Can Disney admit that FP+ and MDE are a fail?

[ellie05]

I think is too early to say it is a failure. Disney fans don't like change remember the whole Starbucks on Main St? So yes many people on this boards don't like. Also the people on this boards are the ones that knew how to make the most out of FP to begin with. New guest won't have anything else to compare it with and I honestly don't think that the average Disney guest got more than 3 FP a day anyway.

So far from my experience (I haven't been to the parks yet, but will be there in less than a month) I have things that I dislike about the whole reservation portion of it.
I really don't enjoy having to do tour plans so far ahead and with such detail. It creates more work because if crowd levels change I have to start all over again, but if this doesn't change I can deal with it.
However the tiers need to go it is just ridiculous. Also the ability to make reservations for FP in more than one park and for the same ride need to change.
I honestly would like better if I didn't have to make the FP+ reservations far in advance but instead the day I get to the park and instead add maybe 1 or 2 more FP.

I really like the MB. Less to carry around and not a problem for the water parks.

I am sure there will be changes made to the system and I think it has the potential to be something really great.

 

[Hoodie]

This is really only the first phase of MDE. The possibilities for the technology are expansive. I read an article when this was first proposed and they anticipate having personal character interactions, CM interactions, the ability to spread more pixie dust based on your profiles.

We're leaving in 2 1/2 weeks for our first fast pass experience. I'm actually happy to have the advance booking (even though I'd like more FPs like everyone else). Unlike other posters, I've been incredibly annoyed with the MDE app. Ghost FPs, app and website crashing, unbelievably slow. We've used it to book everything and then transferred everything to a spreadsheet because of the MDE unreliability. That aspect so far has been a failure.

Will this change our touring style? Most likely. Do I think this is all set in stone? MDE and FP+ are here to stay but the details may change. Maybe they'll add tiers, add extra FP+ for a fee, add a rotation for FP (you can always have 3, but need to use one before adding the 4th, etc.) who knows? This is cutting edge (I did hear a rumor that Universal is following suit with their version) and as such will have lots of bugs and kinks to work out. It won't be termed a "failure," it will just receive "enhancements"

 

[Laketravis]

Wis, I'm not debating whether or not there will be changes. I was simply pointing out that if everybody was happy with it, there really wouldn't be much reason for Disney to change anything about it.

And you are right - theme parks are only a portion of Disney's overall operations and MDE is an even tinier portion of that. Which means if there is any mention at all of MDE/Nexgen, that mention alone is significant.

 

[Pooksie]

If that's true then I guess there is no reason for Disney to change anything about FP+ and MDE.

Ok I'll bite even though you weren't responding to me...
But hey, this is a discussion board so....

Disney will certainly make changes to the system as a whole based on user feedback, not because it's a failure. They roll out a system, they get feedback, and they adjust accordingly to suit the needs of the guests and their own interests. This would be done to a "failure" system and would also be done to a "successful" system. Everything can always be made better, and only the Disney top level brass knows whether Disney considers the system a failure or a huge success. Either way, it's out with the old and in with the new, in whatever for "the new" takes...

 

[Laketravis]

Ok I'll bite even though you weren't responding to me...
But hey, this is a discussion board so....

Disney will certainly make changes to the system as a whole based on user feedback, not because it's a failure. They roll out a system, they get feedback, and they adjust accordingly to suit the needs of the guests and their own interests. This would be done to a "failure" system and would also be done to a "successful" system. Everything can always be made better, and only the Disney top level brass knows whether Disney considers the system a failure or a huge success. Either way, it's out with the old and in with the new, in whatever for "the new" takes...

Correct. And if Disney makes changes based on user feedback, that means there was a significant amount of user feedback.

My comment was for those who indicate that the amount of feedback is relatively small when put in perspective. I'm offering that if that is the case, then Disney would have no reason to increase the number of FP's per day, eliminate tiers, permit use of FP's in multiple parks on the same day or allow multiple FP's for the same attraction.

Because, as you pointed out, if there aren't enough people complaining about those elements, there is no reason for Disney to change them.

("Devil's Advocate").

 

[Bluegrrl]

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201311/3790/

This article is one of the reasons I ask. I just use New Coke as an example. Personally, I like Mexican Coca Cola. The actual sugar is really yummy.

Thank you guys for the civilized discussion - everyone is great!

 

[maybeecatlady]

I encourage everyone to listen in to the Disney webcast taking place in about an hour. Good news or bad, it will be the most reliable source of information.

Where can I find the webcast?

 

[saskdw]

Wis, I'm not debating whether or not there will be changes. I was simply pointing out that if everybody was happy with it, there really wouldn't be much reason for Disney to change anything about it.

And you are right - theme parks are only a portion of Disney's overall operations and MDE is an even tinier portion of that. Which means if there is any mention at all of MDE/Nexgen, that mention alone is significant.

