Spirited Spring Break News, Observations & Thoughts ...

[flynnibus]

Your understanding is quite accurate.

But there is a reason why that stuff hasn't happened ... and why the interactive queues (even those planned like for Pirates and Pan) just stopped dead.

So why the return of the stuff in the mine coaster queue?

 

[lazyboy97o]

Thanks! Should have realized that Disney has probably spent a bit more on this my local transit agency.

Just like your transit agency, Disney doesn't want long range used for purchases because there is less accuracy. The MagicBand has both short range (what is also in the cards) and long range.

 

[flynnibus]

I'm not an expert on the RF chips in the Magicbands but from my experiences with similar card-based chips on transit systems and such is that you have to hold the chip close to the sensor for it to be read. Also, people make the mistake of swiping the chip when it works best being held still to be read. Unless Disney has some sort of advanced RF technology, I honestly don't see how they could have expected the MAGIC Maker features to work in such a passive way where one just walks around and this stuff Magically happens around you. Even my battery powered transponder for my FastTrak only seems to work half the time.

Simple... because they do have 'some sort of advanced RF technology' - the Magic band has a transmitter in addition to the two RFID tags in it. It has range capability beyond the 'near touch' RFID capabilities.

 

[Tigger1988]

Someone just directed me to a Twitter post saying that Disney has an entire team dedicated to monitoring CM's social media accts. Supposedly on the lookout for negative posts/statements about MM+/FP+.

Oh, the joy if being a CM, huh?

Not seeing the issue. Most companies have social media policies. Honestly if you're stupid enough to publicly say negative things about your employer you deserve to be fired.

Though, anyone thinking this monitoring began with MM+ is delusional.

 

[asianway]

Not seeing the issue. Most companies have social media policies. Honestly if you're stupid enough to publicly say negative things about your employer you deserve to be fired.

Though, anyone thinking this monitoring began with MM+ is delusional.

Here is today's dose of stupidity in that vein:

http://makingstarwars.net/2014/04/m...t-ii-breakfast-with-a-side-of-photo-evidence/

Not hard to figure out here someone that works at sci fi leaked all of this and posted pics from a private event. Hope propping up their buddies Star Wars lifestyler blog was worth getting fired.

 

[Tigger1988]

Here is today's dose of stupidity in that vein:

http://makingstarwars.net/2014/04/m...t-ii-breakfast-with-a-side-of-photo-evidence/

Not hard to figure out here someone that works at sci fi leaked all of this and posted pics from a private event. Hope propping up their buddies Star Wars lifestyler blog was worth getting fired.

What idiots. It will take 10 minutes for Disney to track down who took the pictures. Hope it was worth it indeed.

 

[WDW1974]

So ... the folks in the Twitverse discovered Disney's best-kept (pedophiles at WDI, aside) secret: Disneyresearch.com ... now, I know what all the tweeting is about.

It all seems so harmless, I am sure.

 

[WDW1974]

So, finding George Kalogridis at WDW has been a very tough assignment since he became resort head in early 2013 ... but what happens today? Friends driving around the Dr. Phillips area pull up next to him at a light.

 

[WDW1974]

To froyo or not to froyo tonight ... that isn't really in doubt at all.

Speaking of which, now that you can buy Dole Whip at UNI, what are the Disney fanbois going to overrate as a dessert treat.

So, that crazy Nevada rancher who has a problem paying for grazing cattle on land that isn't his happens to be a raging racist. Nah, who could have possibly seen that one coming?

 

[asianway]

So ... the folks in the Twitverse discovered Disney's best-kept (pedophiles at WDI, aside) secret: Disneyresearch.com ... now, I know what all the tweeting is about.

It all seems so harmless, I am sure.

The fact that it seems so detached...they have their own careers page...seems sinister.

 

[WDW1974]

Spirit....which do you prefer, Resurrection or Believe?

Resurrection, although I have only seen two episodes of Believe, the first one and the last ...

