Lets talk MM+.
1) Infrastructure
This is expensive, and anyone who is net based or cellular based to make their living (as I am, I can't be disconnected for very long, and I'm becoming more and more the norm) will say, the infrastructure at WDW was lacking...severely lacking. I can relate stories where I've had terrible internet (wireless) at CBR or Pop even as recently as 2012. Not to mention cellular coverage being spotty both at the parks and the hotels (one year, at CBR, I only had cellular coverage just outside my room door, and since I had a conference call with a vendor, had to keep running outside to talk to them, then back inside to do something on the computer, then back outside to talk to them some more).
I can happily report, with two resorts (CR and POFQ) that in 2013, this was not an issue. And, this upgrade is expensive, but frankly and urban level infrastructure upgrade which needed to be done.
Of the rumored 2 billion (I don't fault the number), I wonder how much of it was that...and...yes, this needed to be done. Period.
2) Magicbands
Ok, they are gimmicky. Their marketed "value", which is ease, is vastly overrated (the old KTTW system did pretty much everything the MB system does, the best new feature is Photopass integration, really). However, they also are quite convenient (except on some hotel room doors where it physically hurts to put your arm in the right position for "mickey to mickey"...as a side note, it would be better to mount the readers mid-door...maybe an upgrade for the future).
Many kids won't want to wear them all day, just like many kids didn't wear their lanyards all day, and that's an annoyance for parents. It's not as simple as a card to slip into a wallet as the KTTW was. But, overall, it's not a bad concept.
Some of the promises made for it's RFID features are a bit sky high once you break them down to operations, and senior management (like Staggs, who probably thinks SEO is a solid investment because his retarded business buddies think so as well) shouldn't have marketed them as a plus...but, that being said, traffic shaping and other data collected from the bluetooth section of the bands is extremely useful to improve park operations (not sales/revenue...operations).
However, if you look at it from their perspective, while improving operations efficiency is massively important for the bottom line, it's also not sexy to investors (unless you plan to outsource, that is sexy). Especially if it involves significant initial investment. So, rather, you sell it as something else.
3) FP+, MDE, Magicbands
MDE and FP+ gets lumped in with Magicbands more then it should. They are separate systems that integrate. Yes, Disney is trying to get you to stay on site, but also Disney is trying to pull a Progressive/Geico move (I use that analogy because I work in Insurance, and it's apt). They want to cut out the middle man.
Hence, MDE...
Sites like this, and more importantly, tons of travel agents, not only in the US but overseas, make a mint (not saying forum sites make a mint, just using it as a point) off of Disney...planning peoples vacations, people asking for advice...etc...etc...etc...
This means there is a medium, a rather large one (this isn't the only, nor the largest, WDW site out there) which Disney does not control.
Heck, there are people ON THIS FORUM who have paid for touring plans, apps for their phones and travel services. Nothing wrong with any of that, but again, look at it from Disney's standpoint.
They want you to use them and WDTC, that's it. And, if you were in their shoes, you would feel the same.
By creating tools to make it easier for people to plan their trips (such as MDE), and added "benefits", like FP+...they not only target those who may plan to leave the property (they really don't care, chips all out, if you go to Uni for a day, as long as you stay in one of their resorts...they really don't...think about it, you pay an inflated hotel rate, but stress their resources less...they don't care. Heck, they'd love for you to stay at PORS for 3 days but only visit Uni. Talk about profits! Sure, they'd rather you stay on property and spend money with them, but they already made their cash off you...the rest is gravy.)
But, back on track, they not only target those who may plan to leave property, they help those who are unsure of their visit plan out their days to STAY on property. There is a LOT to do at WDW, and with MDE, Disney has decided to toss that out in the open for every guest to see, and think about, before coming.
No more being overwhelmed before a trip and turning to forums for advice or creating spreadsheets. No need to go to allears or here or something to get restaurant hours and menus. Instead, you can get all you need from MDE.
And, I think that is a VERY smart move on their part. And very forward thinking. They can control the content, they can control the message...
But, back to FP+...there's nothing wrong with the system. It's neat and it works well. It's far more likely to be taken advantage of by people who know the parks (for example, regulars at MK are FAR more likely to get a Peter Pan FP+ then those who think that the teacups are a terrible wait...)
But, it is what it is. I enjoyed it. I don't see it as a bad thing for those who are staying on site. Criticisms that it hurts guests who stay offsite are valid, and frankly...I don't care. Disney doesn't have capacity issues with the parks, and it shouldn't manage as if it did.
Those who say it's unfair, I'd point out that staying at a "deluxe" (since there are about to be two levels) Universal hotel grants you UNLIMITED FASTPASS...and yes, you can buy it if you stay offsite, but if you do, you may as well pay to stay onsite. Disney is using the same exact tactic (without marketing it to you every 20 feet, like they do with Express Pass at Uni).
4) Customer Facing and Back Office Systems redesign and integration
This is what I think is largely missed. Ever visited disneyland.com or disneycruise.com recently? They are integrating all their sites (and back end systems) into one. They are starting to look and operate very similar to the WDW site. This is a MASSIVE expense, but carries with it the potential for future operations.
For example, planning a split visit (WDW -> DCL -> WDW) trip this past year carried with it some hassles...however, with integrated systems, this would not be the case.
And THIS, is what the 2b is really for, I suspect. Getting them all on the same operating platform...eventually worldwide. And this is a good thing.
Summary
Is it a massive financial failure? As marketed to the general public (that it would drive per guest spending up)...probably, actually, it's hard to say it wasn't a failure.
But, is it a failure as a whole? I would say no. I think, in this case, the executives are quite aware of these issues, and this is the trojan horse they used to sell it to the outside world (namely investors).
But, that's my opinion. And, for the record, I largely am not a fan of MM+...and I've voiced that several times. However...
Like it, or hate it...MM+ is, as has been mentioned, "too big to fail"...but it's a lot more than plastic bracelets and phone apps.
