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

[Laketravis]

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

Several were forced to put on their parachutes the last half of last year.

 

[saskdw]

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?

Yes, that is exactly it. Keep the number of FP per person down while they work the bugs out of the software. Once it's operating within acceptable parameters move on to the next phase. Really not that hard to understand is it?

 

[ucfknight]

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."

The exact wording from the quarterly report is:

Parks and Resorts
Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 6% to $3.6 billion and segment operating
income increased 16% to $671 million. Operating income growth for the quarter was primarily due to
increased guest spending at our domestic parks and resorts, which reflected higher average ticket prices
and food, beverage and merchandise spending. The increase in guest spending was partially offset by
higher costs for the continued roll out of MyMagic+ and labor and other cost inflation, partially offset by
lower pension and postretirement medical costs.
Operating income at our international parks and resorts was comparable to the prior-year quarter as
increased guest spending at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and higher attendance at
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort were largely offset by lower attendance and occupied room nights at
Disneyland Paris.

 

[Shaden]

Yes, that is exactly it. Keep the number of FP per person down while they work the bugs out of the software. Once it's operating within acceptable parameters move on the the next phase. Really not that hard to understand is it?

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I don't believe it's a failure. It has its flaws, but it is definitely not a failure. My family went Christmas week, booked all of our FP+ 60 days out and did not wait for a ride once during our trip. We were also able to change FP+ selections during the trip and the day-of our selection.

With that said, MagicBands and FP+ may be succeeding in a way we, as consumers, do not see. While I'm young in my career in advertising, I have spent years studying marketing and advertising and understand that the root of the MB is not to enhance your experience.

Yes, maybe in Walt's day, the MB would have been created to give a more magical experience. Today, it's simply part of Disney's marketing research. Think about it... When you registered on MDE, you entered your name, birth date and address. The MagicBand is used for purchases, meal plans, park tickets, FP+, and can even track where you are.

So, with each purchase and each "Mickey head to Mickey head" swipe you perform, Disney is capturing your preferences. They have your demographics, not they're capturing your behavior and preferences. They know that my sister and I are in our 20s and enjoy thrill rides. Our family is older and enjoys EPCOT and eating and drinking around the world. They know where we eat, how we eat and when we eat.

We're all part of a quarterly results meeting whether we like it or not. Let's keep in mind that ONE: MB and FP+ are still in beta, and TWO: it's being offered for marketing research so Disney can create a better experience down the line.

If this keeps you from going to Disney, then you may as well throw out your grocery reward cards and get rid of your Google or Yahoo email address. That turkey you earn points toward with every purchase -- think of it like your FP. And when you sign up for a gmail address -- they're tracking your search habits so they can present data to advertisers.

It may sound horrible, but it's all part of the advertising-driven world we live in. Maybe they should add that to Spaceship Earth...

 

[sethschroeder]

Normal people think about today and tomorrow innovators think about months, years, and decades from now..

Is there bumps yes but they will smooth it out with time.

They haven't even rolled out the prebooking for offsite which sounds like it is coming
Its only be live for like a month
People resist change no mater what
Disney can and will predict crowd better for parks at 60 days out
Disney can now track everyone a lot better in parks with bands
Disney can now receive crucial marketing material and research based on bands and other mediums
Disney can adjust from 3 to 100000 FP+ passes if they want to over time and seeing the actual affect o parks and bottom line

All reasons not a bust....

 

[saskdw]

Very far from being a koolaid drinker.

Unlike some I'm looking at this from a business perspective and not just from a personal emotional response.

Do you honestly think a company as profitable as Disney invested a billion dollars on this and there is no plan beyond the current roll out?

 

[maybeecatlady]

Here you go, it's about to begin:

Webcast

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

They may change it around. But the chances they will eliminate it completely and go back to paper fastpasses are slim to none.

 

[DetroitDisney]

This entire rollout is a long-term infrastructure upgrade. Technology is expensive. Disney isn't stupid and will not intentionally ruin the park experience to gain metric data.

People need to calm down. I get that FP+ isn't as sexy as a new ride, but as it turns out, they are constantly building and upgrading those too. A year from now everyone will be used to the change and finding ways to maximize the efficiency of the system, the same way people did before.

 

[saskdw]

I don't believe it's a failure. It has its flaws, but it is definitely not a failure. My family went Christmas week, booked all of our FP+ 60 days out and did not wait for a ride once during our trip. We were also able to change FP+ selections during the trip and the day-of our selection.

With that said, MagicBands and FP+ may be succeeding in a way we, as consumers, do not see. While I'm young in my career in advertising, I have spent years studying marketing and advertising and understand that the root of the MB is not to enhance your experience.

