Spirited News and Observations and Opinions ...

[Disneyhead'71]

I like how you tried to turn this into I was ragging on Make a Wish. Despite appearances, you aren't that stupid.

I don't even understand what you are talking about here. How did '74 say that you were criticizing Make-A-Wish Foundation?

And I have to admit that your original post about it didn't make much sense either. But
I believe what you were saying is "How dare we criticize something that make dying kids happy". Or based on our criticisms of WDW we might possibly disuasde a dying child from going? As I said I don't really get your original post.

 

[HMF]

Ricky Brigante is completely supporting Iger....

Of course he is, otherwise he would lose his meal ticket.

 

[RSoxNo1]

At that level, no such thing as a social visit.

I know the agenda is MyMagic+ and pretty much nothing else. ... I have heard they even have selected families (different ethnic groups too, conveniently) to model the bracelets and show the big shots how they light up Mickey's head at entrances etc.

But there have been major issues simply getting a small test group ready. ... And if you can't have the system up and running for say ... the guests at one deluxe resort who have bought packages with the company (i.e. no room only deals), how the hell can you expect to roll this out for EVERY guest that passes under the Pixie Dust Coated Arches?

If they can't sync your vehicle design with your test track car, how are they going to use this as a primary driver of new revenue?

Perhaps those people saying "what are you worried about?" are correct - We are all assuming that they can actually get all the necessary technology working properly.

To argue my own counter-argument though, it's like Police officers in the LA area, they're excellent at giving out tickets because that creates revenue - conversely cleaning up graffiti doesn't create revenue so there is less of an incentive to waste resources on that. What they don't see though is that run down areas have lower cost of living, generate lower taxes and ultimately mean less money in the coffers of the city/county/state.

 

[WDW1974]

Just a quickee from the good folks at WKMG, the CBS affiliate in O-Town:
http://www.clickorlando.com/news/Lo...4626/-/format/rsss_2.0/-/iu7ek0z/-/index.html

 

[HMF]

All Markey needs to do is read the internal doc that Lee posted for you to understand that it wasnt ludicrous or utterly ill-informed.

We should forward that to congress, somehow.

 

[briandoc]

I don't even understand what you are talking about here. How did '74 say that you were criticizing Make-A-Wish Foundation?

And I have to admit that your original post about it didn't make much sense either. But
I believe what you were saying is "How dare we criticize something that make dying kids happy". Or based on our criticisms of WDW we might possibly disuasde a dying child from going? As I said I don't really get your original post.

You are right, I obviously wrote it wrong if I have to explain it. I was merely commenting on how after reading all of these posts that try to make a point of how bad of a shape WDW is in, how stale it's grown, how mismanaged it is that I can't even read a compliment about WDW without thinking but "where's the complaint?" Is someone going to jump out and yell Troll, or pixieduster?!

It had nothing to do with Make a Wish, it just happened to be part of what the article was about. It's last few lines was what made me think of how tainted my image of WDW has become after reading all of these posts.

 

[SirLink]

Of course he is, otherwise he would lose his meal ticket.

Pete Whiner is as well...

 

[Captain Chaos]

We should forward that to congress, somehow.

All you have to do is email the congressman... Easy enough...

 

[flynnibus]

We should forward that to congress, somehow.

Go ahead and provide false information to a congressman .. That should get you real far

 

[SirLink]

Go ahead and provide false information to a congressman .. That should get you real far

How do you know it is false? Any proof...

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Is vacationing at Universal Orlando Resort instead of Walt Disney World what Igor means by "Opt Out"?

Or here

 

[HMF]

And I don't think that there is a problem with Rep. Markey asking what Disney's protocols are after reading in the NYT that Disney plans on putting Electronic Location Monitoring Bracelets on children. And why wouldn't he do this behind closed doors? Well his jobs is to protect his constituency. And if he feels he is doing just that, wouldn't he want them to KNOW that he is doing that? Wouldn't you want your boss to know that you are doing your job?

I think the problem is that many are so used to congressmen not doing their job that when they actually start doing it, It's alarming to some people. In all seriousness though this really is the type of issue Congress should be looking into.

 

[WDW1974]

Please forgive me if this issue has been addressed previously. I don't have the time to peruse all of the remaining posts to answer my question.

Does anyone know or have there been any discussions regarding the requirements to use the TragicBand if you're not staying at a resort on property?