The "changes" were coming right from the start. It's all part of the plan. This isn't some new angle because of complaining, it's part of a pre existing plan.

 

[Dis703]

No, because it is not a failure.

I agree. I don't think it's perfect, but I don't think it's a failure by a longshot.

 

[photo_chick]

OK, the wording of the post is a little weird, so if anyone has a better wording, let me know and I will change it.

Is there a possibility that Disney will just give up at one point and say that MDE and FP+ are an epic fail? For example, Coke gave up on New Coke, even after pouring $$ into it. McDonalds has given up on many new products even after massive testing and promos.

Do you think Disney will just man up and say that guests are plain unhappy and angry about this system? That commandos, one-timers, off-sites, APs, and locals are all pretty upset? (OK, some loved it, but then again, some people loved New Coke.) That its sucking $$ from other needed projects?

Will Disney backtrack on FP+ and MDE, or will they keep steamrolling the product and telling us that we must love MDE. It's so high-tech and how Walt always wanted to be innovative; that he would love this idea.

It will only be considered a failure if park attendance drops and they can directly point to the new system as a direct cause. That will not happen. If anything attendance will go up because the buzz will people who have previously never been to WDW going to see what FP+ is all about and those numbers will likely be greater than the few who will actually never return because of FP+. Just like New Coke generated interest in Coke again, especially when they "brought back" Coca Cola Classic.

Edited to add... also keep in mind that the article linked to was written in November. When paper FP was still in the parks and FP+ was unavailable to everyone. It's also largely editorial.

 

[Angel Ariel]

They just announced that they are making changes to MDE, and I have no doubt that changes to some of the specific parameters of FP+ have always been contemplated. I just don't expect those changes while all of the operational transition is going on.

I'd be interested in reading about this....do you have a link?

 

[clsteve]

Here is a story from CNBC about what analysts are looking for in Disney's earnings announcement, which should be coming any minute:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101389421

It helps to keep in mind that the theme parks are just one piece of the whole Disney company, and I wouldn't expect analysts to be focusing too specifically on how the MM+ rollout is going. We'll see.

Maybe there is a Diser analyst who can ask when the number of FPs will be increased and when we can get FPs in more than one park per day.

The follow-on analyst Q&A sessions that will take place over the next six weeks, or so, will give a better opportunity for what you're describing.

 

[Laketravis]

Where can I find the webcast?

Here you go, it's about to begin:

Webcast

 

[Laketravis]

The "changes" were coming right from the start. It's all part of the plan. This isn't some new angle because of complaining, it's part of a pre existing plan.

Ooooooooh, okay. "The Plan". So if they increase the number of FP's from 3 to say, 5... it's because they "planned" on giving everybody 5 from the start and just thought it would be fun to piss off a lot of paying customers for more than half a year by only giving them 3?

Or could it possibly be because enough people complained that 3 wasn't enough?

 

[bopper]

You have your own definition of success and failure.

What it is Disney's? Is it to get more people to stay on-site with incentives like FP+?
Is it to get more people to make dining reservations because it is easier?
Is it to get more people to stay in the park for more days (and not go to SeaWorld or Universal)?

 

[momof2n2]

Ooooooooh, okay. "The Plan". So if they increase the number of FP's from 3 to say, 5... it's because they "planned" on giving everybody 5 from the start and just thought it would be fun to piss off a lot of paying customers for more than half a year by only giving them 3?

Or could it possibly be because enough people complained that 3 wasn't enough?

There's not enough Kool-Aid for me to believe that is part of "The Plan." But I'd love to hear they were listening to concerns and upped it... No matter what they say as they do it.

 

[Kren]

Admittedly I am no longer a Disney regular -- we only go for one day once a year, on average. And I've only just last week begun researching all of these changes for the first time after sticking my fingers in my mouse ears for the last year.

Forgive me if this is an old idea -- but it seems to me that Disney is putting the structure in place to go to paid levels of acces, a la Universal. They'll just do it so "magically" that you don't mind paying an extra $30 or $50 a day to get what you got for free years ago.

At which point, I will stop going. (And I date from the days of E-ticket rides)
I abhor the concept of VIP access to the parks for only the people who can afford the extra cost. It reeks of class warfare.

 

[flicx]

Let's put it this way. I wouldn't want to be the person who came up with this extremely expensive and so far underwhelming idea. Unless there is something big in the future that we haven't seen yet this billion dollar idea is a bust! IMHO

 

[Shaden]

Here you go, it's about to begin:

Webcast

Tis exciting

I think I am going to work out though

 

[keaster]

Interesting note from the Orlando Sentinel article on today's earnings results:

"Disney said its park profits are still being hampered by continued spending on the rollout of MyMagic+, the billion-dollar technology imitative that remains in extended testing at Disney World."