Disney's MyMagic Failure

[clsteve]

Another opinion piece. OK. "The motivation behind Fastpass+ is strictly monetary." As though this precludes the possibility that the CAUSE of the increased revenue the execs might be expecting MIGHT be INCREASING GUEST SATISFACTION for MORE GUESTS caused by MDE. Nope. Not possible. Change in strategy that NOW focuses ONLY on money.

Yup. Let's draw some occlusions about Disney strategy based solely upon that. Geez.

Disney CFO Tom Rasulo: "So if we can get people to plan their vacation before they leave home, we know that we get more time with them. We get a bigger share of their wallet. So that's one thing for you guys to think about. And the second thing is what happens to purchases when they become much more convenient, and you don't spend time queuing up for a transaction, queuing up to get in the park, and you actually have more time to enjoy the entertainment and, subsequently, spend more money doing things — other than standing in line, which, of course, you can't spend any money while you're doing that."

I don't think there's anything hidden about the strategy, do you?

The article does a very good job of pointing out Disney's change in the strategic direction for investment in WDW.

No matter how much you believe in Disney Exec Mgt, they're taking a risk by doing something that's never been done. And doesn't it make you just a little bit concerned that it's heading towards 4 times more expensive than the original $500 million and so far behind schedule? Don't you wonder just a tiny bit what that money could have been used for...?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Disney CFO Tom Rasulo: "So if we can get people to plan their vacation before they leave home, we know that we get more time with them. We get a bigger share of their wallet. So that's one thing for you guys to think about. And the second thing is what happens to purchases when they become much more convenient, and you don't spend time queuing up for a transaction, queuing up to get in the park, and you actually have more time to enjoy the entertainment and, subsequently, spend more money doing things — other than standing in line, which, of course, you can't spend any money while you're doing that."

I don't think there's anything hidden about the strategy, do you?

The article does a very good job of pointing out Disney's change in the strategic direction for investment in WDW.

No matter how much you believe in Disney Exec Mgt, they're taking a risk by doing something that's never been done. And doesn't it make you just a little bit concerned that it's heading towards 4 times more expensive than the original $500 million and so far behind schedule? Don't you wonder just a tiny bit what that money could have been used for...?

I've heard all of these quotes. And no, I don't think the strategy is a secret. For-profit entities seek to make profits. I agree with a PP who said this was the aim of FP- as well -- less time in line, more time to spend money, etc. The notion that this is a major change in strategy -- now somehow more focused on squeezing a buck out of FP -- is one that I don't agree with.

I also think this investment is being viewed too narrowly by many. Is there a risk in this type of investment? Sure. Does that mean it's not worth taking? I don't think so. And we all know Disney is operating with data that we don't have. I don't have blind faith in anything -- it's not my personality. But I think the company has a pretty solid track record and the jury is still out for me.

I'm not prematurely celebrating MDE's success, nor prematurely putting a nail in its coffin. I'm waiting for results to tell the ultimate story.

 

[ethanwa]

More crying from people who can't take the change.

It's here to stay people. Move on now.

 

[Planogirl]

I always chuckle at these types of statements regarding Disney vs. Universal.

While Universal has been impressive with the new attractions they have been adding, when all is said and done, they will always be the Washington Generals and WDW will always be the Harlem Globetrotters (that reference probably will be lost on most). Disney knows Universal poses no real threat to them for supremecy in Orlando. Never has, never will.

As for the article, nothing new there. Just opinions and ideas that have been rehashed ad nauseum.

Yes, and Rome didn't fall either. Nothing is ever 100% certain not even the mouse.

I say that as a fan of both. Personally I don't like WDW any better than Universal.

 

[redrosesix]

It's possible that they don't care you are spending more time in lines. It's possible that they figure if they keep you in lines for more time, you'll be coerced into eating counter service rather than returning to your DVC unit or condo or going offsite for cheaper food.

It's also entirely possible that they want to simply extend the number of days you must be onsite - say, take MK from a one-day park to a two-day park without adding many attractions. The only way they can do that is to make it much harder for people to ride the majority of the rides in one day. And that, I think, they have succeeded at, per all the reports from people who have visited this winter (and my own experiences in January).

If they can keep you in MK for two days instead of one, it's one less day you'll go to Universal or elsewhere offsite. That's a portion of a park ticket price plus two or three more meals/snacks they'll get out of you, at minimum (assuming most guests aren't hauling in PBJs or returning to a condo to cook 3 meals a day).

First and foremost, they do not want you to leave WDW property at any time during your 5-7 days onsite. That means making it take as long as is tolerably possible to experience the offered content. If you can rush through it, you're more likely to leave.

