Disney Leadership is Impacting Carnival

[TestingH2O]

I thought this story was very interesting. I'm particularly curious about how embarking and lines in general might be impacted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/04/b...prod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share

 

[Quellman]

I still get the question from folks. Why aren't magic bands on the ship? I still have no real answer for them.

 

[RedSox68]

Interesting concept. I am surprised that Disney didn't follow through with this idea from their parks to the cruise ships!

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm kind of shocked that there wasn't something that prevented these guys from jumping ship to another company and implementing it there. Hope they are different enough from magicbands since they are on record as former employees that any competeing clause in their Disney contracts isn't used against them.

I believe Disney's stance is that in many ports of call they need to see the cruise ship cards before they let people on to the cruise ship docks. If they no longer have cards then it will cost money and training to get those ports on board. If they still do the cards then they are doing double for something that doesn't really change the game that much on a cruise ship. The RFID enabled cards at the parks pretty much went away unless you specifically ask for them in order to help balance the costs of long and short range RFID bands.

 

[wcw57]

it seems to me that magic bands are, already, outdated technology.

With the largest percentage of people carrying smartphones, the technology is already in your hands..no need to manufacture, and spend $$$ on, magic bands except for those who don't have the phones....

cruise ship connectivity MIGHT be an issue, but maybe not

anyhow, in WDW think of the savings on magic bands if they used phones and an app instead

 

[squirk]

Are the MagicBands really a considerable expense in the overall MyMagic+ platform? I could be wrong, but it seems like plastic and rubber are relatively cheap, as are the chips themselves, especially in the quantities that Disney purchases. I always thought that the real expense came from the underlying infrastructre that tied everything together.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I read Disney was moving away from magic bands anyhow. I understand they are going to have some sort of token, like a hockey puck like thing. Not really sure, but that's what I read for the parks at least.
http://www.disneylists.com/2016/08/news-disney-world-makes-move-replace-magic-bands/

 

[wilkeliza]

I read Disney was moving away from magic bands anyhow. I understand they are going to have some sort of token, like a hockey puck like thing. Not really sure, but that's what I read for the parks at least.
http://www.disneylists.com/2016/08/news-disney-world-makes-move-replace-magic-bands/

It is still a magicband and the same exact technology just a container design change. So the center which holds the technology now comes in a band but with a small screw driver you can remove the center and put it in other accessories or just carry it in your pocket if you want.

 

[wilkeliza]

Are the MagicBands really a considerable expense in the overall MyMagic+ platform? I could be wrong, but it seems like plastic and rubber are relatively cheap, as are the chips themselves, especially in the quantities that Disney purchases. I always thought that the real expense came from the underlying infrastructre that tied everything together.

Yes. Active RFID is still pretty expensive in comparison to passive. I would imagine each MB costs at least a buck each which doesn't sound like a lot but when you take the numbers Disney gives them away at it all adds up.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

It is still a magicband and the same exact technology just a container design change. So the center which holds the technology now comes in a band but with a small screw driver you can remove the center and put it in other accessories or just carry it in your pocket if you want.

From that article, it doesn't look like a magicband at all; just a hockey puck like thing. So they may send you a strap (reusable) then they send you a puck every time, not a band.

 

[wilkeliza]

From that article, it doesn't look like a magicband at all; just a hockey puck like thing. So they may send you a strap (reusable) then they send you a puck every time, not a band.

Image is from the parks blog

That is the new magicband. As you can see it looks like a magicband and is still called a magicband but has a removable center "puck" that holds the brains of the magicband thus making them interchangeable. They haven't yet released official alternates but there will be key-chain holders (magickeeper) for the puck as well as the bands. You will be sent a magicband for free still with your resort stay and for now it appears the Magickeeper will be something you have to buy separately and will not be able to get for free and possibly won't come with a puck.

 

[squirk]

Yes. Active RFID is still pretty expensive in comparison to passive. I would imagine each MB costs at least a buck each which doesn't sound like a lot but when you take the numbers Disney gives them away at it all adds up.

I wonder how much of that is offset by the increased guest spending due to MB.

 

[wilkeliza]

I wonder how much of that is offset by the increased guest spending due to MB.

OH a lot but they still have to show it in the finance codes so it will be considered a cost even if it is a cost that causes a ton of extra revenue. I always share the story that suddenly the magicbands set up a senerio where our then 10 year old nephew spent about 100 dollars across 3 days because the adults weren't thinking when he asked can i buy a soda and snack and he was able to do so by himself on his band so not conscious tracking due to not pulling out their room key cards, plus polite kid, plus vacation mentality equaled a ton of extra money spent. It isn't Disney's fault by any means that we allowed him to spend that much but they do make is a heck of a lot easier to just say yes before you even think about it!

(note the 100 was not all in snacks for 1 kids he would just run off and get any adult a drink if they said they were thirsty and was told he could)

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Image is from the parks blog

That is the new magicband. As you can see it looks like a magicband and is still called a magicband but has a removable center "puck" that holds the brains of the magicband thus making them interchangeable. They haven't yet released official alternates but there will be key-chain holders (magickeeper) for the puck as well as the bands. You will be sent a magicband for free still with your resort stay and for now it appears the Magickeeper will be something you have to buy separately and will not be able to get for free and possibly won't come with a puck.

Thanks for the pic. Those looks so bulky. I guess that will force you to buy the alternative "keepers."

 

[ThatCOprep]

Thanks for the pic. Those looks so bulky. I guess that will force you to buy the alternative "keepers."

They aren't that much more bulky than the original magic band. My new one is 1 gram heavier than older ones. The new one also fits better on my wrist than the original. It doesn't put pressure in weird places like the old ones did.

 

[BartmanLA]

I still get the question from folks. Why aren't magic bands on the ship? I still have no real answer for them.

From my understanding of postings here and elsewhere, the Magicband implementation onboard the DCL ships would require a serious and significant infrastructure refurbishment in order to incorporate the stations and location to utilize them efficiently, they would be necessary at each passenger ingress/egress location, all the locations that would need to scan the KTTW cards now would have to be rewired to accommodate the bands as well, there would need to be stations erected all over the ship where the bands/KTTW cards would be scanned. Just not practical and cost effective to try to update the ships to using them now. In addition the current info on the KTTW cards ie. Muster station, dining rotation, name, etc would not be available on the magic bands.

 

[pjacobi]

Imagine gambling on Carnival with a MagicBand-like system for payment!

Imagine MagicBand-readers on slot machines!

-Paul

 

[mcd2745]

Yes. Active RFID is still pretty expensive in comparison to passive. I would imagine each MB costs at least a buck each which doesn't sound like a lot but when you take the numbers Disney gives them away at it all adds up.

They don't give any away. The guest always pays for it (and then some) one way or another.

 

[squirk]

I don't think the advantages that MB's bring to the table at the parks are needed nearly as much on the cruise.

MBs are meant to a.) make it easier to spend money in the parks; and b.) serve as a dynamic "e-FastPass", which, by extension, is a means of crowd management.

I don't think any of those business needs are present on a cruise ship. At least, not at a level sufficient to invest in DCL MBs.

I know RCCL does the WOW bands, but again, what is the value-add for these on the ships? Do they significantly boost on-board spending? Do they boost cruise bookings? Were people really complaining that much about using SeaPass cards?

Or are the WOW bands just "bright shiny objects" that do little more than show off a technology which, frankly, has been around for a while, but just never stuffed into cruise-ship wristbands?

 

[eskimoinparadise]

More likely using Bluetooth lite (i.e. BMW's keyless entry/ignition system) or short-range GSM or CDMA technology (i.e. Tile) rather than RFID.