FP + What we know and what we want to know

[Planogirl]

Maybe I should have phrased my earlier comment as that this is designed to make Disney more money. I can't see it doing anything else if it works correctly. Of course, Disney is in the business of making money so I can't fault them for that.

I do get a little tired of this notion that the regular visitor doesn't matter. Who decided that? We individually matter as much as any visitor and while I agree that the DIS only represents a small group, there are certainly plenty of others like us out there who don't post here. It's ludicrous to assume that we are the only ones who know anything about WDW.

Anyway, the only information we really have is that this will happen and we don't know much. I KNOW that I don't like a lot of planning so that part of it annoys me at this point but I'll wait to see how it all plays out before I really howl in protest.

 

[doggydoc]

It an "average", which means an equal number of people fall above and below the line.

That is not true. Average is a measure of central tendency. Large numbers at either end of the scale can affect the average up or down. If ten people on here gave FP+ a 1 out of 10 and 1 person gave it a 10 out of 10 the average score is 5. 10 people gave scores below this and only 1 above. I think you meant median.

Which is why they have to look at more than just the average. Median, mode, deviation, etc. all need to factor in.

Not all executives understand that.

It would be helpful to this discussion if we had those numbers so that the picture of an "average" guest, the one assumed here to be Disney's target audience, could be more defined. This wouldn't help with touring strategies but would at least help us understand Disney's motives. Then again it might be very helpful. Sometimes the best strategy is determining what the "average" is going to be doing and look in another direction. I doubt very much Disney will be very forthcoming with this info though.

 

[dadddio]

Found this on WDWmagic.com under FAQ
4. Will you have to use 'MyMagic+'?
- No. The system is opt in, and is not required. However, if you do not use 'MyMagic+' you will not be able to use FASTPASS+.

Ugh so much conflicting info

Actually, that makes sense. You can't use FP+ unless your ticket is linked to your profile.

 

[doconeill]

That is not true. Average is a measure of central tendency. Large numbers at either end of the scale can affect the average up or down. If ten people on here gave FP+ a 1 out of 10 and 1 person gave it a 10 out of 10 the average score is 5. 10 people gave scores below this and only 1 above. I think you meant median.

Whoops...yes, I was thinking median vs. mean (average) when I wrote that and wrote the wrong one. Trying to do several things at once. But the argument on skewing was what I was getting at, which ALSO applies to the median.

There are SO many factors where it is easy to make a mistake...say, if you cater to a a group that say spends $100 a day currently in the parks, and they make up 20% of the audience (for numbers purposes, say it's 100 people), and you get the high-end of 20% increased spending, you've increased revenue by $200. But if in the process you alienate 5% of that audience, who spend $200/day, and they spend 20% less (after all, less time to spend on that expensive table service meal you usually get ), you lose $200 of revenue, and it's a wash. Hard to make back that billion dollars that way.

 

[bcrook]

As I said before, I am typically the "realist" in the group. I naturally put projects/ideas/proposals through their paces -- shake them to see what might break -- look for the weakness so that they can be beefed up. But I think that last part's the key: so they can be beefed up -- not so that it can go down in flames. I'm not suggesting that you want them to go down in flames -- but the tone in some posts on here sure sounds like that to me.

Based on Disney's track record (in my book), I'd expect them to pull feedback from ALL CORNERS of its customer base, and ultimately end up with what works best for most -- not ALL -- that's impossible. Selfishly, of course I hope that it shakes out in a way in which I am one of the ones it works out for -- just like anyone else on here!! [/

There are many examples of Disney decisions that are based simply on money issues. They provide no benefit to customers at all: ticket increases, buffet price increases, Tables in Wonderland increase, cutting Fantasmic! shows, cutting extra magic hours, cutting monorail hours, closing the adventurers club, shuttering the wonders of life Pavillion, and many more. There is no positive benefit here for any customers. There is a chance that this mymagic+ is designed to be a move that makes Disney a lot of money or saves them a lot of money, and the level of experience will decrease for all customers. It is possible, every decision is not based on customer service.

In this case I can see some advantages, but I see a net loss for most. I may be wrong, and I am free to reconsider. I do have 43 years of DVC to reflect on it.

Regardless of motive, as doconeill said it will be spun as a huge success. And most customers to wdw this year won't even know EMH were cut and everybody forgets about price increases immediately. By December most people won't even remember how current FP works. Disney can do whatever they want, this storm will pass.

