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Sentinel reports that MyMagic+ executive vice president Nick Franklin will be leaving in July
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
flynnibus
Premium Member
and ironically.. if you pull up the old articles he talks about how it would be such a great fit for the DL AP base... referring to the interactive show effects, etc.
Lee
Adventurer
Nope.
Those of us who hate pre-planning our vacation down to which days we are going on which rides hate it, too.
Hate it a lot, actually.
You don't have to plan 60 days in advance but you can. One day in April I did not make plans until I visited the GF to see the Easter Eggs. Then on the monorail to MK I made my 3 fast pass selections. It was great and April is a busy month. Also according to the reports 75 percent of those staying on property are using it. That is higher than those who used the old system. Remember the new system is supposed to make it easier and more enjoyable for most visitors and based on the results so far it's working. As a stockholder, Mouseowner and WDW visitor I am very happy and so are those I know that only go every few years. It is here to stay and hopefully get even better. One last thing I used the android version last September and in April and found it worked for me all the time.
Nubs70
Well-Known Member
So Franklin leaves in July. This will be just around the time of Q2 earnings are released. In exchange for a 2 month "reprieve", he is most likely subject to a straight jacket of an NDA for years to come.
After Q2 earnings are released, I think TWDC will dump all over him if the numbers don't come out right. If numbers are good, not a mention of him will be made just the wonders of MM+. Either way, he will not be able to set the record straight due to the NDA.
After Q2 earnings are released, I think TWDC will dump all over him if the numbers don't come out right. If numbers are good, not a mention of him will be made just the wonders of MM+. Either way, he will not be able to set the record straight due to the NDA.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
You wanna know what else you can do......?
asianway
Well-Known Member
Not quite as well worded as Ralphies "I don't think a football is a very good Christmas present" theme but a legit attempt
Nemo14
Well-Known Member
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Seriously. Obvious troll is obvious.
Granted, when a magic band works, it works perfectly. Thats not the issue at hand. Nor is when you schedule a fast pass.... whats at issue is dual-fold: whether we should be making guests jump through this many hoops (so we can help disney schedule their labor costs) and exactly how much money it took to get us this far? (A LOT!)
As someone who has spent way too much time around TWDC in the past ten years, I do not see the departure of a 17-year veteran who is in charge of their latest Billion-dollar technological initiative as a good thing. If it were, he would be taken care of and put in a role to work out his 20, getting a full pension. If it were a good thing, management would be taking care of him. Instead, its the end of "The Godfather" and Abe Vigoda is asking James Caan "Can you get me off, for old times sake" before getting Garrotted in the car.
This is clearly a management "hit" for one of a plethora of reasons. None of them are good and none of them should be interpreted that way.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
This is where you and I differ on opinion.
While Disney says "RIGHT NOW, we wont sell your data..." I fear that will change down the road.
As it is, if i could move to Montana and unplug from the grid, I would happily do so. I have a problem with all "Big Data" and google is at the top of it.
NearTheEars
Well-Known Member
Haven't followed much of seascapes posts, but so far, my band and FP+ experience has been awesome for us too. But like I've said before, it's great for the way we tour the parks as local AP. We aren't there 7 days in a row on a vacation with children in tow. Just us 2 adults.
Not trolling, just my honest opinion based on about 8 day trips using the system.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
No, you're not. He clearly is.
My experience with the magic band had been generally positive. It works and its not horrible to set up once you learn the hoops to jump through.
The website is not intuitive, nor is the iPhone app. The information is often wrong.
But the overall problem with the system I have is twofold: One: The system itself. I hate jumping through hoops. Two: the cost of what got us here. Even if $1B turns out to be accurate, you could have built a park for that kinda money.
So I'm about the big picture....
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
..... For a person that has been with this company 17 years? Are you really this näive? I have more respect for you that this.....
Yes, I want facts & transparency as much as you do, but thats never going to happen. This is what happens when people get clipped by upper management. And bearing any documentation that supports him leaving of his own free will, I will continue to believe that he was fired.
wannab@dis
Well-Known Member
Exactly. You and some others hate it. Therefore you spread the misinformation and downright lies about the project. Your buddy leads the echo chamber to post nonsense about Billion dollar overruns that you know is bunk.
If you want to shine the light on actual problems, please do so. Planning a Disney vacation surely can't be on top of the list as people have been doing that for years. The 180 day mark for ADRs has been around for a long time. Adding attractions to that is simply the next viable step that makes sense. If you don't want to make ADRs for food or attractions, then don't. You're free to do so.
We've seen many instances where people make / change their FP+ for the same day (with the exception of BoG and the Frozen M&G). In fact, I would suggest that the FP+ is being handled better than ADRs as those are very hard to get same day. So, the implementation of that aspect is actually better than what's been around for years.
The vast majority of complaints I read about MM+ are being written by the same people that have expressed disdain for the product. They still have more work to do, but it's apparent the project is having a positive impact on many of their customers. My bet is that we'll see the positives continue to roll out and the financials will continue to show upward movement.
