The Spirited Seventh Heaven ...

[flynnibus]

Just why should I ... should anyone not in the Cult of Jobs ... give a **** about this (yes, I am serious)?

Outside of the Daily Disney theme park fan.. this would make WDW look progressive and hip to the latest Apple trend.

Ironically, it actually competes a bit with the idea of a wristband payment system that negates needing carrying around payment info.. and will be easier to do payments with. But alas will not be as portable or life-proof as the Magicband.

For those of us who do follow the daily Disney... it's interesting to hear Disney can roll out a new payment process like this in under a quarter... yet can't work out it's own payment and admission processes in 2x that amount of time.

 

[flynnibus]

I find the Watch more relevant, which essentially has all the functionality of a MagicBand (payment, hotel room keyless entry). A FastPass+ type application with scheduled reminders, reservations, etc. seems sort of a no-brainer.

The potential to... but isn't really a replacement because
- it's not lifeproof
- it probably doesn't necessarily have the RFID types needed for hotel entry
- won't likely have the market penetration

Meanwhile.. Disney will give you a band for free.. that is disposible, replace-able, waterproof, and carefree enough you can give it to your 6yr old.

The watch could have a nice place as a 'optional' replacement.. but any sort of break-even on investment of that would probably never materialize and it can't replace the bands entirely if it doesn't have the correct RFID types.

 

[Tigger1988]

The problem though is when the middle-distance is advocated as something superior when much of the risks involved are still there, just without the conveniences offered by the newest.


Similar statements were made about the proliferation of newspapers.

 

[BrianLo]

The potential to... but isn't really a replacement because
- it's not lifeproof
- it probably doesn't necessarily have the RFID types needed for hotel entry
- won't likely have the market penetration

Meanwhile.. Disney will give you a band for free.. that is disposible, replace-able, waterproof, and carefree enough you can give it to your 6yr old.

The watch could have a nice place as a 'optional' replacement.. but any sort of break-even on investment of that would probably never materialize and it can't replace the bands entirely if it doesn't have the correct RFID types.

Oh absolutely not a replacement, you aren't equipping a family of 5 with 350$ watches to enter Disney, but it's pretty easy to program some of the functionality for it. I just thought it interesting that some core functionality technically overlaps with the purpose of the MagicBands.

Also Starwood (W Hotels) are using it for hotel rooms, as mentioned in the Keynote. W is their hipper 30's-something brand and easier to rollout with the number of hotels in that brand. Perhaps the chain as a whole will eventually use it across all their brands. SPG has a good relationship with Apple though, like Disney or Nike they usually pop up in keynotes as early developers for new feature sets.

Unless you mean RFID specific to Disney hotels... then I have truly zero idea.

 

[flynnibus]

Unless you mean RFID specific to Disney hotels... then I have truly zero idea.

The keylock systems are not universal -- there are competing systems out there.

Disney probably has more hotel rooms in WDW than the W brand has in it's entire chain

I've stayed at the W in midtown.. think..

 

[lazyboy97o]

Also Starwood (W Hotels) are using it for hotel rooms, as mentioned in the Keynote. W is their hipper 30's-something brand and easier to rollout with the number of hotels in that brand. Perhaps the chain as a whole will eventually use it across all their brands. SPG has a good relationship with Apple though, like Disney or Nike they usually pop up in keynotes as early developers for new feature sets.

Did they ever say if the Starwood system is using NFC or Bluetooth? NFC makes sense but earlier this year Starwood had announced their own system that would use Bluetooth because that is more widespread.

 

[DisUniversal]

What I have said, and will continue to say, is that I think most people today in the USA are far too interested in their toys and not reality. Apple is only the worst because of their smarmy we do everything better 'tude. Creating a HUGE amount of technological trash by putting out a new iPhone about every 59 days isn't doing a whole lot for making the planet a better place.

59 days? Not saying it necessarily applies to you, but generally when one has to exaggerate (especially by a factor of 5) to make a point, the point is pretty weak. As for making the planet a better place, iPhone's are often traded in and recycled before being simply dumped. Can the same be said for a company that brainwashes people into buying multiples of the EXACT SAME product (Magic Bands) in whatever they decide the "Flavor of the Month" is?