Right now, they are exploring the limits of people's tolerance for waiting and being gated through the content. If boiling the frog works and people continue to tolerate these waits and attendance doesn't drop, don't look for the waits to get any better anytime soon. They do not want you to leave.

Just had to bold that part because I have seen people who say they love FP+ advising people to spend 2 days each at Epcot and DHS in order to get on all of the top tier rides. So I think you're on to something there.

I know from engaging in great discussions with some here on DIS that this is NOT how many feel -- they have not "jumped out of the pot"... at least not yet. If you have, I am genuinely curious: why stay here following all of this? I honestly don't understand. Waiting for them to announce that they take it all back?

I think more people are cutting back than quitting on Disney. And wdw is not the only game in town, nor is it the only Disney game on earth. We won't be spending our whole trip at Disney next year, but we are required to buy at least 3 day passes for my daughter's competition -- so instead of 14 disney days we will have 3. And I like the Universal threads here as well as some of the community threads and the Canadian trip planning threads, and of course I need to check my rental car rates on the Transportation threads. I have looked at other forums, but this is still going to be my home.

Plus this...

A lot HAVE jumped. Perhaps we are all just avid fans of train wrecks. Does that make it easier to understand?

I just find it fascinating that by the time this whole project is done, they'll probably be over budget by $1.5 b. I just can't comprehend how they will recover from that without eating into budgets of other departments, especially if something else happens to affect attendance and/or guest spending. I don't think Iger will be gone any time soon because most of the rest of the corporation is doing ok. It could get even more interesting than it already is.

 

[2Tiggies]

More crying from people who can't take the change.

It's here to stay people. Move on now.

Funny how the people who don't like it supposedly can't take change, yet they are among those holding off on trips or taking a wait and see approach in anticipation of changes and the hope that these changes will improve what we have right now. I don't buy this can't take change suggestion. To me it is nothing more than a "Fine! Whatever" response when people raise valid points. Just my 2c

 

[Mad Hattered]

I just find it fascinating that by the time this whole project is done, they'll probably be over budget by $1.5 b. I just can't comprehend how they will recover from that without eating into budgets of other departments, especially if something else happens to affect attendance and/or guest spending. I don't think Iger will be gone any time soon because most of the rest of the corporation is doing ok. It could get even more interesting than it already is.

Exactly this.

 

[WillAustin]

Because I have been going to WDW since 1972. I am a fan. I HATE the direction this is going and it ticks me off. I gave plenty of advice, posted pics of our trips, posted food reviews, etc. Then Disney decided to pull the rug out from under me. Guess what? I'm pissed off about it and will give a negative response where needed. I want to tell the people that this system is NOT great and that by being asked to pay more for less is not acceptable. I try not to jump in to positive experience posts and be a Debbie Downer. This thread by, Lake is not one of those. I feel exactly like they guy who wrote the article.

No, we will not being going on 2-3 trips per year as we have forever and it's because of THIS system. We will go back after Avatar is opened for at least a year. I don't know of any sane Company that would turn their nose up at a $15k yearly decrease without our spending. And it isn't just a few here on the DIS that are feeling this way. Those $15k losses start to add up. I've already talked 3 families out of going to WDW this year because of the mess they have going on. That is more revenue lost. Word of mouth goes a long way. Regardless if Disney thinks it does or not.

More crying from people who can't take the change.

It's here to stay people. Move on now.

I laugh when people say that because, actually, it's not. There are going to be more big changes to the system. And no matter what people think, the "complainers" will have quite a bit to do with the direction of those changes.

 

[Mad Hattered]

More crying from people who can't take the change.

It's here to stay people. Move on now.

Says the person who lives 10 miles away from Disney. It doesn't affect you so I don't see how your opinion is validated. Maybe there would be less crying if we all just got better jobs. Ya think that might help?

 

[morethananyonex]

I like good change.

I don't like bad change.

If the change at Disney was the construction of new headliners at DHS and Epcot, I would be thrilled with change.

 

[Mad Hattered]

I like good change.

I don't like bad change.

If the change at Disney was the construction of new headliners at DHS and Epcot, I would be thrilled with change.

Excellent points, More!

 

[4minutesflorida]

I always chuckle at these types of statements regarding Disney vs. Universal.

While Universal has been impressive with the new attractions they have been adding, when all is said and done, they will always be the Washington Generals and WDW will always be the Harlem Globetrotters (that reference probably will be lost on most). Disney knows Universal poses no real threat to them for supremecy in Orlando. Never has, never will.

As for the article, nothing new there. Just opinions and ideas that have been rehashed ad nauseum.

This is the truth. Universal Studios can barely outdraw Sea World.

Disney could take the next ten years off and build nothing and they'd still be on top.

And really, what Universal has been doing is not impressive. Islands of Adventures and Universal Studios seem to be on some kind of competition for how many generic roller coasters and glorified simulators they can fit in one park.

