Spirited News & Observations II -- NGE/Baxter

[WDW1974]

Pardon my ignorance, but hasn't Disney always been a media company that happened to own some theme parks?

Sorta ... but you could argue it was a movie studio that owned some theme parks that kept it afloat during the 1970s and early 1980s.

Disney didn't become a media giant until the 1990s.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

This program seems to be greatly focused on getting as much money from guests during their vacations as possible. I can't see Disney limiting that in any way.

I meant seperate as in a new addition to the existing ones. Allowing more people to pay at once, but creating another line minimizing service.

 

[GoofGoof]

That's up to others. ... I tried last night, but the DIS Boards are impossible to wade thru and their search function was down. I had no idea where the thread I pulled the first incident from was.

But if someone is so damn sure that this is all lies and mistruths (again, really what would be the purpose?), let them go searching. It's out there and there was at least one report on MAGIC thus far ... taking into account that such a tiny portion of WDW-goers actively post on forums, it's pretty safe to say there are others out there that aren't being reported.

The DIS one was posted on the last page:
Spirited News & Observations II -- NGE/Baxter
I even have a cameo on page 2 in this one (I'm a creature of habit and not terribly original). The person confirmed they could see the whole profile originally.

 

[WDW1974]

Programmers don't put in the content... but somebody screwed up. They should really get some perfect people to work there.

Yep. This is the $h&6 happens excuse. .... Since corps are people, they make mistakes. It's just they shouldn't have to suffer for their mistakes like individuals.

If we're all rugged individuals here in the great land of RED, WHITE and BLUE, then why can't companies be rugged? Why do they always need to bend rules and get tax breaks etc? Never can get that one.

Oh, and yes, when dealing with people's private information, they need to be perfect and their current tech isn't anything close ... but, hey, maybe they'll throw a few hundred million more into it (wanna bet those Splash Mountain logs are still filthy when it reopens in three weeks?)

 

[wm49rs]

I meant seperate as in a new addition to the existing ones. Allowing more people to pay at once, but creating another line minimizing service.

Perhaps, but if there's one place Disney would look to keep free of any FP encumbrances, it's their shops.

And I'm not sure I believe the source of this little tidbit either....

 

[WDW1974]

Here is one situation (Names changed to protect the innocent...)

Three things stand out to me:
1- On two attempts, she got access to TWO different accounts. So it isn't that they just have her's swapped with someone else's.
2- Disney called her about it, showing that they are aware and clearly rather concerned about it, even if they can't seem to get a handle on it.
3- She had the ability to modify or cancel the other people's information. Spooky...

From the top:
1.) Right there you minimally have three different accounts being accessed (who knows ho many people because some ressies, like for family reunions, have multiple rooms booked). One might also surmise that the other two parties (likely unaware, but who knows?) can pull up yet others' info since their info is being given to the wrong account/guest;
2.) When you get calls from Disney like that, it's sorta like when a SO you had a fight with shows up with flowers and trinkets;
3.) BIGGEST POINT!!!

 

[Goofyernmost]

That's up to others. ... I tried last night, but the DIS Boards are impossible to wade thru and their search function was down. I had no idea where the thread I pulled the first incident from was.

But if someone is so damn sure that this is all lies and mistruths (again, really what would be the purpose?), let them go searching. It's out there and there was at least one report on MAGIC thus far ... taking into account that such a tiny portion of WDW-goers actively post on forums, it's pretty safe to say there are others out there that aren't being reported.

I believe this is the one that you were referring too:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3065658

 

[WDW1974]

RUMOR....

The Emporium will get a Fastpass for the busy seasons at Walt Disney World.

Anybody else hear this?

I'm not kidding.

Really?
I'm speechless...

Um ... ahm ... ah ... um .... gimmee a few ...

 

[spaceghost]

I know this is the type of post that will have all the techies (who don't care whether the government or Big Business can track them, who think Twitter is the greatest thing since sliced bread, who would rather get their news from blogs than the New York Times or CBS, who are looking at a screen except when sleeping -- even when driving etc) with their undies riding up ... BUT ... Disney has always been about being uique and special and NOT giving into the LCD.

That was how they became the greatest family entertainment company. That was how everything from talking cartoon to full length animation to DL to Audio Animatronics to WDW etc etc were created. It wasn't by giving in and giving people what they wanted.

It was saying 'You don't know what you want, we're going to blow your mind with something you never had a clue was possible.'