Also...it's not like Disney doesn't also have a "we do everything better 'tude", however lately that attitude is painfully and blatantly unwarranted.

 

[BrianLo]

The keylock systems are not universal -- there are competing systems out there.

Disney probably has more hotel rooms in WDW than the W brand has in it's entire chain

I've stayed at the W in midtown.. think..

Ha ha ha, that may actually be their lobby/elevator music exactly! The U.S. ones are a mixed bag, but I've been to W Hong Kong, Taipei, Montreal and Santiago as well: amazing hotels and the best breakfast offerings I've ever had, particularly the former two. They are the only hotel chain I've been to that I would describe as "happening", but if you can't stand open concept bathrooms or don't come anywhere near a 30-something *single* business type in demographic, stay clear!!

You are probably right, they have 50 hotels so on a per-room basis they can't be off the mark from Disney. As far as I'm aware they all use the tap-to-enter cards so it must mesh well with what they've built into the Apple Watch.

On a sidenote: They are very confused when I show up and don't have an employer paying for my stay and tell them I'm a student on a leisure trip (in fact they were paying technically, thanks SPG). The WDW type would blow a gasket at the brand, I'm sure.

Did they ever say if the Starwood system is using NFC or Bluetooth? NFC makes sense but earlier this year Starwood had announced their own system that would use Bluetooth because that is more widespread.

Think I already answered your question @lazyboy97o. I think they already use an NFC type system across the W brand.

 

[TalkingHead]

Check out all those earbuds.

 

[Suspirian]

This Disney Parks Blog post about WDW's billboards is astonishing.

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2014/07/disney-billboards-more-than-meets-the-eye/

It's astonishing because the billboards, for the most part, look so bad, and yet the blog post manages to brag about the "hidden details."

Too bad the post doesn't mention the FP+ billboard with two guys, one of whom is wearing a red t-shirt, riding side-by-side on Splash Mountain. Hidden details, indeed.

I'm more surprised by the fact that they made an article about billboards

 

[ParentsOf4]

One quickee, but anyone here see the special $199 DVC Pass for WDW? It's a four day ticket, BUT you can only do one park per day and MUST do EACH/EVERY WDW park.

Seems like desperate move to get DVCers trapped in parks that they have given up largely to me.

Your thoughts?

The myth is that DVC members are big spenders.

The whole reason to buy DVC is to save money. That's DVC's hook. Long-term, DVC is a less expensive way to stay at WDW's very expensive (and very profitable) Deluxe Resorts.

DVC units have kitchens. Many DVC members cook meals in their rooms. They're not eating at WDW's overpriced restaurants with their increasingly disappointing menus.

DVC members are repeat WDW visitors. After the initial, "Wow, isn't WDW great!" phase, they get bored with the same attractions, just like anyone would. That means they start looking for other things to do. A lot simply spend the day poolside. At night, they know the best spots outside of the parks to watch the fireworks. Heck, in growing numbers, a lot spend the day outside the WDW bubble. (Gasp!)

They don't want to pay Disney's DVC-discounted $484 Annual Pass price or even Disney's $294 4-day MYW base ticket price.

Until Disney actually builds exciting new attractions, offering DVC members ticket discounts is the only way to get many of them back into the parks.

 

[spaceghost]

What I have said, and will continue to say, is that I think most people today in the USA are far too interested in their toys and not reality. Apple is only the worst because of their smarmy we do everything better 'tude. Creating a HUGE amount of technological trash by putting out a new iPhone about every 59 days isn't doing a whole lot for making the planet a better place.

I don't care what device you're addicted to, they don't make the world better.

I don't need an Apple watch. I have a nice one. A Disney one. It tells time.

Seriously, when are we going to go with the Apple chip in your cornea?

Was that last part a reference to this? If not, enjoy!

 

[twebber55]

The myth is that DVC members are big spenders.

The whole reason to buy DVC is to save money. That's DVC's hook. Long-term, DVC is a less expensive way to stay at WDW's very expensive (and very profitable) Deluxe Resorts.

DVC units have kitchens. Many DVC members cook meals in their rooms. They're not eating at WDW's overpriced restaurants with their increasingly disappointing menus.

