Spirited News and Observations and Opinions ...

[Darth Sidious]

If TDO looked at data as seeing their resort grow at a scrap of 1% per year, less people buying merch, etc. compared to the competition something would of triggered by now...

It triggered NextGen.

 

[Darth Sidious]

I don't want to tread too far off topic of current events because some folks can never get back on track and some people simply derailed years ago!

But ...



Nashville is actually amazingly lensed and, despite not being a fan of country music at all, has become one of my 'must sees' ... the Neighbors isn't the total piece of crap most critics ripped it as being. But it is sorta the idiot stepbrother in a night of quality TV. I do laugh at it, but wonder how long it can last. The Middle is quite good (and I can not stand Patricia Heaton in general). Modern Family remains the best comedy on TV, as close to perfect as they come. And Suburgatory is really good.

I do greatly enjoy Once Upon a Time (the gay Lost as a friend calls it!) quite a bit. ... I also have slowly become a fan of Happy Endings despite it really just being a new version of Friends.

As to films, I am interested in EVERYTHING Disney has on its 2013 slate for various reasons. Considering how few films they release, that ain't hard.

I'm glad you like OUAT as well. My girlfriend got me to watch it and its too creative to not like. Sort of felt weird liking a storybook show but its well done. I'm interested on what they add next. I hope Johnny Depp agrees to a few eps as Jack Sparrow. Anyway I agree with your post I am looking forward to their releases. Disney still knows movies... Guess it depends on who is in charge and their background (it isn't in P&R).

 

[xdan0920]

re: Transformers. I have heard that they will start cycling ride vehicles through the system TOMORROW. And that the TM training schedule has been moved up by a month.

Just thought I would throw that out there.

That's pretty incredible.

I'll be at Uni the first week of April, I wonder if I might sneak into a soft opening.

 

[SirLink]

It triggered NextGen.

Nope that didn't triggered NextGen Nick Franklin getting the boot triggered Next Gen to save his job...

 

[WDW1974]

There was plenty of entertainment today if you knew where to look. For example, I sat back and enjoyed some popcorn while watching a magical Melt-down take place.

Yeah, I missed the whole sideshow, but it's still available out there if you know where to look. Or have a smart friend tell ya!

While I expected that eventually something like that would go down, the way it did ... nope, didn't see that coming. You never want to live a double life (especially in your own mind).

 

[WDW1974]

These are Georgie's actual words: "I had the opportunity to have lunch with a guest and I asked them what they would like to see changed from a guest experience and he nailed every component of what MyMagic+ will offer guests, so I am quite sure the guests will love it."

He doesn't say he "met" anyone -- which might suggest a chance encounter with a randomly-selected guest -- or elaborate exactly where the interaction took place. Rather, he simply says that he "had the opportunity to have lunch" with someone, which is general enough to encompass an arranged meeting with a pre-selected individual, while still being technically truthful.

It wouldn't surprise me if this mystery MyMagic+ enthusiast just happened to be surnamed... oh... "Mongello" or something similar.

Yes, I would hope Georgie is smart enough to realize he isn't going to be able to get away with those types of set-ups without a certain Spirit being on his all the time. ... I would truly hope he learned enough to realize the CPSMC isn't going to be able to quell the criticism of what needs to be called out.

I am VERY excited to see just how he handles his first day ... I have the feeling he'll be out at MK and/or EPCOT for a chunk of it playing the caring leader card.

 

[BryceM]

I never made any comparisons to attendance. That is some stupidity you injected.

The fact remains - DAK alienates a lot of people. It's subject matter, it's focus, it's attraction roster, it's identity.. all contribute to many people not being interested in the place.

Identity? Surely you must be joking. It's one of the strongest parks when it comes to sticking to its original identity.

It's such a beautiful park, and its a shame to see it be put down like this. Yes, it could use more attractions. Yes, it has some weak spots. But overall, it has to be the most beautiful park on Walt Disney World property and saying that it alienates people is absurd. There is just so much more to it than rides.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Identity? Surely you must be joking. It's one of the strongest parks when it comes to sticking to its original identity.

It's such a beautiful park, and its a shame to see it be put down like this. Yes, it could use more attractions. Yes, it has some weak spots. But overall, it has to be the most beautiful park on Walt Disney World property and saying that it alienates people is absurd. There is just so much more to it than rides.

But it does have that ugly wart on it's cheek known as Chester and Hester's.

 

[WDW1974]

The saddest part of this? The mom and dad who make $40,000 a year and have saved and saved to take their children to Disney. They can't afford to stay on property. In all accounts, their time at WDW is probably going to mean more to them and be the trip of a lifetime. Literally.

Sadly, they'll get to experience less because they won't get the perks like FP+ now.

There used to be a time when ANYONE could go to a Disney park and be treated like a millionaire. Isn't that what it should be all about?

