Guest Test of Magic Bands (Official Notice)

[bcrook]

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.

Probably true. But once again this is a magic band thing. They could have initiated this seamlessly without MDE and FP+. And I think most people would take them up on the band.

 

[pilferk]

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.

Oh..trust me...I get the why's and hows of what he said.

It "matters" in the sense of perception. At least to me (realizing I was not the target audience).

It's not "true"...or rather, it's true in a very narrowly defined set of circumstances that, to me, don't indicate it will be absolutely true.

And I know that every word we hear from Disney, for the forseeable future, will be happy and light. They'll cite any manner of things from guest surveys (with slanted questions) to "enhancing guest experiences" to increased revenue opportunities....but the truth is they've spent a metric ton of money on this project, and need to present it as successful. Until (and unless) it blows up in their faces to a point where they can't ignore it.

But I don't suspect that will happen.

 

[pilferk]

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.

Maybe.

The thing is, comparing strictly with KTTW card use...you're only getting charged a few times (max) during your vacation....when you hit your "limit" on charges and they hit your card.

Same will be true of MagicBand Use.

Now, maybe folks will use less cash and less "alternate cards" for their purchases and use the MagicBand more. Maybe. But there has got to be a reason that people were using cash or the alternate card, rather than a room charge, in the first place. I doubt it was simply convenience (first card out of the wallet) in the majority of cases.

 

[doggydoc]

Probably true. But once again this is a magic band thing. They could have initiated this seamlessly without MDE and FP+. And I think most people would take them up on the band.

Agreed. The Magic band itself is absolutely brilliant on many levels. I just don't understand the thinking on trying to package all this together. An incremental rollout of Magic Bands, MDE, FP+ would have been so much smoother.

I also agree with the posts about the change in the commentary being so strange. I imagine the average Disney stockholder doesn't follow these things to the degree we do, but I find it disconcerting. They really appear to be scrambling to make this thing look successful. It makes me think they are having trouble making it look good on it's own without spin.

 

[bcrook]

Oh..trust me...I get the why's and hows of what he said.

It "matters" in the sense of perception. At least to me (realizing I was not the target audience).

It's not "true"...or rather, it's true in a very narrowly defined set of circumstances that, to me, don't indicate it will be absolutely true.

And I know that every word we hear from Disney, for the forseeable future, will be happy and light. They'll cite any manner of things from guest surveys (with slanted questions) to "enhancing guest experiences....but the truth is they've spent a metric ton of money on this project, and need to present it as successful. Until (and unless) it blows up in their faces to a point where they can't ignore it.

But I don't suspect that will happen.

Not with this ready to blast off into the stratosphere. My wife and daughter and all their friends can not wait to get their hands on this stuff.

 

[bcrook]

Agreed. The Magic band itself is absolutely brilliant on many levels. I just don't understand the thinking on trying to package all this together. An incremental rollout of Magic Bands, MDE, FP+ would have been so much smoother.

I also agree with the posts about the change in the commentary being so strange. I imagine the average Disney stockholder doesn't follow these things to the degree we do, but I find it disconcerting. They really appear to be scrambling to make this thing look successful. It makes me think they are having trouble making it look good on it's own without spin.

I think initially, they had this idea that it was important to get "everybody" on the magic band feed as soon as possible (for data mining and tracking etc). The only way to get people to do that was to entice them with something that everybody needs - FASTPASSES. It is optional, but who would opt out of FP?

But, now it is becoming very clear - everybody is enamored (not in a bad way) with the magic bands as a convenience, a collectible, a time saver, and novelty item.

So I think your idea is dead on. Rollout MagicBands on their own then work in MDE and FP+ later (in a fashion that is guest friendly).

 

[pilferk]

Not with this ready to blast off into the stratosphere. My wife and daughter and all their friends can not wait to get their hands on this stuff.

That's one of the things I find interesting.

Will the accessories be long term money makers, with collectors buying different doodads and doohickeys every trip? Thereby giving Disney a long term revenue opportunity (like pins, but probably cheaper to make).

