The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[AEfx]

Spirited Sunday Quickee (and aren't they the best kind, really?):

But if you want to know what Disney's contingency plans for MM+ failure is then you should have shown up yesterday at WDW with old, expired tickets.

Yes, for a time, you could have entered any WDW gate, including water parks, with anything that had at one time been Disney ticket media. Everyone was simply allowed in. There is a backup of data, but nothing that was used (I am not even clear if there is an actual way to do this at the gate.) So ... you could have had a free Saturday at the MK or EPCOT or both if you liked.

Oh, and with unlimited FP's too as touch points were put into a default/override mode that allowed every one to essentially turn green, so you either rode immediately or were given free PAPER FP's to return ...

Can't you just see it now?

We had folks crying about how the "tricks" of the old FP system gave an unfair advantage - which was pretty laughable, but anyway - I wonder what happens when this becomes public knowledge, and folks who are "in the know" start to find out that when MM+ is down, it's a free for all. I bet dollars for donuts someone sets up some sort of Twitter alert to notify folks of such a thing.

Do they even keep paper backup at restaurants anymore? I can just see the "MM+ is down! This is our chance to get into CRT!" happening if not.

In any case, I'm sure there were an awful lot of unhappy guests yesterday who used Disney's system to schedule down to the minute their day, and then without access to that schedule, were very unhappy about the stuff they missed as to most normal folks (i.e. not us) memorizing what you had scheduled based on names on a website - particularly for new visitors - would have been almost impossible.

That said, reports say that stand-by times were actually down because there wasn't all the appointment-FP folks in line, which just goes to show how unnecessary the entire thing really is, to begin with. If folks just walked around and did what they wanted, and maybe had a paper FP for one special ride, how things naturally kind of even out and don't need what is an absolutely ridiculous, unprecedented scheduling of leisure activities.

 

[AndyMagic]

Oh come on love, anything that can be spun as negative, regardless of topic, is your bread and butter.
PMSL at your faux insight, after all great visionary on one of your many many many boring social commentary's, odd I thought such things were verboten, were you not pontificating about the economic factors at play. You talk so much crap I accept it must be difficult to keep track. Your shifting stance on Universal has been notable, one would begin to suspect a whoring aspect were it anyone less independent.

But Im delighted, means more rides for me on what will be the last trip to Orlando for a few years.

I was confused by his odd statement as well. I haven't been keeping track lately but the random jab as Universal's supposed lack of attendance seemed out of left field. I thought numerous insiders have already confirmed that attendance at both Uni parks are way up since Diagon Alley and that the huge amount of additional capacity added over the last few years has done a good job of absorbing the traffic.

 

[Sped2424]

As much as I detest clowns they do attract a crowd and it would be dumb to let them go.

 

[bhg469]

Spirited Sunday Quickee (and aren't they the best kind, really?):

But if you want to know what Disney's contingency plans for MM+ failure is then you should have shown up yesterday at WDW with old, expired tickets.

Yes, for a time, you could have entered any WDW gate, including water parks, with anything that had at one time been Disney ticket media. Everyone was simply allowed in. There is a backup of data, but nothing that was used (I am not even clear if there is an actual way to do this at the gate.) So ... you could have had a free Saturday at the MK or EPCOT or both if you liked.

Oh, and with unlimited FP's too as touch points were put into a default/override mode that allowed every one to essentially turn green, so you either rode immediately or were given free PAPER FP's to return ...

Isn't that special?

You spend BILLIONS on a system that basically has no fail safe when it crashes. You either let in any/every one at the gate or you have a riot that winds up on media around the world within minutes.

BTW, this IS the same issue that resort CMs (recall, one allowed a certain Spirit to 'check out' their little MM+ toy scanner) reported when the system would go down and everyone would have to have their entire bills (food and booze) simply comped because there is only one system with NGE.

You do know that some businesses are moving back toward a cash to pay system, right? And many nations, Japan being one and they aren't tech neophytes, favor cash versus credit?