NearTheEars
Well-Known Member
Yeah, the cost certainly is one thing I can't stand up and try to justify without seeing a breakdown. There been plenty of rumors about what all nextgen covers (infrastructure, bands, website, access points, apps, wireless, data tracking long-range readers, and a hoard of CMs ...) but we will likely never get a final list.
As a selfish customer with no stock and no real care for how much money they blew, I'm happy with the product.
BUT I'd probably be much happier with a couple of new attractions at DHS instead.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Lets just say for the sake of argument.... Would you rather have a magic band? Or Star Wars Land?
rct247
Well-Known Member
So many thoughts and opinions going on in my mind. Something is not quite right. It smells fishy.
I think this also says a lot. In the past six months, we've seen things move a bit faster. More improvements, roll outs, system upgrades. I have actually noticed less bugs and issues too. MyMagic+ is still growing and the company is still pushing it forward as it really only can do. Things are looking brighter for MyMagic+ as guests are starting to even say they like it. It doesn't mean that it has overall been a success though and I think they did suggest strongly that he time has come to move on.
The Disney company is all about storytelling and also about image. It has a responsibility to be a positive company. Weaknesses are "opportunities" for the company and this is news was probably presented as that... an opportunity for Nick to move on to something else. There is a lot of saving face in this article and the actions it talks about. Nick also is bound by Disney to not speak ill of it. Something that all Cast Members technically do sign away when they become employed. If I was an investor, I wouldn't buy all this and it will be interesting to see how the stock market does respond with time. All I can say is let this eternal Frozen winter that Elsa caused to last all summer long. That movie is racking in the dough and in the long run it will probably be very historic financially for the company as Mary Poppins was. (Mary Poppins spawned the MAPO division leading to lots of funding for animatronic research/improvements in the parks.) Only in this case Frozen will probably be a saving grace for the MyMagic+ system.
(From the Orlando Sentinal article)
I think this also says a lot. In the past six months, we've seen things move a bit faster. More improvements, roll outs, system upgrades. I have actually noticed less bugs and issues too. MyMagic+ is still growing and the company is still pushing it forward as it really only can do. Things are looking brighter for MyMagic+ as guests are starting to even say they like it. It doesn't mean that it has overall been a success though and I think they did suggest strongly that he time has come to move on.
The Disney company is all about storytelling and also about image. It has a responsibility to be a positive company. Weaknesses are "opportunities" for the company and this is news was probably presented as that... an opportunity for Nick to move on to something else. There is a lot of saving face in this article and the actions it talks about. Nick also is bound by Disney to not speak ill of it. Something that all Cast Members technically do sign away when they become employed. If I was an investor, I wouldn't buy all this and it will be interesting to see how the stock market does respond with time. All I can say is let this eternal Frozen winter that Elsa caused to last all summer long. That movie is racking in the dough and in the long run it will probably be very historic financially for the company as Mary Poppins was. (Mary Poppins spawned the MAPO division leading to lots of funding for animatronic research/improvements in the parks.) Only in this case Frozen will probably be a saving grace for the MyMagic+ system.
wannab@dis
Well-Known Member
Hey, I hear you. The timing is suspect and it's not hard to make the leap that his departure is tied to MM+ and the rollout issues they faced. I'm not sure I would use that to deem NextGen a complete failure or Billions over budget. Some are trying to make the leap to the worse case scenario - I simply pointed out the other end of the spectrum is just as possible.
However, I think we both know neither extreme is actually the truth and far more likely it's somewhere in the middle. The project is not a failure, my bet is that it's over budget, but within contingency, but the overall rollout had more issues than they would like to admit. I also bet they are not meeting their internal projections on ROI with increased spending by guests. Again, it's probably not an extreme of zero ROI, but a lower and slower trend of increased spending.
Now, I don't have any facts to back up those suppositions other than the actual lack of facts. (that's the difference with several posters... they just scream like they have the facts when, in truth, they have no idea.) There are no investor notifications concerning massive budget overruns. That indicates it's within the budget plus normal contingencies. Also, there have been statements by executives outlining increased spending, increased occupancy, but they have been clear they do not have enough information to give concise forward statements on the ROI of the project, but that simply it's showing positive outlooks. Again, execs don't talk about positive outlooks if there are massive negative impacts. The investor world for public companies just doesn't work that way.
NearTheEars
Well-Known Member
Star Wars land for sure. Like I said, I'd probably be happier with new DHS attractions.
I would miss being able to grab a TSMM Fastpass in advance, though. I not a big fan of the morning dash.
But since I've emerged from the dark ages and got a smartphone last year, long lines don't bother me as much any more.
wannab@dis
Well-Known Member
Wait. I've seen you state many times that the company should be investing for long term and not short term. I see NextGen as exactly that type of long term investment. IF, and yes, that's a big IF, NextGen ends up creating a lot of ROI over the next 5 to 10 years, what would be the better investment?
Now, personally, huge fan of Star Wars, so I'd rather see both! NextGen for the revenue generation and future money for more investment and Star Wars since it could be awesome.
