Disney's $1 billion dollar bet on magical wristband - Wired

[Cormoran]

Magic Bands are just one part of My Magic. Being able to book in advance is powerful. Being able to instantly recognize guests is great as well. You can't ignore those benefits to the system at large.

Now here's the thing about Magic Bands. They're considerably more user friendly then key to the world. With just a tap you're into the park. With just a tap you're into your dinner reservation. With just a tap you've gone through the checkout process.

If Oriental Land really cares about its guests, they'll implement it. I've already seen talk that them moving in that direction already. Plus the Japanese are really big into collecting. I think there's big avenues there with the pins and magic bands.

This week, I tried purchasing additional tickets on my pre-existing reservation for April. I tried accessing the site 8 times and everytime the spinning clock would time out the transaction at a dirrerent point. I tried again on Monday and got as far as providing my Credit Card information, but due to Disney's sytem they were not able to provide the confirmation number at the time of the transaction, so they sent it in an e-mail.
Then I tried adding FP+ on line for these 2 additional guest and I couldn't. So I had to call Disney and waste more time on the phone.
So please don't tell me how great and powerful this system is. It's loaded with glitches.
additionally, I can tap a card as easily as a band. I'm not impressed.

 

[Cormoran]

Exactly there is a lot involved in this supposed loophole that this person found and it involves a lot of things that a lot of people are just not going to do.

Not really. All you do is set up an new account, get new MB's and reserve FP's. Then when you are in the parks, you get out your MB's out and reserve additional FP+'s at the kiosks. I think there are a lot of people who will take advantage of this loophole. Just as there are people booking throw away rooms.

 

[Cormoran]

Please re-read my post. I said it was all based on your MDE account, not on your MB's. If you have more than one MDE account then yes you can have more than the allotted number of FP's. That's not a function of having a bunch of MB's, its a function of having multiple MDE accounts.

Disney can easily stop this by re-instituting the requirement that FP's are only valid when linked to an MDE account that shows the holder has entered the park that day. Yes, there is a further way around this, doing multiple entries on different MDE-linked MB's, but that gets to be really expensive just for a FP.

Agreed that Disney can stop this, but they haven't yet. So there are people opening new MDE accounts and getting new Magic Bands and using both the old and new magic bands to obtain additional FP's . It's the reality.

 

[DDLand]

This week, I tried purchasing additional tickets on my pre-existing reservation for April. I tried accessing the site 8 times and everytime the spinning clock would time out the transaction at a dirrerent point. I tried again on Monday and got as far as providing my Credit Card information, but due to Disney's sytem they were not able to provide the confirmation number at the time of the transaction, so they sent it in an e-mail.
Then I tried adding FP+ on line for these 2 additional guest and I couldn't. So I had to call Disney and waste more time on the phone.
So please don't tell me how great and powerful this system is. It's loaded with glitches.
additionally, I can tap a card as easily as a band. I'm not impressed.

I've never had problems with My Magic. (except during the rollout period) It always works great. I'm sorry you've had those experiences.

That doesn't negate the benefits though. I'd much rather tap wrist to a scanner then dig through a wallet to bring up my ticket. It's really user friendly. It's also enjoyable to use too.

 

[DDLand]

Disneyland of course will be next followed quickly by Paris but like I said there will most likely be some differences between the resorts mainly with the clientele. Disneyland is heavy on locals Paris is a very unique resort. MM+ has been rumored for Paris since before Disney officially owned it. Disney and more also said it would be a bit different than floridas version.

Indeed. I also saw something that said WDC is footing the bill for the upgrade. I remember Iger and Staggs going to DLP and being disturbed by all the paperwork. Are we thinking of the same article?

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I work within the construction industry (specifically building schools). The timeline for a school is usually 2 to 3 years for planning/design/permits/politics/etc and 2 years for the actual build and this is for a building. So it is not reasonable for you to think that a company can throw up a ride in 2 years.

I have some of the same experience and it's about how you approach it.

They could do the prep work without fanfare - which is a newer tact that looks cheap these days - and then announce when construction - preferably vertical construction - goes north.

That is still a 3-5 year process ...but isn't pumped as such for PR..because that's not really a classy approach.

And they would augment the 5 year actual timeframe by not sitting on their hands for 5 years in between projects.

That is not how they operated in the past...and the construction timelines are far more deliberate now..no urgency for PR.

If you're building an avatar ride that's opening in 2017...spare the sept 2011 announcement..

Same with the 09 fantasyland for a 50 second mine train ride in 2014.

 

[rteetz]

Not really. All you do is set up an new account, get new MB's and reserve FP's. Then when you are in the parks, you get out your MB's out and reserve additional FP+'s at the kiosks. I think there are a lot of people who will take advantage of this loophole. Just as there are people booking throw away rooms.

I think otherwise this loophole has been around over a year and if it was a big deal it would be talked about like throwaway rooms.

 

[Planogirl]

Is a ticket in a lanyard really all that much harder to use than the wristband? It's the same medium just worn a different way.

 

[rteetz]

Is a ticket in a lanyard really all that much harder to use than the wristband? It's the same medium just worn a different way.

And you can still get a plastic ticket and use it like that if you want.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I think it's possible but again I think MM+ will differ between the resorts it ends up going to because each resort has different clientele.

Yeah...the Disneyland clientele will love having a 3 limit...and maybe they can throw tiers at them too...

"Sorry folks, you can't do midway mania AND soarin...don't you think your being a little spoiled asking? What do you want - the world?"

That will go over real well

 

[rteetz]

Yeah...the Disneyland clientele will love having a 3 limit...and maybe they can throw tiers at them too...

