FP+ is Live! Magic Bands in the park!

[agavegirl1]

Has anyone ever exited from a ride through a gift shop an not bought anything?

Has anyone ever walked into a WDW shop, looked around, and not bought anything?

Me. All the time. I have a list and budget and don't impulse buy.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Wasn't there pretty big crowds the weekend the new FL opened? (really not sure) Will the "weekend" that FP+ goes live bring in the same kind of crowds?

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Has anyone ever exited from a ride through a gift shop an not bought anything?

Has anyone ever walked into a WDW shop, looked around, and not bought anything?

Me. All the time. I have a list and budget and don't impulse buy.

This is our family most of the time! We don't stick around in the gift shops. We are off to a new ride or show!

 

[mesaboy2]

Wasn't there pretty big crowds the weekend the new FL opened? (really not sure) Will the "weekend" that FP+ goes live bring in the same kind of crowds?

I'm thinking no.

 

[eeyoresnr]

Has anyone ever exited from a ride through a gift shop an not bought anything?

Has anyone ever walked into a WDW shop, looked around, and not bought anything?

me... all the time

 

[wyurm]

For everyone debating the point of the My Magic+ system, the reason it exists is marketing. It's not really a bad thing per se, however it could have negative implications. What it does is allows Disney to track customer experiences and focus their attention on what will be most profitable. For example, if 1000 people ride Maelstrom but only 20% buy anything in the gift shop, they will now have a way to see this.

It also works to personalize the experience by allowing a CM or robot to refer to you by name. There would be other future uses as well. To top it off, the bands would allow you to find a lost child or to reunite the family after a day of exploring WDW seperately. Basically, it gives you extra features and allows the company to better track guest activity to improve financial performance. In my line of work we call this "asset utilization". AU can highlight areas where you are actually losing money vs. areas that are profitable.

This can benefit the customer in that rides and attractions that are not that good will show up as not being that good. However, it also could mean a more commercial experience and thus a less magical one. I am hoping Disney keeps a close watch on this and does not allow it to remove the magic from their parks.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

For example, if 1000 people ride Maelstrom but only 20% buy anything in the gift shop, they will now have a way to see this.

Disney isn't already able to tell how much is being sold in the Maelstorm gift shop? Doesn't seem like they would need magic bands to know that information.

 

[mesaboy2]

Disney isn't already able to tell how much is being sold in the Maelstorm gift shop? Doesn't seem like they would need magic bands to know that information.

Similarly, I don't see how simple attendance numbers (ride throughput) wouldn't allow WDW to differentiate between rides that are "not that good" with those that are.

 

[mom2mickeyfan]

Similarly, I don't see how simple attendance numbers (ride throughput) wouldn't allow WDW to differentiate between rides that are "not that good" with those that are.

I think he doesn't think that the 5 to 10 minute wait for the Stitch ride even during peak seasons isn't enough of a clue for Disney. Not sure how magic bands will help them find this info out any better since many guest are going to end up with quick picks for their FP+s and Disney is planning on pushing guest towards those low attendance rides. Or that is what many believe is one of the reason Disney wants this new system.

 

[Robo]

I think he doesn't think that the 5 to 10 minute wait for the Stitch ride even during peak seasons isn't enough of a clue for Disney. Not sure how magic bands will help them find this info out any better since many guest are going to end up with quick picks for their FP+s and Disney is planning on pushing guest towards those low attendance rides. Or that is what many believe is one of the reason Disney wants this new system.

After MagicBands are in use, the newly tabulated and collated facts and figures on ride use and purchases will be presented as a file preceded by a simulated Stitch voice saying, "Here are the ride and sales numbers, MR. IGER!"

And, everyone in the board room will just laugh and clap their hands in amazement!

Ahhhh, the magic of Disney!

 

[agavegirl1]

Robo, I kind of get you. I try to read the official stuff and then read into it. I am a "corporate type" (former CFO) but I cherish my vacay. Don't mess with my free time. So I am watching and waiting and hope for the best and plan for the worst. That means I must watch more closely and plan more diligently for 2014.

 

[Robo]

There is very little official stuff to read, unfortunately.



.

 

[magicbob]

I just had an epiphany... add this to my list of "doom and gloom" prognostications.

We've been tossing the idea back and forth that Disney wants FP+ to make waiting in line more efficient, the rational being that less time standing in line equals more time spending money in the gift shop.

Here's a more cynical interpretation: FP+ will make standing in line so bad that people will just skip attractions and go spend money in the gift shop instead!

WDW will soon become the SHOPPING destination of the world.