Yes, maybe in Walt's day, the MB would have been created to give a more magical experience. Today, it's simply part of Disney's marketing research. Think about it... When you registered on MDE, you entered your name, birth date and address. The MagicBand is used for purchases, meal plans, park tickets, FP+, and can even track where you are.

So, with each purchase and each "Mickey head to Mickey head" swipe you perform, Disney is capturing your preferences. They have your demographics, not they're capturing your behavior and preferences. They know that my sister and I are in our 20s and enjoy thrill rides. Our family is older and enjoys EPCOT and eating and drinking around the world. They know where we eat, how we eat and when we eat.

We're all part of a quarterly results meeting whether we like it or not. Let's keep in mind that ONE: MB and FP+ are still in beta, and TWO: it's being offered for marketing research so Disney can create a better experience down the line.

If this keeps you from going to Disney, then you may as well throw out your grocery reward cards and get rid of your Google or Yahoo email address. That turkey you earn points toward with every purchase -- think of it like your FP. And when you sign up for a gmail address -- they're tracking your search habits so they can present data to advertisers.

It may sound horrible, but it's all part of the advertising-driven world we live in. Maybe they should add that to Spaceship Earth...

You make some good points and are probably correct on most of it.

The new system also caters to the vast majority of Disney's target audience who want some structure to their vacation. It guarantees them they will get to enjoy certain attractions without getting up at 6am or waiting in line for an hour. The DIsney commandos here on DIS can't seem to grasp that there are a lot more of those types of people and those types of people typically spend more money as well. It's just smart business.

 

[john398]

I am sure they are building a massive data warehouse where they can pull all sorts of queries from. Its all part of what we call Big Data

 

[flicx]

How do people see this as such an advance in technology? They could easily track you with your room key or ticket if they wanted to without this billion dollar technology. I don't think the bands have a GPS system installed. Where is this a leaps and bounds technology advance? In its simplest terms they basically traded a card for a wrist band. Where is the step up? I am not so sure that a whole bunch of fast pass machines positioned at the front of the park as you enter and at attractions wouldn't have been a better idea. Go back to the one pass every so many hours and save a whole lot of money.

 

[john398]

How do people see this as such an advance in technology? They could easily track you with your room key or ticket if they wanted to without this billion dollar technology. I don't think the bands have a GPS system installed. Where is this a leaps and bounds technology advance? In its simplest terms they basically traded a card for a wrist band. Where is the step up? I am not so sure that a whole bunch of fast pass machines positioned at the front of the park as you enter and at attractions wouldn't have been a better idea. Go back to the one pass every so many hours and save a whole lot of money.

You haven't read the patent document have you?

Its on lake travis signature here on this page up above:
Details on Disney's Guest Experience Management System & Method (MagicBands & FP+)

They have plans for lots of data capturing

 

[flicx]

You haven't read the patent document have you?

Its on someone signature here on this thread

No I haven't where is it at? Thanks

 

[wisblue]

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").

But, you will never know if the changes they make were a result of feedback, or a reflection of things they had intended to do all along. And, it doesn't really matter.

BTW, the 1Q earnings release is out, and MM+ gets the same kind of mention in the press release that it got in the annual report.

"Parks and Resorts revenues for the quarter increased 6% to $3.6 billion and segment operating income increased 16% to $671 million. Operating income growth for the quarter was primarily due to increased guest spending at our domestic parks and resorts, which reflected higher average ticket prices
and food, beverage and merchandise spending. The increase in guest spending was partially offset by higher costs for the continued roll out of MyMagic+ and labor and other cost inflation, partially offset by
lower pension and postretirement medical costs."

This comes in the context of overall record earnings for the company.

 

[mslhb]

Haven't tried FP+ yet so no opinion there but thank you for taking me down memory lane about "New Coke". I just wikipediad it to relive the full story. I HATED New Coke... Coke Classic forever!!

 

[shalom]

They haven't even rolled out the prebooking for offsite which sounds like it is coming
Its only be live for like a month

This, times like six thousand. It isn't even fully rolled out yet; way too early to be calling it a failure.

Disney isn't stupid and will not intentionally ruin the park experience to gain metric data.

This too. Does Disney do stuff people here don't like? Constantly. Does Disney do stuff in the parks that seriously cuts into the profit line? Not so often.

A year from now everyone will be used to the change and finding ways to maximize the efficiency of the system, the same way people did before.

I'm trusting to that prediction enough to be making reservations for January 2015.

 

[wisblue]

They may change it around. But the chances they will eliminate it completely and go back to paper fastpasses are slim to none.

The chances are exactly zero. If they want to go back to the same parameters as the old FP system it will be done through magic bands, in park kiosks, and the MDE app, not through machines that spit out tickets.

 

[photo_chick]

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."

Hampered by continued spending isn't the same as loosing income due to the MyMagic+ system. And it's not news. They've been over budget and late on delivery for a while now.