 

[doconeill]

Speaking of track record, Disney does have a habit of announcing things, and then they never happen. In that respect, they are a lot like television networks that announce a program in development in such a way that it sounds like its a guarantee it will be on for the next TV season, but it never makes it past the script stage...

So, given that, there is a non-zero chance that MyMagic+, or portions of it, won't happen.

Now, usually these announcements happen before they've spent a billion dollars...so I expect the chance of it happening is very, very, low. About the same as my being named the new head of Next Generation Technology tomorrow...

 

[finedice]

BCrook - When I originally asked you to post a link to the Terms and Conditions about the RF devices, you said that you aleady had. I noted that and saw the link on the front page, and was satisfied. However, when reviewing the T&C with my DW today (she was asking), I noted that the link you have there is the T&C about MDe in general - and NOT the even more detailed T&C I was refering to about the devices themselves.

To me, that information is even scarier. Check it out, and supply an additional link on the front page if you see fit:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/privacy-policy/

Thanks!

 

[doggydoc]

There are many examples of Disney decisions that are based simply on money issues. They provide no benefit to customers at all: ticket increases, buffet price increases, Tables in Wonderland increase, cutting Fantasmic! shows, cutting extra magic hours, cutting monorail hours, closing the adventurers club, shuttering the wonders of life Pavillion, and many more. There is no positive benefit here for any customers. There is a chance that this mymagic+ is designed to be a move that makes Disney a lot of money or saves them a lot of money, and the level of experience will decrease for all customers. It is possible, every decision is not based on customer service.

All this is true but after a previous career in retail, now owning my own business and having read Disney management books I find it very difficult to believe that could cavalierly disregard the potential upset of even a minority of hard core, internet connected and highly vocal fans.

In this case I can see some advantages, but I see a net loss for most. I may be wrong, and I am free to reconsider. I do have 43 years of DVC to reflect on it.

Regardless of motive, as doconeill said it will be spun as a huge success. And most customers to wdw this year won't even know EMH were cut and everybody forgets about price increases immediately. By December most people won't even remember how current FP works. Disney can do whatever they want, this storm will pass.

I don't really buy that last line. Disney may have seen revenue go up but park attendance is said to be down or flat. That has the potential to be disastrous, to the parks not Disney on the whole, if it continues.

Also your mention of DVC got me thinking. While a large percentage of park goers are first-timers what percentage of DVC and Cruises are purchased by them? These are obviously EXTREMELY important to Disney's bottomline, they have invested far more money into these areas than they have the parks in the last few years. How many DVC and cruise sales are they going to lose if they alienate the hard-core fan base that is the most likely purchasers of these?

 

[Disneygirl 792]

BCrook - When I originally asked you to post a link to the Terms and Conditions about the RF devices, you said that you aleady had. I noted that and saw the link on the front page, and was satisfied. However, when reviewing the T&C with my DW today (she was asking), I noted that the link you have there is the T&C about MDe in general - and NOT the even more detailed T&C I was refering to about the devices themselves.

To me, that information is even scarier. Check it out, and supply an additional link on the front page if you see fit:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/privacy-policy/

Thanks!

I think somewhere either in this thread or another I read that Disney will "track" your movements as you move through the parks inorder to "enhance" your expierence.

 

[finedice]

I think somewhere either in this thread or another I read that Disney will "track" your movements as you move through the parks inorder to "enhance" your expierence.

Or to enhance The Feed.

 

[bcrook]

BCrook - When I originally asked you to post a link to the Terms and Conditions about the RF devices, you said that you aleady had. I noted that and saw the link on the front page, and was satisfied. However, when reviewing the T&C with my DW today (she was asking), I noted that the link you have there is the T&C about MDe in general - and NOT the even more detailed T&C I was refering to about the devices themselves.

To me, that information is even scarier. Check it out, and supply an additional link on the front page if you see fit:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/my-disney-experience/privacy-policy/

Thanks!

That link didn't work, point me in the right direction and I will read it and link it. Thanks for the update! I'll keep digging.

 

[Disneygirl 792]

bcrook, its under FAQ, My Disney Experience

 

[finedice]

Interesting - it works for me. I wonder if you need to sign in to see it?

