We may never know the exact algorithm, but in order for FP+ to be an incentive to stay on property or upgrade accommodations (especially if they get rid of EMH), they will have to promote and advertise some of the details of the advantages.
Dr. Strangelove: Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost, if you *keep* it a *secret*! Why didn't you tell the world, EH?
When it comes to NextGen, quoting from
Dr. Strangelove is appropriate. However, I tend to go for the more obvious choices, either
1984 (“Big Brother is Watching You”) or
The Prisoner (“Be
seeing you”).
NextGen represents a major shift in Disney’s theme park strategy. Even Disney is selling it as a new theme park experience (propaganda for “we’re changing things”). Already, some grumble “I don’t like this” while others grumble “I don’t like that”. Disney needs the public to accept NextGen. They need to get people over the initial hurdle and conceptually accept NextGen. Then, as they make additional changes, they can sell this as “You’ve already accepted NextGen, this is just one more change”. It's a divide-and-conquer approach to negative publicity.
This is why I’ve previously posted that we should expect to see a lot more changes to NextGen in the next few years. NextGen is a long-term business strategy, not a flavor of the month. People have posted that NextGen will fail. IMHO, NextGen will fail only if Disney changes too much too quickly.
We’ve already accepted one less evening EMH. There was a little grumbling but there’s no big revolution saying “We’re never going to WDW again because there’s one less EMH.” What happens when Disney takes away a second evening EMH? Probably about the same. So, in a few steps, WDW will have gone from 3 EMH most nights to 1 evening EMH on only select nights. Disney is slowing reducing the EMH dosage.
NextGen is the new medicine. Disney will be slowing increasing the NextGen dosage. In a few years, I am waiting to hear reports of the following conversation:
Guest: “I logged online to reserve my FP+ for Toy Story Mania and it said nothing was available. I logged in exactly at the 60-day window. How come nothing’s available?”
Disney: “We’re so sorry to hear about that. I see you’re staying at Port Orleans Riverside.”
Guest: “Yes.”
Disney: “It so happens that we can guarantee you a FP+ for Toy Story Mania, Soarin’, and Expedition Everest if you simply change your resort to the Animal Kingdom Lodge.”
Guest: “What are you talking about? I’m staying at a Disney resort. Why can’t I get a FP+ for TSM?”
Disney: “Well sir, you see we allocate FP+ for each of our many resorts. It’s only fair that guests at all of our resorts have access to FP+, you see? Unfortunately, it appears the FP+ allocation for Port Orleans Riverside has been used up. However, I see that FP+ are still available for the Animal Kingdom Lodge.”
Guest: [silence for several seconds]
Disney: “Well sir, what would you like to do?”
Again, the key is to make changes subtly so there’s an evolution in people’s attitudes, not a revolt. For Disney, evolution means profits, revolution means loses.