Now ... it seems to me that Disney is saying we know our parks are stale and tied and we know we could change that with expensive new attractions, constantly updating parades and live entertainment, even offering new merchandise (I almost drooled like a fanboi in Tony Baxter's presence while looking at TDL's 30th Anniversary merchandise) but instead we'll just give you a reason to constantly be playing with your iPhone or iPad. Who cares if you actually experience the parks, so long as you can get carpal tunnel while walking into people or walls or bodies of water?

You do NOT need any phone or tablet to enjoy a quality theme park. It's all about escaping from the real world, right? How exactly does an app take you into Colonial America or on an African safari or under the sea with the Little Mermaid?

It's Disney doing the easiest thing (beyond any of the other aspects we've talked about here).

I don't disagree that substituting MM+ for development of real, amazing theme park experiences is a bad thing. I also agree that in an ideal world, everyone would look up at the world around them instead of having their heads stuck in their phones, but I don't know that Disney could change that, even if they tried. I think we're at the point where Disney can't ignore the technology that is part of most of our daily lives, and I think that there are smart(er) ways to do that.

I will say that I used my smartphone on my last trip, and it was a nice tool to have. I could sit on a park bench for a minute, relax, and check wait times or review a menu for a restaurant on the other side of the park. As a non-regular those things maximize my time, and I would not consider them to be intrinsically bad.

 

[WDW1974]

I thought chip cards also had the magnetic strip so that it COULD be used here?

I called AMEX two weeks ago to get a Delta Skymiles chip card; so tired of having ticket machines, toll plazas, etc in Europe refuse to sell me tickets with a strip only card. On it's way, she said. A week later a regular strip card shows up, no chip, I call. Sorry, we don't have a Delta Skymiles chip card! Thanks for telling me. Aren't Delta Skymilers world travelers? Don't we deserve chips with our AMEX card? America is sooo behind on this.

Yes ... and yes to eveything below.

 

[WDW1974]

Who is saying something is not wrong?

Did I say anyone was saying that?

Now, people may be playing it down and saying it isn't that serious and tech has it bugs blah, blah and BLAH. But they'll add a disclaimner that it is wrong, but being terribly exaggerated here by people with 'agendas'.

 

[articos]

I thought chip cards also had the magnetic strip so that it COULD be used here?

I called AMEX two weeks ago to get a Delta Skymiles chip card; so tired of having ticket machines, toll plazas, etc in Europe refuse to sell me tickets with a strip only card. On it's way, she said. A week later a regular strip card shows up, no chip, I call. Sorry, we don't have a Delta Skymiles chip card! Thanks for telling me. Aren't Delta Skymilers world travelers? Don't we deserve chips with our AMEX card? America is sooo behind on this.

Catching up in this thread for a few minutes - FlyerTalk actually maintains a spreadsheet listing of Chip and Pin/EMV cards available in the U.S. Pretty helpful. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cred...nounce-emv-cards-chip-pin-chip-signature.html

 

[WDW1974]

One last note, but Disney is having webcasts for DVC this week. What's interesting is there is not a mention (or even a shot) of the Grand Flo and the Villas going up there. And just quick glimpses of Kidani Village and Aulani.

The 18 minutes focuses largely on OKW, Vero, VWL and Treehouses. I can't help, but believe the first two are being focused on because you can buy points on the resale market for as little as $40 right now (maybe even lower). Naturally, Disney wants you to buy from them for 3-4 times as much. I'm sorry, but there is no other reason that makes sense. As to the VWL, I know they are very popular. But I also know that they are 13 years old and haven't had a top to bottom renovation yet. And since SS is currently getting a 'soft good' renovation, and all the WL hotel rooms were recently done from top to bottom, one might assume that it's going to be a while before that happens. So, popularity there may be dropping quickly.

What else from the webcast?

They have a 'deal' going on at AKV, Aulani, BW (yes!), and BLT (yes!)

If you buy 100 points, then you get two WDW 5-day MYW tix w/PH and $500 off purchase;
If you buy 160 points, then you get three WDW 5-day MYW tix w/PH and $1,000 off purchase;
If you buy 220 points, then you get four WDW 5-day MYW tix w/PH and $1,500 off purchase; and
If you buy 320 points, then you get five WDW 5-day MYW tix w/ PH and $2,000 off purchase.

Seems like DVC is a bit desperate to get rid of inventory at older resorts, including some (like BW and BLT) that we were all told have been sold out for many, many years and how impossible it is to get them except on outside resale market.

 

[MattM]

Seems like DVC is a bit desperate to get rid of inventory at older resorts, including some (like BW and BLT) that we were all told have been sold out for many, many years and how impossible it is to get them except on outside resale market.

DVC is such a bad deal, from a strictly financial standpoint. Went to a presentation on a cruise on a rainy sea day...they kept calling it an "asset." I don't think it means what they think it means.