 

[waltfan42]

Is it the general consensus that it would still be okay to use tickets from Undercover Tourist once FP+ begins? My trip is in April and budget wise, I really wanted to wait to buy my tickets---but theoretically I may have a 60 day window opening in February. If FP+ is up and running and there is no FP-, I really don't want to miss out on scheduling FP's. I know Disney can do whatever they want and I'm not arguing that. But I'm not super psyched to be spending thousands of dollars to be Disney's last minute guinea pig and that is what it is feeling like at this point.

 

[Missyrose]

Is it the general consensus that it would still be okay to use tickets from Undercover Tourist once FP+ begins? My trip is in April and budget wise, I really wanted to wait to buy my tickets---but theoretically I may have a 60 day window opening in February. If FP+ is up and running and there is no FP-, I really don't want to miss out on scheduling FP's. I know Disney can do whatever they want and I'm not arguing that. But I'm not super psyched to be spending thousands of dollars to be Disney's last minute guinea pig and that is what it is feeling like at this point.

In theory (which at this point is pure speculation that happens to be rooted in the small bits of info Disney has actually doled out). You *should8 be able to link tickets to your account once you physically have them in hand. They'll have a barcode that you could enter into Disney's system. But since Disney hasn't announced how this will work, we can only guess.

 

[bcrook]

Is it the general consensus that it would still be okay to use tickets from Undercover Tourist once FP+ begins? My trip is in April and budget wise, I really wanted to wait to buy my tickets---but theoretically I may have a 60 day window opening in February. If FP+ is up and running and there is no FP-, I really don't want to miss out on scheduling FP's. I know Disney can do whatever they want and I'm not arguing that. But I'm not super psyched to be spending thousands of dollars to be Disney's last minute guinea pig and that is what it is feeling like at this point.

Based on everything we know, it seems like Disney is going to want everybody on the magicbands (or card) as soon as possible. Everything reads link your valid ticket. This is the inconvenient part about this process. You need to know. Mousermerf made the comment that eventually Disney wants people to buy only from them - but this can't be found in writing at all.

The Terms and Conditions provide this vague (and somewhat heavy handed language): "Once available, you may convert certain paper tickets or passes to a paperless ticket or pass in the site/app. Once converted, your ticket or pass park admission entitlements are stored in your account and fulfilled by an RF Device. The paper ticket or pass becomes void..."

The certain paper tickets is the problem with trying to figure this out.

Sorry can't help anymore than that.

 

[waltfan42]

Thanks guys. I'm thankful for the Disboards, because honestly I would get there and be completely clueless. And then wonder why I couldn't get a FP for anything like I have in the past. At least now I'll know why I can't get a FP. Just kidding, just kidding!

 

[bcrook]

Interesting - it works for me. I wonder if you need to sign in to see it?

It gave me an error on the iPad but works fine on the computer (safari on both go figure).

I will link it. You are right, it is fascinating. This is the one that intrigues me the most:

"In addition, information we collect through your use of the RF Device will allow us to improve our overall products and services, such as managing wait times and improving traffic flow."

I am curious how this will work. Will people really respond to the bracelet like that.

 

[jade1]

Also your mention of DVC got me thinking. While a large percentage of park goers are first-timers what percentage of DVC and Cruises are purchased by them? These are obviously EXTREMELY important to Disney's bottomline, they have invested far more money into these areas than they have the parks in the last few years. How many DVC and cruise sales are they going to lose if they alienate the hard-core fan base that is the most likely purchasers of these?

How many sales never happened because they thought the lines were way to long?

You can bet they will target market the exact folks your talking about with this new way to reserve attractions.

Heck they may say "if you buy today, you get 4 per day", or "you can pick from both tiers", or "you can reserve at 70 days out for a 10 day bonus window to get what you want"..

 

[cheesemouse]

Whether true or not, the idea of the FP+ starting TODAY is interesting. If true, I wonder if there are any DISers who will be a part of the "flagged" group and opt to use the new FP+? I'd love to hear back from them if/when they do!

I know I'm in the minority, but we REALLY want to use FP+ for our upcoming trip in March. We are staying at the CR and have 6 day convention tickets purchased and assigned to our room. And we're using ME, so I hope we'll get "flagged". The ONLY worrisome thought to me was that guests were being flagged and offered the FP+ option at check in. For me, I'd rather be able to make that decision ahead of time and take the time to see what FP+ return times were available.

Maybe we'll hear some sort of update or announcement tomorrow??? One can hope...