They spout Waltisms left and right, but they have stopped using two famous Disney corporate talking points:
1.) Everyone is a VIP (although I often see this when celebs are around, printed in the Tell a Casts, to prevent CMs from asking for autographs or photos and the like) and;
2.) WDW's goal is to exceed every guest's expectations.

WDW is already a caste system and it will be moving toward that even futher thanks to NEXT GEN. Ask any frequent flyer who isn't at least Gold with a major airline how that feels. THAT is where your MAGICal WDW vacation is heading.

Forget about datamining (I can't but go ahead). Forget about FP+ and what that entails (I can't but again feel free).

The issue is just an extention of what we've been seeing for years. Pay more, get less. If you are addicted to Pixie Dust you'll make excuses, but if you simply love WDW and the Disney Legacy, well ... you'll likely have a far different reaction to the smoke and mirrors and tired marketing that is supposed to clear out your savings and max out your AmEx cards.

 

[BryceM]

But it does have that ugly wart on it's cheek known as Chester and Hester's.

I know... I really despise that thing...

 

[WDW1974]

Sorry to beat the casino thing to death. I responded to the OP before reading this. Like I said in my other post if they don't offer any actual rewards this will bomb. We are definitely on the same page there.

That is the crux of that comparison and where it goes bad. The more you spend (whether casinos or airlines or hotels) generally the more perks you get. Yes, actual FREE stuff or services not given to others etc.

That doesn't look at all like what Disney is going to be doing with MyMagic+. It's simply taking the concept, gutting the loyalty aspect (the glue that holds it all together and still finds me flying United when they destroyed MY airline, Continental) and thinking the remainder is all that matters.

When I pay more to fly 'my airline', I do so expecting to often be seated in First Class for FREE. I do so expecting to not have to be nickel and dimed over luggage. I do so expecting that I can visit my airline's club for free Internet, comfy seating and the ability to chug back 2-3 free Bloody Marys before my flight.

Going to the casino loyalty model, when you go into a casino while it's likely you'll leave with less money than when you entered, it's not a guarantee. You can win. ... At a theme park, you always spend what you intended (and usually ... and then some more). The model won't work despite what the highly paid consultants and folks from Cisco/Accenture have promised.

But I really want to get back to tracking bracelets ... and whoever thought this was a good idea (Nick Franklin ... cough ... cough ... Jay Rasulo ... choke). Are we all going to be prisoners of the Mouse?

And at what age is it acceptable to track? The government has said 'under 13, don't even think about it' ... yet, that is exactly where Disney's target is.

 

[WDW1974]

I understand your not endorseing it. You also give a lot of If"s and"s an but's. GIving discounts is nothing new. They do the same thing now with pin codes. I think the "perks you outline would be more in line with a mod resort level guest. Value resort level guest wil be value accordingly. But this is just symantics. I have booked many of trips for many people. Modt of the vaule resort customers are at a value resort for a reason. What your trying to do is "upsell" them. Again doing something that Disney hasnt done outright....in your face. Its a unsavory sales tactic that was just below what Disney would particapate in....but now a days....who knows.

Upselling has been done for years at WDW. Generally, it is done when they overbook (oh, and they'll overbook FP+s too because the algorithims will tell them that 2.7% of MK visitors on Tuesdays in March don't show up etc) resorts.

I've seen people booked into the CBR for $99 a night 'upsold' into a one bedroom at OKW for $20 more a night. I've seen peopse booked into the Pop Century 'upsold' to the WL for less than that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Identity? Surely you must be joking. It's one of the strongest parks when it comes to sticking to its original identity.

It's such a beautiful park, and its a shame to see it be put down like this. Yes, it could use more attractions. Yes, it has some weak spots. But overall, it has to be the most beautiful park on Walt Disney World property and saying that it alienates people is absurd. There is just so much more to it than rides.

That really is not relevant to whether or not the identity puts people off towards the park. You can even see it amongst Disney fans who rate the park lower than others and dismiss its offerings which do not fit into the Princess obsessed, over planned, shotgun-style vacationing.

 

[WDW1974]

That's why I'm seriously afraid that the morons running Disney still want to sell the parks to somebody else. The behaviors are distressingly similar to behaviors I've seen before: cut costs, spend as little as possible, screw the employees - all to build up surplus, pay debts down and make the property more attractive to potential buyers. TDO's behavior frustrates and scares the hell out of me sometimes. I wonder what's really going on...

I often know what's going on and I still admit I don't always get it because it flies in the face of common sense and even business sense ...

 

[WDW1974]

Again, your habits and your purchase history on an individual level are worth money - and anyone who claims otherwise so wrong they're either completely ignorant or spreading an agenda.

THIS!!!

