Verizon's "Mobile Magic" Launching in November

[durangojim]

Hopefully they'll have an app like this for their new Android phones next week. The Motorola Droid looks awesome!

 

[devoy1701]

Kenny, I assume you have downloaded the app? How accurate is the information? Is it real time, or is it something like touringplans.com's iPhone app where it's contingent on guest information.

tried downloading it yesterday. It's not available yet. but according to the first post it won't be available until Nov. 1.

I thought maybe it would be ready early...

 

[Rob562]

If Disney did something simple like this or even make an app that shows wait times across the parks, don't you think that would ENCOURAGE park hopping and thereby increase sales?

Say I'm in Epcot at 11:30 with Soarin' and Test Track running at 75 minutes on an EMH day and realize that the wait time for Everest is only 10 minutes, wouldn't I just hop on a bus to switch parks?

I can see two possible reasons for not giving exact times to users outside the parks:

1) Say that you see that the Everest queue is 10 minutes and decide to hop over to AK. But while you're traveling, the queue gets much longer, and jumps to 60 minutes for some reason. How many angry Guests do you think they'll get complaining "but you said it was only a 10 minute wait before I came all the way over here!"

2) It keeps non-Disney companies from having access to real property-wide data on a large scale. This could be as simple as keeping Universal from knowing exactly what Disney's Guests are doing. Or it could be Disney stopping outside companies from using that data for their own gain (like the crowd estimators in the unofficial guide). Or an outside company taking the data out of the app and using it for their own app (like on iPhone) that they profit from.

In either case, they can avoid the problems by limiting the data seen by people who aren't into the park by less-exact phrasing like Light, Moderate and Busy. (Or whatever they use)

-Rob

 

[BenS]

Or an outside company taking the data out of the app and using it for their own app (like on iPhone) that they profit from.

Exactly. There are already several apps out there for the iPhone that harvest park hour information directly from Disney's site. They don't seem to mind terribly, but it seems that for wait times they want exclusive control over the information.

Plus, it might be pressure from verizon. If a third party could gather the data and put it in their own app for iphone/palm pre/android/etc., their exclusive deal would have much less value.

 

[devoy1701]

I can see two possible reasons for not giving exact times to users outside the parks:

1) Say that you see that the Everest queue is 10 minutes and decide to hop over to AK. But while you're traveling, the queue gets much longer, and jumps to 60 minutes for some reason. How many angry Guests do you think they'll get complaining "but you said it was only a 10 minute wait before I came all the way over here!"

2) It keeps non-Disney companies from having access to real property-wide data on a large scale. This could be as simple as keeping Universal from knowing exactly what Disney's Guests are doing. Or it could be Disney stopping outside companies from using that data for their own gain (like the crowd estimators in the unofficial guide). Or an outside company taking the data out of the app and using it for their own app (like on iPhone) that they profit from.

In either case, they can avoid the problems by limiting the data seen by people who aren't into the park by less-exact phrasing like Light, Moderate and Busy. (Or whatever they use)

-Rob

Exactly. There are already several apps out there for the iPhone that harvest park hour information directly from Disney's site. They don't seem to mind terribly, but it seems that for wait times they want exclusive control over the information.

Plus, it might be pressure from verizon. If a third party could gather the data and put it in their own app for iphone/palm pre/android/etc., their exclusive deal would have much less value.

Both of you made very good points that I dont think the rest of us thought of from our angle... I atleast was just looking at it from the point of guest convenience.

 

[Disneyson 1]

Sooo... no news on the calls from characters or in-line games? CHEAP.

 

[mickeypaparazis]

maybe i missed it but what about non verizon cell phones... i got sprint
and how can i find items like this for universal and where

 

[BenS]

maybe i missed it but what about non verizon cell phones... i got sprint
and how can i find items like this for universal and where

It's only for Verizon phones right now. Earlier this year Disney signed an exclusivity agreement to provide mobile park content to Verizon only. I think it was a three-year agreement, so you won't see it on Palm Pre/iPhone/etc. for a while.

Not sure about Universal.

 

[mickeypaparazis]

thanks

 

[mickeypaparazis]

found this coasterq.com u can just use ur internet on ur phone if u have regular internet

 

[Rob562]

found this coasterq.com u can just use ur internet on ur phone if u have regular internet

That site, like most other similar sites and iPhone apps require users who are currently AT the park to input the current wait times. They have no live feeds of wait times from Disney.

The Disney/Verizon application will be real data direct from Disney. And if you go back and re-read the info, there will be SOME information available to non-Verizon customers, but it won't be as specific as exact wait time readings.

-Rob

 

[devoy1701]

So i've tried yesterday and today to download this APP, but I keep getting the same "Either the specified keyword is not valid or the application is no longer available for purchase. Please text a different keyword for a different purchase"

anyone else getting the same thing??? Has anyone been successful at DLing this app?

 

[wherewhy]

same thing

same thing for me...

 

[RSoxNo1]

I assume the App only works in the parks. If that's the case I'm going to hold off until my trip at the end of the month.

Also on coasterq.com - it's a cool site, but it's like the touringplans.com crowd calendar (although probably not as accurate). It's not real time data, it's approximations based on their projections.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I just tried downloading it to my blackberry and got the exact same message. Very irritating.

 

[RAXIP]

We just had a meeting this morning that included some information about this app, focusing on the character appearances. The app is supposed to be available on Sunday, but will not ofically launch untill January. Untill then consider it a soft opening.

 

[msmith]

Are the 'text Magic to 2777' instructions still accurate as far as you know RAXIP?

I'm pulling out of my driveway Friday @ 7pm for our trip and was hoping to get this app installed / working for our week there.

 

[AEfx]

Heck, why do you need a cell phone app in the first place. They make this thing called a map - FOR FREE and it fits in your pocket. Also has 100% service coverage - even indoors.

Yeah, I'm all set with a park map and a times guide in my back pocket folded up.

I love technology, but even if I were a Verizon customer this product holds no appeal for me.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

It's still not working. :-(

 

[PhilharMagician]

As posted by RAXIP it will not be available till at least Sunday.

We just had a meeting this morning that included some information about this app, focusing on the character appearances. The app is supposed to be available on Sunday, but will not ofically launch untill January. Untill then consider it a soft opening.