 

[Darth Sidious]

So ... the folks in the Twitverse discovered Disney's best-kept (pedophiles at WDI, aside) secret: Disneyresearch.com ... now, I know what all the tweeting is about.

It all seems so harmless, I am sure.

They had some really cool stuff in the past that made buzzfeed I believe. The Animitronic that can catch a ball was one if memory serves me correct.

 

[WDW1974]

I think Criminal Minds is a great one off show. You don't have to watch every episode but each episode is compelling in its own right. Then you have the Mentalist that has a serialized arc and single episode arcs, which I also enjoy.

Care to suggest any new shows I should give a shot? Preferably one I can easily catch up on.

I am just tired of the grisly serial killer or crazy of the week procedural, so Criminal Minds doesn't do a thing for me.

I find it interesting that the show is co-produced by ABC Studios, though it is a huge hit for CBS.

Of course, ABC also passed on a chance to produce the gold mine that is CSI ... who was running the network back then?

No suggestions right now ... everyone has different taste and we are at the end of the traditional season anyway.

Watch the new 24 on FOX. There's one.

 

[spaceghost]

To froyo or not to froyo tonight ... that isn't really in doubt at all.

Does it come with a cursed Krusty doll?

 

[WDW1974]

Any that would shock the masses?

If you are asking if there are 'names' that people would know, then my answer is ... I better not say (is that like a no comment where of course you are commenting and everyone knows what you mean?)

 

[WDW1974]

That is a concern - but I don't think Disney has been less than transparent, instead they have been very direct.. the data is not for sale. Where they have been vague is how DISNEY will use the data. There is always the concern Disney will change course in the future and how visible such a change would be... the risk is always in the 'power of the data' and how much you can trust the people that hold the keys to the data. Will they be corrupted by the power.

I think a better question is what has Disney done this century to engender any trust from consumers at all?

 

[WDW1974]

What are the odds that a single interactive element (queue enhancement with personalization, character M&Gs where you are addressed by name etc) involving MM+ and Magic Bands will be online by the end of 2014? I know these were integral to the MM+ system, or at least in "selling it" to the guest.

Unlikely.

 

[WDW1974]

Try 1%ers would NEVER even walk into an IKEA. I am calling BS on your "I am a 1%er" persona.

Oh, yes they would ... when they do it for someone else they care about ... and when they are making fun of the products and people the entire time they are there.

 

[danv3]

Speaking of which, now that you can buy Dole Whip at UNI

Wait, wut?

 

[WDW1974]

I don't get the crack down on @HTF or OU. We're talking a very small subset of Universal guests who, generally, are so pro-Universal they make Jimmy Thick look unbiased. HTF's teased hints just hyped the hardcore fanbase up even more, made being a Universal fan feel like being part of an exclusive club.

I suspect it comes back to 2010, when (anecdotally) AP sales dropped 50% between the announcement and opening of WWoHP. Corporate always fights the last war, and I don't know that the higher-ups realize in 2014 Hogsmeade, Despicable Me and Transformers will continue to pull people in no matter what they announce they're building next.

UNI has always had a much tighter grip on social media and leaks than Disney has.

They make it very clear ... while I don't want to talk about any individual, UNI's actions in this department shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

If you think they want people talking about future hotels (see the end of this post), let alone attractions of the future like Kong, they don't. They want excitement for current stuff. Not next year's offerings or stuff that is coming 3-4-5 years down the line.

On hotels, I got a survey after staying at Portofino Bay recently. It was VERY odd, but from UNI. It was only about hotels. There were questions that made you think they were trying to feel out whether they could do away with landline phones, desks, free toiletries, etc ... and what features were the most important when deciding where to stay.

That said, I was weirded out by questions asking me (when I was clear about having no kids with me on my trip) what age should kids be able to bathe themselves and what age should kids take showers instead of baths. They seemed creepy and weird to me.