 

[mom2rtk]

I like good change.




I don't like bad change.

If the change at Disney was the construction of new headliners at DHS and Epcot, I would be thrilled with change.

I liked the Carsland addition to DCA, along with nearly all of the rest of the changes in that park.

I like the new MK parade.

I like that they are moving Anna and Elsa to the MK.

I like the new Dumbo.

I like New Fantasyland.

I love BOG.

These are all pretty recent Disney changes.

How does not liking FP+ make me someone who doesn't like change?

 

[prudence64]

I liked the Carsland addition to DCA, along with nearly all of the rest of the changes in that park.

I like the new MK parade.

I like that they are moving Anna and Elsa to the MK.

I like the new Dumbo.

I like New Fantasyland.

I love BOG.

These are all pretty recent Disney changes.

How does not liking FP+ make me someone who doesn't like change?

I don't think it's a matter of not liking change but you do bring up a point that there has been a lot of other changes lately. People argue that fp is terrible because that's all disney has been up to, and I don't find that to be the case. We were last there in 2011 and there's a lot of new things to see and updates to experience since we were last there.

 

[canoe86]

Didn't read all the replies in this thread, wanted to give our family perspective.

I'm not a huge fan of FP+, don't like planning so far out, and I think it makes some lines longer, but it's not a deal breaker.

What I found in the article that is more relevant, is the LOWER QUALITY that Disney has seemed to embrace.

For example, FOOD. We have felt the FOOD quality at most Disney restaurants has plummeted. This last year we finally had enough. Cancelled a ton of reservations, didn't reserve some places and started eating off property. Granted we have a car when there, but the cost savings was huge and sadly, the quality difference was even larger.

THAT will be the ultimate demise for Disney in the long run.

 

[2Tiggies]

I've just done a quick scroll through the reviews on Disney World's Facebook page. There is no question that they have been removing negative reviews about FP on there. However at the moment, it looks like people are posting faster than they are cleaning up. Just mentioning this because I often see reference to the complaints on the boards representing such a small percentage of the guests. Well the percentage may or may not be small; I don't have any figures to look at to make an accurate statement. But I'm pretty sure that many of the Facebook fans posting reviews are not members of trip planning forums.

 

[glamdring269]

This part of the argument for why Disney implemented FP+ does not make sense to me:

a) FP+ is for the one time visitor. Disney does not care about the repeat visitor.

b) The reason FP- didn't work is because the one time visitor could not figure it out for some reason.

c) FP+ will keep people these on time visitors in the parks longer because they will have to split parks that could be done in a single day previously into two days.

Here's the thing I don't get about this. If a and b are true then how would the one time visitor know enough about the parks to realize they need to split them into multiple days? Surely that is a more difficult conclusion to reach than understanding FP- as they are making selections that make them feel good about their 'plan' at x days out. They are making hotel arrangements even earlier than that. There is nothing leading up to actually visiting the parks that would lead them to believe that they do not have time to visit other Orlando attractions such as Universal (and pre-book lodging to match these expectations). They would only know they may have been better off scheduling additional time at Disney after visiting Disney and would need to take that into consideration for the next trip. But per A above Disney doesn't care about their next trip?

And for the record I'm a fan of the old FP system. No plans to cancel our next trip but I'm keeping a close eye on this. Hopefully some modifications are made before October.

 

[anonymousegirl]

I am reserving judgment until I experience it. I have a 4 day trip planned for May and a 5 day trip planned for October. If, after both trips, with enough time to shake out glitches, I am not happy with my experience at WDW, then I will consider selling my DVC and just sticking with DLR.

 

[WillAustin]

Well the percentage may or may not be small; I don't have any figures to look at to make an accurate statement. But I'm pretty sure that many of the Facebook fans posting reviews are not members of trip planning forums.

Yes, some people always complain, but the complaints have never been this visible, across every outlet, over a relatively extended period of time. That's why I'm fairly confident Disney is attempting to address them as they move forward with tweaking the system.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I always chuckle at these types of statements regarding Disney vs. Universal.

While Universal has been impressive with the new attractions they have been adding, when all is said and done, they will always be the Washington Generals and WDW will always be the Harlem Globetrotters (that reference probably will be lost on most). Disney knows Universal poses no real threat to them for supremecy in Orlando. Never has, never will.

As for the article, nothing new there. Just opinions and ideas that have been rehashed ad nauseum.

Never has, Never will.....Rome fell, remember reading about that?

I bet GM never thought they were going to have get money from the government to keep running either.

I also bet Microsoft never thought Apple would be a real competitor.

The worst thing a company can do is rest on their laurels....Disney is doing just that with WDW.