DVC members are repeat WDW visitors. After the initial, "Wow, isn't WDW great!" phase, they get bored with the same attractions, just like anyone would. That means they start looking for other things to do. A lot simply spend the day poolside. At night, they know the best spots outside of the parks to watch the fireworks. Heck, in growing numbers, a lot spend the day outside the WDW bubble. (Gasp!)

They don't want to pay Disney's DVC-discounted $484 Annual Pass price or even Disney's $294 4-day MYW base ticket price.

Until Disney actually builds exciting new attractions, offering DVC members ticket discounts is the only way to get many of them back into the parks.

you pretty much nailed my family..im a dvc owner, ive gone outside MK to watch the fire works and we cook in the villa..heck 3 of the last 4 years ive gone to uni and im sure uni will be part of our trip next summer

 

[asianway]

One quickee, but anyone here see the special $199 DVC Pass for WDW? It's a four day ticket, BUT you can only do one park per day and MUST do EACH/EVERY WDW park.

Seems like desperate move to get DVCers trapped in parks that they have given up largely to me.

Your thoughts?

Once I plunk down two Hondo for that...how far apart am I from a Uni AP? Cuz I agree with @ParentsOf4 - DVC people are deal hunters

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Fair enough, it's a bit of a generational difference in some respects and far easier to keep distance from technology in the first place than to break yourself from it once you get "sucked in". Although I don't need so much hyperbole to get your point.

From a Medical education/delivery perspective though, iPhones/iPads make life a hell of a lot easier/a lot less medical error. Even from a monitoring perspective the Watch is tricking the American public to wear a Halter monitor, not the worst thing on our road to Wall*E's ECV's-in-a-starship dystopian future.

Do you/have you used any sort of Smart product? Phone/tablet?

Personally, I believe we're headed to a Hedonism without consequences future. Everyone looks pretty and happy, but what happens when the technology that enables their behavior goes away...

Ultimately the issue isn't that technology exists, but how folks choose to use it.

 

[GoofGoof]

One quickee, but anyone here see the special $199 DVC Pass for WDW? It's a four day ticket, BUT you can only do one park per day and MUST do EACH/EVERY WDW park.

Seems like desperate move to get DVCers trapped in parks that they have given up largely to me.

Your thoughts?

A decent deal if you were going to spend a day at each park anyway. Saves about $95 off of the face of the 4 day ticket. The 4 day/4 park requirement is obviously intended to spread crowds and combined with no hopping ensures no split visits to AK/DHS. I'm wondering if this is a trial run for a ticket they are planning on rolling out to the general public.

As a DVC member I'd prefer just a standard $95 discount off of any ticket priced over $294 so that I could get the number of days I want plus park hopping. But I'm sure this isn't offered just as a perk for DVC members.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

The exec in charge of marketing for "Guardians" and "Maleficent" got a promotion.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-marvel-movie-marketing-executive-731544
Also, here's a series of ads from Japan for "Guardians" and they are exactly what you expect them to be.

 

[Snowflake82]

...I have plenty more now, but I am waiting for the OK to put it out. I don't see this as anything like a ''total derailment'' ... but it does appear to be more than a ''small bump'' ... the execs had crazy expectations for DA and it couldn't have ever delivered on what they wanted. They should just be happy with the great results they have had, but is never how this game is played.

I don't have any trouble believing this. We had a blast in DA (and spent more than I had planned), but I was surprised to see how many shops had permanent overflow queues built that I doubt will ever be used. As someone mentioned, the one place that needs is the ice cream parlor!

(@Gabe1, I think you have Len Testa confused with Lou Mongello?)

 

[marni1971]

Well, there have actually been some negative comments of late about TDL's recent (and pricey) Jungle Cruise redo. I haven't looked at videos/pics because I hope to experience it soon.

The projection mapping is very well done in a very well chosen place that adds to the legacy rather than destroying it.

Circle of Life however.... playing in that scene? Really?

 

[ThemeParkJunkee]

Do it! Nobody who saved up to go to Tokyo Disney (a trip that costs less than two WDW vacations for most people) ever regretted it! DisneySea is the promised land of Disney parks, we can only dream of Orlando offering something like that.

Thank you and all the people who liked this post. I respect the opinions on this forum and will be planning my next Disney/International trip to Japan. Great group here BTW.