"Sorry folks, you can't do midway mania AND soarin...don't you think your being a little spoiled asking? What do you want - the world?"

That will go over real well

That's exactly why they would most likely get something different.

 

[Cormoran]

I've never had problems with My Magic. (except during the rollout period) It always works great. I'm sorry you've had those experiences.

That doesn't negate the benefits though. I'd much rather tap wrist to a scanner then dig through a wallet to bring up my ticket. It's really user friendly. It's also enjoyable to use too.

But it does negate the positives when you're the one working in the crap environment. If the system isn't working, there is no work around. This is true for any website not just Disney. What would happen if the Amazon website was as lousy as Disney's?
When the ability to BOG ADR's started last month, the Disney website crashed. This is nothing new, Disney's website has a lousy reputation.

 

[DDLand]

But it does negate the positives when you're the one working in the crap environment. If the system isn't working, there is no work around. This is true for any website not just Disney. What would happen if the Amazon website was as lousy as Disney's?
When the ability to BOG ADR's started last month, the Disney website crashed. This is nothing new, Disney's website has a lousy reputation.

I've never had the problems that you're talking about. The Walt Disney World website is slow but not broken. Don't let one bad experience poison the well.

Even if the setup process was bad it still wouldn't negate the in park benefits.

 

[Cormoran]

I've never had the problems that you're talking about. The Walt Disney World website is slow but not broken. Don't let one bad experience poison the well.

Even if the setup process was bad it still wouldn't negate the in park benefits.

If you are supposed to use the website and every time you try accessing it it times out , it is broken. If an onslaught of customers Booking BOG ADR's causes the website to crash, it is broken.

Just because you haven't experienced these incidents doesn't mean they haven't happened. If this ever happens to you, which isn't out of the realm of possibility, you will realize the website is broken.

Disney has made guests dependent on the website, same as Amazon has. Disney should have worked on their applications prior to introducing MDE.

 

[DDLand]

If you are supposed to use the website and every time you try accessing it it times out , it is broken. If an onslaught of customers Booking BOG ADR's causes the website to crash, it is broken.

Just because you haven't experienced these incidents doesn't mean they haven't happened. If this ever happens to you, which isn't out of the realm of possibility, you will realize the website is broken.

Disney has made guests dependent on the website, same as Amazon has. Disney should have worked on their applications prior to introducing MDE.

Ehh, I'm not trying to say that what you're recounting didn't happen. That's exactly not what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is it appears you've had unusual bad luck. That's not the norm. Don't let this poison the well.

Many websites suffer occasional outages. You can't let a couple experience destroy your impression of an over great system. It could happen to me. Who knows? I'm just saying for as many bad stories there are usually as many good (and I'd imagine far more good).

 

[Cormoran]

Ehh, I'm not trying to say that what you're recounting didn't happen. That's exactly not what I'm saying.

What I'm saying is it appears you've had unusual bad luck. That's not the norm. Don't let this poison the well.

Many websites suffer occasional outages. You can't let a couple experience destroy your impression of an over great system. It could happen to me. Who knows? I'm just saying for as many bad stories there are usually as many good (and I'd imagine far more good).

I have been accessing Disney's website for many years and sometimes it's great and sometimes it's awful. I didn't think you were accusing me of lying. But you know what? When I'm trying to give more money to Disney I expect the app to be more reliable. Plain and simple. I'm glad you're satisfied., but I guess I just have a burning desire to "poison the well" if that is the current terminology for reliably accessing the website!

 

[ThurlFan]

One reason MM+ works at WDW is the large percentage of first-timers/one and done visitors, many of whom aren't aware of the relative merits of Splash Mountain vs Stitch's Great Escape. Will be interesting to see it get rolled out in Anaheim, because you can be that the SoCal passholders will not be fooled into wasting valuable FP+ on Tarzan's Treehouse or Great Moments with Mr Lincoln. People may just put off visiting until they can score the FP for what they want instead of fighting for scraps like folks end up doing in Orlando.

 

[Cormoran]

One reason MM+ works at WDW is the large percentage of first-timers/one and done visitors, many of whom aren't aware of the relative merits of Splash Mountain vs Stitch's Great Escape. Will be interesting to see it get rolled out in Anaheim, because you can be that the SoCal passholders will not be fooled into wasting valuable FP+ on Tarzan's Treehouse or Great Moments with Mr Lincoln. People may just put off visiting until they can score the FP for what they want instead of fighting for scraps like folks end up doing in Orlando.

I wonder if that's going to be the case or if AP holders are going to book FP+ way ahead "In Case" they go. Can you imagine RSR ? All the AP holders reserving FP+ 's on the outside chance they'll be in the parks? IMO the only way this can work is for FP+ to only be available inside the parks at the kiosks.

 

[OKW Lover]

I wonder if that's going to be the case or if AP holders are going to book FP+ way ahead "In Case" they go. Can you imagine RSR ? All the AP holders reserving FP+ 's on the outside chance they'll be in the parks? IMO the only way this can work is for FP+ to only be available inside the parks at the kiosks.

So, what happens if the folks who book a FP+ don't show up for RSR? Don't people in the standby/single rider line get on with a shorter wait?

 

[rteetz]

I wonder if that's going to be the case or if AP holders are going to book FP+ way ahead "In Case" they go. Can you imagine RSR ? All the AP holders reserving FP+ 's on the outside chance they'll be in the parks? IMO the only way this can work is for FP+ to only be available inside the parks at the kiosks.

Like I've said MM+ will most likely be different in Anaheim and not exactly like WDW because of that huge AP base.