 

[bcrook]

I just had an epiphany... add this to my list of "doom and gloom" prognostications.

We've been tossing the idea back and forth that Disney wants FP+ to make waiting in line more efficient, the rational being that less time standing in line equals more time spending money in the gift shop.

Here's a more cynical interpretation: FP+ will make standing in line so bad that people will just skip attractions and go spend money in the gift shop instead!

WDW will soon become the SHOPPING destination of the world.

What is Disneys answer to Diagon Alley???

Disney Springs!

Fits your new hypothesis.

 

[Belleandtinker]

Who really wants to wear a plastic band all day every day in the hot Florida heat? We go for 10+ days and the thought of having this tracking device on me at all times doesn't sit well with me.

How many kids will be playing with theirs and lose it? We don't let our DS have his card why would I want him to have the same plus more information on his wrist.

Technology is great, but sometimes I think "these people" over use it. I agree with some that say spend the money on fixing rides or building new rides.

 

[Squidgyness]

I just had an epiphany... add this to my list of "doom and gloom" prognostications.

We've been tossing the idea back and forth that Disney wants FP+ to make waiting in line more efficient, the rational being that less time standing in line equals more time spending money in the gift shop.

Here's a more cynical interpretation: FP+ will make standing in line so bad that people will just skip attractions and go spend money in the gift shop instead!

WDW will soon become the SHOPPING destination of the world.

Could have a point there.

So... the main point of this was to make standing in line a shorter experience, right?

But... it's 3 fastpasses, and they are applicable to one ride each.

We already know from reports from guestss that when they were adding FP+ to things like ETWB or HM it seemed to affect the standby line, as FP never used to be there. (For good reason.)

So I don't think I'm being too outlandish in saying that once guests have used their 3 allotted advance fastpasses, if they can't get day-of fastpasses (Which is the problem now, can't imagine reducing the number of day of fastpasses for pre-booked ones would do anything other than make this situation worse) they would have to wait in... yup, the standby line.

Given what we know about longer standby lines at attractions, in guests experiences, to which FP+ has been tested, if Disney does go ahead with this they've either found a way to solve this... or getting the guests to wait in shorter lines wasn't the main attraction, in which case there are shadier motives at work.

 

[Missyrose]

Who really wants to wear a plastic band all day every day in the hot Florida heat? We go for 10+ days and the thought of having this tracking device on me at all times doesn't sit well with me.

How many kids will be playing with theirs and lose it? We don't let our DS have his card why would I want him to have the same plus more information on his wrist.

Technology is great, but sometimes I think "these people" over use it. I agree with some that say spend the money on fixing rides or building new rides.

You don't have to wear it all the time. You can carry them in your bag or pocket just like you do your KTTW card now.

And they're not a heavy plastic band, they're made of a light silicon with some interesting design features to combat the irritation of wearing them in the Florida heat.

There won't be any actual info stored on the band either, just a customer ID number. So if anyone loses a band, no one can access any of their info.

 

[gorkt]

I am concerned that FP+ is going to exacerbate a trend I have noticed over the last few trips. With more people using fastpasses, I feel the walkways and other areas of the parks are in general more congested, even in less crowded times. I just felt like a lot more of my time on my last trip was spent milling around in a vast sea of people, slowly making my way from one attraction to another. All these people that used to wait in line have to be somewhere. I just wonder how many people they are going to jam into the parks before they add an attraction that will add significantly to park size.

 

[Squidgyness]

I am concerned that FP+ is going to exacerbate a trend I have noticed over the last few trips. With more people using fastpasses, I feel the walkways and other areas of the parks are in general more congested, even in less crowded times. I just felt like a lot more of my time on my last trip was spent milling around in a vast sea of people, slowly making my way from one attraction to another. All these people that used to wait in line have to be somewhere. I just wonder how many people they are going to jam into the parks before they add an attraction that will add significantly to park size.

Or more and more places to buy merchandise.

It's the cheaper option, after all, and it would bring in more money...

 

[mom2rtk]

I just had an epiphany... add this to my list of "doom and gloom" prognostications.

We've been tossing the idea back and forth that Disney wants FP+ to make waiting in line more efficient, the rational being that less time standing in line equals more time spending money in the gift shop.

Here's a more cynical interpretation: FP+ will make standing in line so bad that people will just skip attractions and go spend money in the gift shop instead!

WDW will soon become the SHOPPING destination of the world.

I will bow to Disney's greatness if they really can get people to spend $95 for a on day ticket.........to go in and shop! Although sometimes it really feels like that's what they're after.