by Disney during, before or after your involvement in this article? Have you ever received any form.of payment or compensation from Disney? And was Fast Company or any affiliate of it paid or compensated in any way for your article?

 

[AustinC]

So I'll just go ahead and ask. You mentioned you took a trip to WDW. Was any part of it comped by Disney or did you pay out of pocket? Did you have anything at all comped by Disney during, before or after your involvement in this article? Have you ever received any form.of payment or compensation from Disney? And was Fast Company or any affiliate of it paid or compensated in any way for your article?

Of course not! You should see my expense reports, sheesh! But to be specific, Fast Company paid (and always pays) for my reporting trips, which included flights, park tickets, resort stays (we do not accept media rates), etc. Nope, never received any payment/compensation from Disney. And noooope, not Fast Company nor any affiliate (our only affiliate, so far as I'm aware, is our sister publication Inc. magazine, another fantastic business magazine) has received compensation for the article (this would be insane. Seriously, I can't stress this enough: this would be INSANE).

I'm totally happy to answer these questions, y'all, but to be honest, this is some next-level paranoia some are displaying. In the interest of FULL CRAZY DISCLOSURE, when Jim MacPhee showed me around WDW, we went to Be Our Guest, where he had pre-ordered food for our group. So, technically, Disney paid for my $12.49 sandwich (roast beef, yum). If you really think this somehow biased me, I'll write a check to Bob Iger for $12.49 right now. Hmmm, is there anything else?? I think I was handed a bottled water at some point during a visit to Team Disney HQs?

I will let you know if there's anything else that comes to mind, but again, this is pretty insane degree of disclosure/skepticism.

Anywho, let me know if you have any questions, but this is not the CJR.

 

[FutureCEO]

I still paid with cash when I was at Disney

It's would be great if all Magic Plus did was enter your hotel room and enter the parks. However I don't think they should incorporate this into every ride and putting it so you can charge a gift or something to eat (new Test Track), which I loved Test Track and now I will never go on again. I also don't like how the government, NSA, Disney tracks you everywhere.

 

[cspencer96]

@AustinC, unfortunately many people here seem to try and one-up one another on the crazy. You have your faux-execs, your perpetual cynics, your faux-exec perpetual cynics, then you've got the other end that sees zero wrong with Disney—ever. What I'd like to know is whether or not your time in the parks was enjoyable when you weren't actually gathering information. The downtime, if you will. I understand that, really, you're constantly absorbing information for articles like this on reporting trips, but I think you'll understand what I mean with that.

 

[Todd H]

No one is making you plan the food you want in advance at BOG it is a choice if you want to. Some people know what they want months in advance. I'm not one of those people so I don't preorder.

Go to Uni on a busy day and you will be punished for not planning and showing up at rope drop as well.

Been to Universal on a busy day and still didn't have to plan a thing. I stayed on site which means unlimited front of the line access. Closest thing to planning was getting up early for Potter. When we wanted something to eat we just went to City Walk and grabbed a bite at Jimmy Buffet's without having to make a reservation six months in advance. We did the park at our own pace, ate wherever and whenever we wanted, and had an absolute blast not having to plan a thing. Even my wife, who is a Disney nut, commented on how much more relaxing it was than WDW.

 

[jakeman]

Disney paid for my $12.49 sandwich (roast beef, yum). If you really think this somehow biased me, I'll write a check to Bob Iger for $12.49 right now. Hmmm, is there anything else?? I think I was handed a bottled water at some point during a visit to Team Disney HQs?

I told you guys he was on the take.

If you could just complete this stack of forms, pee in this cup, and provide 2 liters of blood for testing we can clear this up.

 

[fillerup]

@AustinC - It didn't take very long for you to get a grasp of this place.

As Melvin Udall once said - "Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here."

Now excuse me, but I have to get on over to the Restaurant forum and review a restaurant I've never been to.

 

[AustinC]

@AustinC, unfortunately many people here seem to try and one-up one another on the crazy. You have your faux-execs, your perpetual cynics, your faux-exec perpetual cynics, then you've got the other end that sees zero wrong with Disney—ever. What I'd like to know is whether or not your time in the parks was enjoyable when you weren't actually gathering information. The downtime, if you will. I understand that, really, you're constantly absorbing information for articles like this on reporting trips, but I think you'll understand what I mean with that.

Thanks for the note. Yes, having spent a ton of time reading and researching the parks, it was important for me during my trips to stop and take it all in. And regardless of your opinions on MM+, the truth is, the scale of WDW is really just awe-inspiring, very beautiful. And it's not hard to see and feel -- whether from talking to CMs or guests -- how much love there remains for the parks and their traditions, in a very tangible way.

 

[sshindel]

The real question is if you have any knowledge of Bob Iger having a Huff Po article pulled. Enough of this massive investment in WDW and all of its interesting twists and turns in its development, what are your thoughts on IgerGate?!?


(Note: since you are new, just know this is a joke)

 

[sshindel]

Now excuse me, but I have to get on over to the Restaurant forum and review a restaurant I've never been to.

Brilliant!

 

[fractal]

@AustinC Thanks for the article. Well written and researched. You are crushing much of the vast conspiracy theories that have thrived here of late as well as a "doom and gloom" narrative.

Of course, if your article would have confirmed any of that, this thread would likely be on page 100 by now.

 

[ford91exploder]

Boom.
Home run.

Ouch feel the burn, This should have been the last half of the article

 

[George]

I'd really like to know how many people actually leave their wallet or purse in the room due to having a magic band?

Based on my wallet and purse checks whilst wandering around the resorts (cleaning crews keep the doors open for a while) I'd say about 34.6%. Of those, 79.2% still contain cash and an amazing 6.7% have a printout of a spreadsheet with credit card and log in information since apparently people have trouble remembering it.

 

[ford91exploder]

One thing that most seem to be overlooking is the actual cost to upgrade the wired and wireless infrastructure across all of Disney. I'm willing to bet that cost is NOT included in MM+ costs for the numbers quoted in the article. I am also willing to bet that the "insider" numbers given out DO include this cost. That could easily make up a several hundred million dollar difference. That stuff isn't cheap when you are looking at supporting literally tens of thousands of connections all at once. So maybe that is the real difference in the numbers game. WDW needed the infrastructure improvements anyway, so most execs (I would be one of them), would NOT add that cost into the MM+ pile of money. Only what was actually needed for that project was included, not what was spent to upgrade infrastructure.

Since the infrastructure was needed to support the project the costs should be accounted for as part of the project even if it can be used to support other initiatives unless of course the goal is to obscure the total spend to bring the project to fruition. This is especially true since other budgets were cut to fund the overages associated with MM+