Disney quietly working on $1 billion-plus “next generation” technology project

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

http://thedailydisney.com/blog/2010...lion-plus-next-generation-technology-project/

 

[katiebelle21]

Exciting! It will be interesting to see what they come up with.

 

[mom2d&b]

sounds like this may be intertwined with the new fast pass system I have heard rumors of. Recently I heard about a new fast pass system that would allow more than 1 fast pass at a time.

 

[mjstaceyuofm]

I'm all for change, but at some point the folks running the show have to realize that they're going to make visiting WDW a very cumbersome ordeal. Planning what times you want to visit attractions on top of planning your meals on top of all the other pre-trip planning people already do (booking flights, hotels, rental cars, DME, buying tickets, scheduling what days you want to visit where, etc.) will definitely make people re-evaluate going to WDW or on a Disney vacation in general vs. going to the beach or someplace else for less if they're looking for a more relaxing vacation.

Going there any more is an exercise in complete project management and full-wall scheduling. Like others, I wonder if they couldn't spend that $1 billion more wisely on attraction upgrades, park expansions / maintenance, resort upgrades, etc... When I'm walking through the park, I don't need Buzz Lightyear acknowledging me by name when I'm on BLSRS. I don't get the big deal with the room / hotel thing either. The room keys already act as credit cards too. I guess if they think the pay off is a truly enhanced experience and not just adding more layers to an already cumbersome planning process, it might be worth it, but something tells me "no".

As far as the secrecy thing goes, I place that right at the feet of one of Disney's board members - Steve Jobs. Apple is known for product secrecy and it pays off for them time and again. Maybe Disney is stealing a play out of Apple's playbook because of the application of this technology and the fact that they feel it could put them at a strategic advantage compared to competitors... Who knows. All I know is with Disney, there always seems to be lofty expectations.

 

[ChrisFL]

^^ I agree with much of this, although I'm taking a "wait and see" approach before passing judgement, there could be a lot of good that comes out of this, or a lot of bad.

I do wonder if this will make regular vacation planning more complicated than it is now.

IMO, Disney has a problem when there's no more off-season and they're doing so many discount packages where things like hotels are getting more guests, but so are all of the restaurants and attractions in turn, and people are forced to "book" the restaurants. What happens if they start "booking" the attractions? Fastpass is a very light version of this.

I still can't fathom that much money going toward this project with only the details we have now.

 

[doconeill]

sounds like this may be intertwined with the new fast pass system I have heard rumors of. Recently I heard about a new fast pass system that would allow more than 1 fast pass at a time.

There is no technological limitation to the "1 Fastpass" rule. In fact, there is no such rule, really, there is only a limitation to how often you can get them which is set by policy.

The only rumors regarding changes to the Fastpass system I have heard revolve around long-held patents on moethods of obtaining Fastpasses beyond the current methods which Disney has yet to implement (if they ever do), which are often tied towards on-site resort stays. Another is being able to use a cell phone to hold a "virtual Fastpass", although I'm not sure of the source of that one. The new technologies could be a step in that direction.

But I do think that more than anything this has to do with the virtual queue concept.

 

[mitros]

I'm all for change, but at some point the folks running the show have to realize that they're going to make visiting WDW a very cumbersome ordeal. Planning what times you want to visit attractions on top of planning your meals on top of all the other pre-trip planning people already do (booking flights, hotels, rental cars, DME, buying tickets, scheduling what days you want to visit where, etc.) will definitely make people re-evaluate going to WDW or on a Disney vacation in general vs. going to the beach or someplace else for less if they're looking for a more relaxing vacation.

Going there any more is an exercise in complete project management and full-wall scheduling. Like others, I wonder if they couldn't spend that $1 billion more wisely on attraction upgrades, park expansions / maintenance, resort upgrades, etc... When I'm walking through the park, I don't need Buzz Lightyear acknowledging me by name when I'm on BLSRS. I don't get the big deal with the room / hotel thing either. The room keys already act as credit cards too. I guess if they think the pay off is a truly enhanced experience and not just adding more layers to an already cumbersome planning process, it might be worth it, but something tells me "no".

As far as the secrecy thing goes, I place that right at the feet of one of Disney's board members - Steve Jobs. Apple is known for product secrecy and it pays off for them time and again. Maybe Disney is stealing a play out of Apple's playbook because of the application of this technology and the fact that they feel it could put them at a strategic advantage compared to competitors... Who knows. All I know is with Disney, there always seems to be lofty expectations.

Excellent post. You pretty much hit the 'ol nail on the head Disney seems to be going out of it's way to make things more difficult.
Planning a vacation at WDW has become a real plan-heavy experience. You don't get much time to relax before, during, and well, I guess you can relax after you get back home. Because your not going to be able to do it while on "vacation" at WDW.

 

[CanadianGuy]

It only has to be a 'wall to wall' situation if you set it up that way.

I too have been guilty of overscheduling my vacation.. but I stopped that after just 1 trip.

I know that I'll get back so I take in what I can take in and let the rest of the craziness fall by the wayside.

I blame the internet for the ever burning desire to cram every minute of every hour of every trip with 'something'.

"Oh you simply HAVE to go to Beaches and Cream! It's to DIE for.."