There is almost nothing as valuable to corporations (or the government for that matter) than the ability to know as much about you as possible. And the value of that information ... even as raw data is simply HUGE.

If it wasn't, then datamining simply wouldn't exist.

The potential for both profit to corps and harm to individuals is impossible to quantify at this point. ...But maybe in two decades when we're all implanted with iChips and our every move is simply data, then folks might take their privacy seriously (seriously, if I hear one person tell me 'I don't care, I have nothing to hide, I'll find something that they do have to hide ... it's (sadly) quite easy in 2013)

 

[Disneyhead'71]

That's pretty incredible.

I'll be at Uni the first week of April, I wonder if I might sneak into a soft opening.

I believe that early April is probably too soon. But with the way this project is going, I wouldn't be surprised if it did.

 

[John]

Upselling has been done for years at WDW. Generally, it is done when they overbook (oh, and they'll overbook FP+s too because the algorithims will tell them that 2.7% of MK visitors on Tuesdays in March don't show up etc) resorts.

I've seen people booked into the CBR for $99 a night 'upsold' into a one bedroom at OKW for $20 more a night. I've seen peopse booked into the Pop Century 'upsold' to the WL for less than that.

I have to disagree with you on your analogy ( dare I disagree with 74) In your scenario I believe it is a more of....we made a mistake and I am going to give you a $400 a night room for $20 more. Versus when you might be at the check in desk and they say....hey instead of staying here a POP we can get you a room at WL for $240. Thats more then the 30% we are advertiseing. As I have said the resort experience is much different then the park experience. Now in thier ads I suppose they will include some type of "upsell" package with extra FP's...or the extra magical experience. Hence the in your face upsell.

 

[WDW1974]

I tend to agree with the notion that people will spend what they're going to spend regardless if it's being monitored or "data mined". But, I'm also having a hard time coming up with a reason this benefits the customer/guest more, or even equals what WDW gets from this. Giving me something "extra" that we all used to get isn't that wonderful. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I'm feeling like WDW/TDO thinks I'm not very smart or I simply don't care. Again, maybe I'm reading this wrong, but so far, that's my take.

Nah, you get it quite well.

It's sorta like what Disney did with EMHs. Sure, if you were/are a resort guest that just happened to be headed to a certain park on a certain night, then you could stay an extra three (now two, soon none) hours.

BUT ... what certain people (like my old pal Jakeman ... wonder what happened to him!) always seemed to either forget or not know was there was a time when EMHs didn't exist, but ALL the parks were open later in the summer, Christmas, Spring Break, select weekend for ALL guests.

Disney thinks no one realized that EPCOT and Disney-MGM used to regularly have 11 p.m. and midnight closings, so they look at three hours on a Monday night as something special. It isn't.

Oh, and let's not point out how much cheaper it was to visit WDW 20 years ago when parks were open later for all!

 

[WDW1974]

I tried. I really did try to read all 129 pages of this thread because it was so darn interesting but alas I must admit I had to skip chunks of pages before my eyes melted.

I really like this thread/forum. There really seems to be a lot of caring people on here. But that brings with it soooo much complaining about everything.

But in the end, after I was done, I still came to one conclusion.

I love Walt Disney World.

I hope all of the issues and management failings get worked out along with the constant display of corporate greed over the customer experience. But my reality is that I will continue to go for the joy that it was and now is for my 2 and almost 4 year old. I am so ecstatic to be able to take them where I have so many great memories. I was born in Jan 1971 and have been to Disney once or twice every year since that opening year. Having stayed on property most of the first 20 years and now being off property a stones throw away as a timeshare owner. All of these trips made from Pennsylvania.

Oh the memories. I just hope a lot of these issues and ill-planned cost cutting measures get worked out over time. All of these trips over the years and I've never been to Universal. No real plans to go either. But I see it in our future as my kids grow up if Disney doesn't do more to expand for the middle-aged kids and adult patrons.

Anyways, I still love WDW. There, I said it. Thanks for all the great posts.

The question is why not try UNI ... or SW? You understand WDW is offering a lesser product. Are you simply addicted? And, yes. that is a serious question and, no, not meant to be insulting. Just a simple question because many people who mindlessly visit WDW are certainly addicted just like a gambling, , food, booze etc addict is.

Have you ever been to DLR? What about the international Disney resorts? Have you taken a cruise with Disney (or someone else for that matter)?

I still love WDW too ... or else I wouldn't be typing this post, but I long stopped having an exclusive relationship with it. ... It's sorta like there being a lot of fanbois in the sea and maybe settling down with one isn't the smartest thing.

 

[Captain Chaos]

'74, please say the Epcot project that may be going forward ISN'T the DVC in world showcase or even built in the parking lot... Please say it is something in the park that will actually make the park better, and no, I'm not talking another dining option... I mean an attraction.. A full fledged attraction...