 

[yoyoflamingo]

One last note, but Disney is having webcasts for DVC this week. What's interesting is there is not a mention (or even a shot) of the Grand Flo and the Villas going up there. And just quick glimpses of Kidani Village and Aulani.

The 18 minutes focuses largely on OKW, Vero, VWL and Treehouses. I can't help, but believe the first two are being focused on because you can buy points on the resale market for as little as $40 right now (maybe even lower). Naturally, Disney wants you to buy from them for 3-4 times as much. I'm sorry, but there is no other reason that makes sense. As to the VWL, I know they are very popular. But I also know that they are 13 years old and haven't had a top to bottom renovation yet. And since SS is currently getting a 'soft good' renovation, and all the WL hotel rooms were recently done from top to bottom, one might assume that it's going to be a while before that happens. So, popularity there may be dropping quickly.

What else from the webcast?

They have a 'deal' going on at AKV, Aulani, BW (yes!), and BLT (yes!)

If you buy 100 points, then you get two WDW 5-day MYW tix w/PH and $500 off purchase;
If you buy 160 points, then you get three WDW 5-day MYW tix w/PH and $1,000 off purchase;
If you buy 220 points, then you get four WDW 5-day MYW tix w/PH and $1,500 off purchase; and
If you buy 320 points, then you get five WDW 5-day MYW tix w/ PH and $2,000 off purchase.

Seems like DVC is a bit desperate to get rid of inventory at older resorts, including some (like BW and BLT) that we were all told have been sold out for many, many years and how impossible it is to get them except on outside resale market.

Just a quick note: I've never seen them say BLT was sold out. I know our guide (at the Doorway to Dreams out here on Long Island - another unfortunate situation the way that was handled) I know they kept saying it was getting close and was going to sell out any day, but I don't think they ever made it. What made it worse is they kept raising prices - how did they think they would sell out inventory at over $165 a point? I'm sure this is definitely part of the need to unload old inventory, but I think not raising points every other month and adding more resorts left and right. Maybe they should sell out their current rooms before adding more and more and more....

 

[Rodan75]

Seems like DVC is a bit desperate to get rid of inventory at older resorts, including some (like BW and BLT) that we were all told have been sold out for many, many years and how impossible it is to get them except on outside resale market.

I think that positioning is more about 1. Creating a class difference within the DVC 'classic' and new premium properties i.e. GFV. And 2. By creating some demand for the 'classic' properties they will buy more points at ROFR and resell them at 2x the cost.

They should be offering even bigger deals on the classics if they want to slow the resale market.

 

[WDWFigment]

Catching up in this thread for a few minutes - FlyerTalk actually maintains a spreadsheet listing of Chip and Pin/EMV cards available in the U.S. Pretty helpful. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cred...nounce-emv-cards-chip-pin-chip-signature.html

Our C&P cards came in real handy when traveling abroad, but as you can see, the options are limited.

We ended up going with the Hyatt Visa, largely because we stay at Hyatts fairly regularly and didn't have a hotel card.

Bouncing to another topic... @WDW1974, do you have a link to the TDR 30th merchandise?

 

[GoofGoof]

I could be wrong, but the webcast and deals for DVC are for add-ons for existing members not the general public. There are and always have been a limited number of points available for all DVC resorts due to right of first refusal and foreclosures on Disney financed DVC points. I only know this from researching the market before buying. Just for the record I have never written a book on Timeshares or DVC and I don't work for a company that is or will potentially profit from DVC sales

 

[GoofGoof]

DVC is such a bad deal, from a strictly financial standpoint. Went to a presentation on a cruise on a rainy sea day...they kept calling it an "asset." I don't think it means what they think it means.

DVC is a prepaid vacation plan. You are paying today for future hotel rooms. If you pay today for something that has future value according to GAAP accounting you have a prepaid asset. So yes, it would be an asset. Check the balance sheet of most companies and you will find something along the lines of prepaid assets. Now what I dont agree with is when I have heard people call buying into DVC an "investment" - Buying in today with the hope that your DVC points will go up in value.

 

[MattM]

DVC is a prepaid vacation plan. You are paying today for future hotel rooms. If you pay today for something that has future value according to GAAP accounting you have a prepaid asset. So yes, it would be an asset. Check the balance sheet of most companies and you will find something along the lines of prepaid assets. Now what I dont agree with is when I have heard people call buying into DVC an "investment" - Buying in today with the hope that your DVC points will go up in value.

Ugh, embarrassed. I meant investment, not asset. you're exactly right.