"Make an ADR for EVERY meal.. its the ONLY way to go.."

"If you run from point A to point B at breakneck speed starting at exactly 9:12am , you can score two fastpasses back to back"

"If you don't stay at a Deluxe Hotel you simply haven't been to Disney."

"You should only stay concierge level."

"It's pointless unless you stay in a Grand Villa."

"The pool is closed at my resort. I simply can't stay there."

"What view does my room have. If I can only see parking lot, that's not acceptable."

"Did you get a 60% off PIN Code and towel animals? We got both."

ETC ETC. It's all driven by a burning desire to make sure one gets MORE than anyone else for their Disney buck. And while the DISBOARDS have done a great service in making more Disney info available, they have in part done a dis-service.. because if you got a towel animal and I didn't... well, that's just not good customer service.

And parents put tremendous pressures on themselves when going to Disney..

"My son has to be chosen for the Star Wars Be a Jedi thingy, or the trip is ruined."

"If my daughter doesn't get to meet character A, B, C and right on thru Y.. then the trip has been a total failure."

"We tried to look under the mat for the key but the line was moving too fast and this other kid got it. I hate that kid."

"You got DreamFastpasses? We didn't win ANYTHING. That's not fair."

I call "Horse-hockey".

All of this is asking for a famous "Disney Meltdown" or general malaise about the amount of money spent and the entertainment value received therefore.

And to think just two years ago I had a binder for each trip with EMH Hours morning/evening, park hours, ride closures, parade and fireworks times and on and on and on..

If it was my one and only trip - EVER - then yes, I would be more manic about it... would stay for 2 or 3 weeks like the UK folks do and would make it a real event.

Disney long ago surpassed the point where you can reasonably do 'most everything' in even a 14 or 21 day trip.. never mind a 7 day or less trip.

Therefore, the only realistic and sane approach is "We'll see what we see, we'll do what we do and hopefully ... one day .. we'll get to return and see and do more."

I'm a big fan of helping the kids prioritize what's important to them.. knocking those things off first for a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction and then just seeing where the rest of the trip takes you.

---

As for the secrecy for this 'billion dollar plan' - how secret can it be? This is the fifth article I have read about it. Yes they are all short on facts, but, if I crazy Canadian knows they have some RFID plans and a rough sketch of what they are... odds are the folks at NBC Universal etc know the same... or far more likely .... way more.

 

[manning]

My Disney plans are simple. I get my four weeks at Old Key West, get my annual pass, get groceries and get great meals off site.

That's all the advance planning I need to do.

 

[Dznefreek]

Disney long ago surpassed the point where you can reasonably do 'most everything' in even a 14 or 21 day trip.. never mind a 7 day or less trip.

I seriously doubt that. It all depends on your individual plans . . . . .
Seems to me they are spending a billion to make sure you NEVER leave their property.

 

[DVCconvert]

At the risk of being accused of some sort of "personal attack"....

Yes they are all short on facts, but, if I crazy Canadian knows they have some RFID plans and a rough sketch of what they are... odds are the folks at NBC Universal etc know the same... or far more likely .... way more.

I would suggest that there are folks here that DO know ALOT more who do not work for NBC Universal.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I would suggest that there are folks here that DO know ALOT more who do not work for NBC Universal.

And I would believe you. Without question.

 

[ford91exploder]

It would be great if you could get a virtual fastpass - and imagine how much paper that would save it would also enable 'portable' fastpass machines for use on busy days Walk up to machine text a number which it displays and get your virtual fastpass.

Of course we still need the physical fastpasses but I can see how this would be a big help. Plus if you could not use your fastpass you could cancel it and put it back into the 'pool' so to speak which would go a long way towards fixing the dreaded 'no more fastpasses available today'

I've always wondered how many fastpasses go unused due to meltdowns, finding something MORE fun to do, it's hot and the pool is Sooo inviting etc, etc.

 

[doconeill]

I don't think they are worried too much about putting Fastpasses back in the pool. The number is probably small enough that it wouldn't matter significantly, and what good would it do to put a fastpass back in the pool if the pool has already been emptied?

Word is that Bob Iger is on stage for the Apple announcement, though...not sure why. So far its all about the iPod Gigantor-er, "iPad".

 

[Ka-chow!]

I try to read Kevin Yee. He wrote about NextGen.
http://miceage.micechat.com/kevinyee/ky012610a.htm

 

[ConcKahuna]

Disney doesn't do a whole lot without testing.

I would be willing to bet that the Kim Possible activity at Epcot was just a way of testing how a mobile device can be used to interact with attractions/locations.

 

[heatherbabydoll1]

That would make sense!

 

[fireflymedic]

I am not sure I would want something attached to you like a wrist band to be required to get a fast pass. I'm sure I'm like most people and take all the tickets for the kids and grandma/grandpa and get the fast passes.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I am not sure I would want something attached to you like a wrist band to be required to get a fast pass. I'm sure I'm like most people and take all the tickets for the kids and grandma/grandpa and get the fast passes.

And that may well be part of the reasoning here? Dunno.

Part of the possibilities here may include 'remote' fastpass stations.. that is to say a location to get a FP for a given attraction that is not immediately adjacent to that attraction.

Who knows at this point.

K