Disney and the meat space data race

[mouseguy77]

Just came across an article regarding Magic Bands and how they relate to field of big data and data analytics. Interesting read for sure. It seems as though Disney is not the only large company to jump in feet first to this arena. Does this change your view on whether Magic Bands are good or bad? Why?

http://gigaom.com/2014/01/18/you-dont-want-your-privacy-disney-and-the-meat-space-data-race/

 

[xie]

Well, it's an interesting article, but it's also a fantasy written by someone who's clearly never been to Disney before and clearly doesn't understand How Things Are there.

Sorry, but "sensing your family's discouragement" whilst they are standing in a 2 hour line? And sending over a character to give you some "encouragement" to hang in there? In your dreams, bud, in your dreams. I'm not sure how said character would get to your family, as you are going to be in the middle of a stacked queue.

My family, who has been going 2-3 times a year for a long time, hasn't had any kind of personalized magical experience since being handed "Year of a Million Dreams" lanyards in 2007, although we had plenty before that year. It's just too overcrowded now for Disney to devote many resources to delighting guests anymore. CMs don't have time for it. These days it's just about making sure there's enough food, the rooms get passably cleaned, and the buses don't take too long. And I'm honestly not gullible enough to think that a MagicBand is going to change that.

 

[Mouse14]

Well, it's an interesting article, but it's also a fantasy written by someone who's clearly never been to Disney before and clearly doesn't understand How Things Are there. Sorry, but "sensing your family's discouragement" whilst they are standing in a 2 hour line? And sending over a character to give you some "encouragement" to hang in there? In your dreams, bud, in your dreams. I'm not sure how said character would get to your family, as you are going to be in the middle of a stacked queue. My family, who has been going 2-3 times a year for a long time, hasn't had any kind of personalized magical experience since being handed "Year of a Million Dreams" lanyards in 2007, although we had plenty before that year. It's just too overcrowded now for Disney to devote many resources to delighting guests anymore. CMs don't have time for it. These days it's just about making sure there's enough food, the rooms get passably cleaned, and the buses don't take too long. And I'm honestly not gullible enough to think that a MagicBand is going to change that.

You have a very sour attitude towards WDW...

 

[xie]

You have a very sour attitude towards WDW...

No, we have been going 2 or 3 times a year and spending a fortune staying on property etc. We wouldn't do that if we didn't love Disney.

But his ideas about that level of intrapersonal guest interaction are way off base. Disney can barely manage to service the tens of thousands of guests in each park on a daily basis now. The kinds of interactions we used to have with cast members years ago no longer happen, and we don't see them happening on the sidewalks with anyone else, either. I believe what is left of that has been relocated to the many, many character meet and greet lines and the character table service meals.

How, exactly, when you are halfway through the queue at any ride - say, BTMRR - would a character get to you? That is silly on its face, ride queues zig zag back and forth such that more than once, I've wondered how the heck we'd get out in an emergency. :x