I'd love to know what the last 30 hours have been like for George Kalogridis, Jim MacPhee, Meg Crofton and Co.

I don't think it's been a great weekend ...

I have said this multiple times. I am in the ticketing industry and our system would not allow for this... even if the system is down, expired media is expired. The scanners know what should he valid.

That is unacceptable!

 

[flynnibus]

I bet dollars for donuts someone sets up some sort of Twitter alert to notify folks of such a thing.

And like most stuff.. if enough people abuse it.. we all lose.

In alot of directions.. its just easier and less confrontational for the company to just 'let it go' rather than try to enfore a strict model in these situations. If it just serves to escalate the situation and increase the risk of conflict... why do it? It's better for the company that is CS focused to just let it go unchallenged'.

Does anyone think the obsessed that hang out waiting for this moment actually NEED a free entrance to the parks? They all have APs to start with

Do they even keep paper backup at restaurants anymore? I can just see the "MM+ is down! This is our chance to get into CRT!" happening if not.

As outlined by a CM in the other thread - yes, they do have a paper backup and they don't rely on the MDE system anyway for their data.

 

[flynnibus]

I have said this multiple times. I am in the ticketing industry and our system would not allow for this... even if the system is down, expired media is expired. The scanners know what should he valid.

That is unacceptable!

Yeah, but is your media renewable? Or 'rechargable'? You're kind of apples and oranges.

 

[Nubs70]

Can't you just see it now?

We had folks crying about how the "tricks" of the old FP system gave an unfair advantage - which was pretty laughable, but anyway - I wonder what happens when this becomes public knowledge, and folks who are "in the know" start to find out that when MM+ is down, it's a free for all. I bet dollars for donuts someone sets up some sort of Twitter alert to notify folks of such a thing.

Do they even keep paper backup at restaurants anymore? I can just see the "MM+ is down! This is our chance to get into CRT!" happening if not.

In any case, I'm sure there were an awful lot of unhappy guests yesterday who used Disney's system to schedule down to the minute their day, and then without access to that schedule, were very unhappy about the stuff they missed as to most normal folks (i.e. not us) memorizing what you had scheduled based on names on a website - particularly for new visitors - would have been almost impossible.

That said, reports say that stand-by times were actually down because there wasn't all the appointment-FP folks in line, which just goes to show how unnecessary the entire thing really is, to begin with. If folks just walked around and did what they wanted, and maybe had a paper FP for one special ride, how things naturally kind of even out and don't need what is an absolutely ridiculous, unprecedented scheduling of leisure activities.

This Twitter alert concept is precisely an event a certain organization would love to analyze from a group dynamics perspective. Imagine if you knew a failure was to take place and you could watch a visualization of the social media activity.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

I've seen Dreams. It is absolutely stunning. But I hope it - or a variant - never replaces a true MK fireworks show. As pretty as the effects might be it'd be a huge step back for a park that's able to produce pure pyro spectaculars nightly.

Peter Pan and 'Clochette' (Tink) battling it out in a movie projected on the castle, however fun, is not as profound as seeing the unlit castle subtly change colour with the fireworks.

Fireworks have something primal about them, they set the sky ablaze like sheer thunder and lightning. It plays on your instincts, you are both intimidated and mesmerised. Wishes is ultimately more powerful than Dreams.


Also, clowns are stupid. No more clowns in the MK is brilliant news.

 

[Mouse Trap]

I was confused by his odd statement as well. I haven't been keeping track lately but the random jab as Universal's supposed lack of attendance seemed out of left field. I thought numerous insiders have already confirmed that attendance at both Uni parks are way up since Diagon Alley and that the huge amount of additional capacity added over the last few years has done a good job of absorbing the traffic.

Attendance is up (obviously), but its quite a bit off what Uni expected. Hence the lift on blackout dates for Power Passes and employee tickets. There have also been large cut back on employee hours. These clearly are not actions you take when your expectations are met.

