Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[bcrook]

while Staggs touts an increase in spending...i wonder if it is truly an increase in spending or they are just able to track more of it. How many people used teh MagicBand to shop who otherwise would have used cash, giftcards or their own credit cards which wouldn't necessarily be tracked by Disney....increase in spending could be a false reading by WDW.

Good point. How would they know how much was spent by cash or gift cards? Using only charges connected to a KTTW card would be incomplete.

 

[Robo]

while Staggs touts an increase in spending...i wonder if it is truly an increase in spending or they are just able to track more of it. How many people used teh MagicBand to shop who otherwise would have used cash, giftcards or their own credit cards which wouldn't necessarily be tracked by Disney....increase in spending could be a false reading by WDW.

I think that it's safe to say that the recent guest MagicBands spending far exceeded all of last year's guest MagicBands spending.




(How's THAT for a statistic?)

 

[BeerMe]

(How's THAT for a statistic?)

But, do you have a map for that?

 

[Robo]

But, do you have a map for that?

Just so happens that I do...

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Just so happens that I do...

 

[racinjunkie]

I'm not sure how valuable it was to test only at deluxe resorts where the guests typically have more disposable income. I know we're comparing from one year to the next with the same group of people but it's "new" and people with more disposable income will always spend more on something "new" than those with less disposable income.

 

[pilferk]

But, do you have a map for that?

 

[pilferk]

Just so happens that I do...

Ah, you beat me to it, you map hound!

 

[pilferk]

I'm not sure how valuable it was to test only at deluxe resorts where the guests typically have more disposable income. I know we're comparing from one year to the next with the same group of people but it's "new" and people with more disposable income will always spend more on something "new" than those with less disposable income.

For example (what ifs):

They had a better year, economically, than they did last year
It was hotter this year, than it was last year
It was wetter this year, than it was last year
There was more "new merchandise" this year than there was last year (hard to ignore given New Fantasyland and the magic band accessories, themselves).
They used less cash this year than they did last year
They didn't use the dining plan this year, and they did last year.

There's literally dozens of others..even when looking at the exact same group from one year to the next.

I can tell you, even counting for inflation, my family has never spend the exact same amount from one trip to the next.

 

[d1gitman]

I think that it's safe to say that the recent guest MagicBands spending far exceeded all of last year's guest MagicBands spending.




(How's THAT for a statistic?)

Usage of MagicBands is up sharply last year as well. Yup, it's an overwhelming success

 

[mom2rtk]

For example:

They had a better year, economically, than they did last year
It was hotter this year, than it was last year
It was wetter this year, than it was last year
There was more "new merchandise" this year than there was last year (hard to ignore given New Fantasyland and the magic band accessories, themselves).
They used less cash this year than they did last year
They didn't use the dining plan this year, and they did last year.

There's literally dozens of others..even when looking at the exact same group from one year to the next.

I can tell you, even counting for inflation, my family has never spend the exact same amount from one trip to the next.

You don't think they controlled for those variables?

Say it isn't so.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

while Staggs touts an increase in spending...i wonder if it is truly an increase in spending or they are just able to track more of it. How many people used teh MagicBand to shop who otherwise would have used cash, giftcards or their own credit cards which wouldn't necessarily be tracked by Disney....increase in spending could be a false reading by WDW.

This

I can see them saying that the magic band users charged more to their room than the average AKL/CR guest. It's easier to use the band than reach into your wallet, so people are more likely to use the band than other forms of payment. But, how much of that spending would have been done anyway; if you have to reach into your wallet for a card, whether KTTW or credit/debit/cash, very often something other than KTTW would be used.

There is NO WAY for them to know how much of the increase in charges to the room would have been purchased anyway, but with other forms of payment.

And, 1000 guests is MUCH to small for them to notice overall spending increases in the parks.

 

[doggydoc]

while Staggs touts an increase in spending...i wonder if it is truly an increase in spending or they are just able to track more of it. How many people used teh MagicBand to shop who otherwise would have used cash, giftcards or their own credit cards which wouldn't necessarily be tracked by Disney....increase in spending could be a false reading by WDW.

THIS!

I usually pay with cash or giftcards in the parks. If we have Magic Bands for our next trip I will likely let DD use that to pay, just for the coolness factor, then use my cash and GC's to pay it off at the resort.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Also, notice how Staggs compared FP with FP+; the only difference he notes is the ability to secure ride times in advance. He makes it sound that, otherwise, the two systems are the same. Thus, it is just "an inhancement" of the current FP system.

To me, when spin/incomplete descriptions are needed/used, it is not a good sign.

 

[pilferk]

You don't think they controlled for those variables?

Say it isn't so.

No, I certainly don't. At least not the majority of them, or in terms of the data he was using to support the specific statements for this article.

I think it was much more PR speak/spin for the investors than it was informative or an actual indication of success/failure.

 

[doconeill]

Who did he say it to? There was no attribution...but if he was talking to investors, he isn't going to get into details like we want, he's going to gloss over them and spin it positively no matter what.

 

[WillAustin]

I think it was much more PR speak/spin for the investors than it was informative or an actual indication of success/failure.

And that's why it doesn't really matter if it was incomplete or flawed. If they have ANY data that supports his statement, it's good enough for that purpose.

Any potential data to the contrary will be marginalized and diminished. There is a huge interest in this being seen as an instant success whether it is or not.

 

[bcrook]

Also, notice how Staggs compared FP with FP+; the only difference he notes is the ability to secure ride times in advance. He makes it sound that, otherwise, the two systems are the same. Thus, it is just "an inhancement" of the current FP system.

To me, when spin/incomplete descriptions are needed/used, it is not a good sign.

Yup. He is playing up the "its making money" for the stockholders, but downplaying the significance of the "This will change the way Theme Parks will operate in future. Disney is the leader in innovation and this new system will revolutionize the industry and improve the experience for visitors." That language has not been used since January 6 when they posted the first message on the blog.

 

[bcrook]

Who did he say it to? There was no attribution...but if he was talking to investors, he isn't going to get into details like we want, he's going to gloss over them and spin it positively no matter what.

Every press release has been about investors. What is so strange is the outright lack of information about why this is going to be a better system for guests (other than everybody going gaga over getting a designer band - Disney is going to win that marketing battle hands down).

I think that is suspicious. And I am not buying that they are just trying to work out the wrinkles.

There isn't even any positive press about the interactive queues. They don't need FP+ for those to be turned on. That is going to be a huge selling point - but nothing.

 

[doggydoc]

if you have to reach into your wallet for a card, whether KTTW or credit/debit/cash, very often something other than KTTW would be used.

Now that I think about it this alone may be a money maker for Disney. If they cut down on the average number of credit card transactions by consolidating them with Magic Band use there could be a significant savings in merchant service fees.