I'm asking because of the obvious impulse buying support offered by the technology, which is the main reason why TWDC is spending upwards of $2B to implement it.

Will users of the TragicBand be required to give Disney a valid credit card number in order to use it?

If the answer is yes, then those guests who do not have a credit card or those who'd rather pay for everything in cash, particularly those visiting for just one day, will get a far less inclusive park experience without it. Which would be nothing short of deliberate hostage taking of your buying habits, not to mention punishing those guests with less socioeconomic status.

I don't believe a CC will be required -- at first.

But the way the business model has been explained to me seems to suggest that either a credit or debit card or even a Disney gift card account deal may well be required down the road.

But since Disney isn't really interested in answering questions right now (and I believe they are not sure of how things will go between all the operations problems that have shown up plus all the negative PR, which is likely only starting), I'm not sure there really is an answer ... yet.

Should I start talking about Disney doing credit checks on guests? Nah. I'll leave that for when I have more energy.

 

[WDW1974]

I am getting more and more the feeling that Disney must not be happy about this project at the moment. Having to deal with a potential PR problem as well as with operational difficulties that still cannot be solved does not sound like this is going well. So what is that further wrinkle you were speaking about earlier??

Sorry, @Bolna but I haven't been given the OK to place that out just yet ...

 

[WDW1974]

Yes. I was there and spoke with the guy who asked.

Don't you just love to watch a man with Iger's wealth and power totally lose it when asked a fair question?

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I simply think the Congressman's concerns arose after reading in The New York Times that Disney intends to collect personal info and put Electronic Location Monitoring Devices on children. He read it in a public article fed to the New York Times (which means his constituents probably did too) by Disney and I don't see why it is inappropriate for him to address it publicly so that his constituents that read the article could also read his response to it and then Disney's answers. What he got was an obstinate and petulant response from the CEO. I think Iger's response is exactly opposite of what he thought he would get. And it does little to ease anyones concerns and actually raises giant red flags.

 

[asianway]

I don't believe a CC will be required -- at first.

But the way the business model has been explained to me seems to suggest that either a credit or debit card or even a Disney gift card account deal may well be required down the road.

But since Disney isn't really interested in answering questions right now (and I believe they are not sure of how things will go between all the operations problems that have shown up plus all the negative PR, which is likely only starting), I'm not sure there really is an answer ... yet.

Should I start talking about Disney doing credit checks on guests? Nah. I'll leave that for when I have more energy.

Based on how much theyre planning to jack the prices, a credit check would only be prudent.

 

[WDW1974]

See? That's the part I'm not getting.

If putting a credit card on file is optional, then how in the heck is Disney going to make back their huge CapEx investment on this thing?

TragicBand will supposedly increase guest spending by 11% via impulse buying.

If the device isn't linked to a credit card, the impulse buying power is lost.

So wouldn't TWDC push for the credit card link for TragicBand, for a faster ROI on NextGEN?


This now begs another question:

Will TragicBand eventually become available only to those guests staying on property or those who agree to link their credit cards to the device?

I don't see it being 'much' of an issue if they require credit cards because most guests do. ... Now, certainly for some it will be an issue.

A CM pal recently told me of someone who dropped by the front desk of a DLR Hotel and paid up with $4,000 cash.

But it is strange when the credit markets are so much tighter than they once were (I've had friends with sterling credit have $20,000 lines cut to $2,000 with a whole $500 owed on the account), and more people are likely using cash than in say 2005, that Disney would want to tie guests to credit ... well, unless credit worthiness was now going to factor into your MAGICal WDW vacation experience.

 

[WDW1974]

How many people will be asking about this? I would like to go but can't. I wonder if security will be beefed up this year? I thought last year's security was ridiculous....you know the supposed attempt on the weatherman's life.

It is crazy.

I know he's been at EPCOT and the MK today already. I'm wondering how many security types he had with him
(boggles the mind that I know billionaires who actually own companies, not manage them, who go out on their own with no security, yet Iger needs a 24/7 $1 million a year security detail).

What an effing ego.

 

[WDW1974]

Alternatively, people could refrain from private name calling and we would all be spared this nonsense in the first place.

And, alternatively, people could stop ASSuming that just because someone said they were called something that: 1.) it is true; and 2.) it was uncalled for in that private situation.