 

[AndyMagic]

Attendance is up (obviously), but its quite a bit off what Uni expected. Hence the lift on blackout dates for Power Passes and employee tickets. There have also been large cut back on employee hours. These are clearly not actions you take when your expectations are met.

Or management prepared for the worse and took precautions to prevent another 2010 disaster and they are now adjusting accordingly.

 

[Mouse Trap]

Or management prepared for the worse and took precautions to prevent another 2010 disaster and they are now adjusting accordingly.

Lifting blackout dates are not a method of adjusting to large crowds...

 

[AndyMagic]

Lifting blackout dates are not a method of adjusting to large crowds...

No. They are a method of adjusting to crowds that have been managed appropriately due to planning and successful crowd control.

 

[Mouse Trap]

No. They are a method of adjusting to crowds that have been managed appropriately due to planning and successful crowd control.

Or for a summer that has so far appeared to fall short of expectations for all of central Florida theme parks.

 

[John]

Or for a summer that has so far appeared to fall short of expectations for all of central Florida theme parks.

My hunch is that its going to get worse before it gets better. You will see lighter then normal crowds in peak seasons as well. The middle class is having serious trouble in this economy. Things are catching up. I am in no way going to get political here but there is a shoe that is about to drop.....and it isn't going to go well. What you see now is just the beginning.

 

[Mouse Trap]

My hunch is that its going to get worse before it gets better. You will see lighter then normal crowds in peak seasons as well. The middle class is having serious trouble in this economy. Things are catching up. I am in no way going to get political here but there is a shoe that is about to drop.....and it isn't going to go well. What you see now is just the beginning.

I have an opposing, but not total disagreement, in your viewpoint of the economy. Especially after last weeks economic reports, but let's steer away from this before the thread really implodes with political/economic banter lol.

One theory I'm considering is the US theme park market is beginning to show signs of tapping out. Huge amounts of people pass through these attractions every year, and its getting hard to see parks such as the MK grow to house 20+ million visitors a year regularly.

This is why dominance in foreign markets could be huge.

 

[John]

Yeah, lets steer this conversation back to WDW.....I agree. I too will disagree with your assessment to a point. It may well be, Disney seems to think the same thing. It is said that it is why we got MM+. They think the market is "tapped" out. They are trying to figure out more ways to squeeze money out of the guest they have. Problem with that is they cant squeeze money out of a guest that isn't there. As we see it isn't a symptom just exclusive to Disney, no in fact all of Orlando seems to be down. There is more to it then everyone who visits Orlando is simply getting bored of the place.

 

[FigmentJedi]

Studio Ghibli has announced that it is shutting down their production arm and shifting into just managing the IP they've created over the years. Serious end of an era.

 

[flynnibus]

all this doom and gloom talk about attendance...

last I looked it was freaking HOT SWEATY AUGUST... not peak holiday season.

 

[Hakunamatata]

Yeah, lets steer this conversation back to WDW.....I agree. I too will disagree with your assessment to a point. It may well be, Disney seems to think the same thing. It is said that it is why we got MM+. They think the market is "tapped" out. They are trying to figure out more ways to squeeze money out of the guest they have. Problem with that is they cant squeeze money out of a guest that isn't there. As we see it isn't a symptom just exclusive to Disney, no in fact all of Orlando seems to be down. There is more to it then everyone who visits Orlando is simply getting bored of the place.

Or the economy is no where near where it is reported to be. When a significant number of full time jobs get switched to part time jobs (another reason for the push to up the minimum wage) to dodge a particular law, peoples discretionary income drops and a place like Orlando will feel it all the way through the cycle until things actually get better.

 

[Quinnmac000]

Studio Ghibli has announced that it is shutting down their production arm and shifting into just managing the IP they've created over the years. Serious end of an era.

I'm so so so sad. However, now my unopened copies of Spirited Away, My Neighborhood Totoro, and Howl's Moving Castle will become valuable to collectors.