Or will most people buy their favorite doodads and doohickeys on their first trip, and reuse forever? Thereby giving Disney a very short term bump and long term flatline.

I suspect (given Disney's brilliant merchandising tactics) the first. But I think the second is a distinct possibility....

 

[bcrook]

That's one of the things I find interesting.

Will the accessories be long term money makers, with collectors buying different doodads and doohickeys every trip? Thereby giving Disney a long term revenue opportunity (like pins, but probably cheaper to make).

Or will most people buy their favorite doodads and doohickeys on their first trip, and reuse forever? Thereby giving Disney a very short term bump and long term flatline.

I suspect (given Disney's brilliant merchandising tactics) the first. But I think the second is a distinct possibility....

And another thought is...will actually generate more revenue? Or will it replace revenue? For example, my family and friends can't wait to partake in the magicband phenomena, but it will be at the expense of pin purchases, t-shirts, hats, jewelry, stuffed animals, vinylmation, and nick knacks at Epcot World Showcase.

 

[d1gitman]

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.

so then you admit it! your MagicBand spending will increase dramatically next trip Staggs is correct

 

[ArwenMarie]

Not with this ready to blast off into the stratosphere. My wife and daughter and all their friends can not wait to get their hands on this stuff.

Yep. And wow, look at those prices...

 

[mom2rtk]

And another thought is...will actually generate more revenue? Or will it replace revenue? For example, my family and friends can't wait to partake in the magicband phenomena, but it will be at the expense of pin purchases, t-shirts, hats, jewelry, stuffed animals, vinylmation, and nick knacks at Epcot World Showcase.

That was my first thought as well. Sales will be there, but will souvenir spending overall actually increase. Or will it just shift?

 

[reelmom]

I think of the magic band accessories like every other new fad. Get the money while you can. Think of silly bands and the Croc Jibbitz. For a while, that is all you saw. Now I couldn't tell you what happened to all those I bought for my kids. Once the newness wears off, the sales will go down until the next big thing.

 

[pilferk]

I think of the magic band accessories like every other new fad. Get the money while you can. Think of silly bands and the Croc Jibbitz. For a while, that is all you saw. Now I couldn't tell you what happened to all those I bought for my kids. Once the newness wears off, the sales will go down until the next big thing.

Ya know...in almost every other case, I'd be right there with you, 100%.

But then I look at Disney pins and Vinylmation lines, and I just can't jump on board.

These are things that make gobs of money for Disney. They are ridiculously cheap to make and the margins on them are just nuts.

And then I look at the band accessories they're selling, and see lots of the same kinds of things that make the pins and vinylmation lines appeal to consumers. Then I throw in the "it's vacation" factor that effects most people. At that point, I've come round to the "this could make Disney truckloads if they do it right".

Tempered by the fact consumers can be very fickle about their cheaply made plastic doohickeys.

I just don't know. I think they'll sell like gangbusters, early. I just am not quite sure what they'll do long term. It'll be interesting to see what the collectors do, and how the accessories are "adopted". D23, I think, will be the first indicators.

 

[d1gitman]

i wonder if at somepoint they will sell Disney Watches that include the RFID. i would much rather wear a nice men's watch with the RFID in place of my current watch (which is a Disney watch) than to wear the MagicBand and a watch

 

[pilferk]

i wonder if at somepoint they will sell Disney Watches that include the RFID. i would much rather wear a nice men's watch with the RFID in place of my current watch (which is a Disney watch) than to wear the MagicBand and a watch

Or offer a watch "accessory" that snaps over the MagicBand.

I was talking to my wife, just the other day, about exactly that.

It'd be a "high end" (read: expensive) addition...at least for a nice one..but one I hope they consider.

 

[snykymom]

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.

That may be true if he's talking to the "little" investors who buy a couple of shares just because it's Disney. But if he's talking to his major investors, or anyone who takes investments seriously, he darned well better go into detail! Listening to the investors calls will be interesting; there will likely be further details about the ROI on the bands.

 

[reelmom]

Or offer a watch "accessory" that snaps over the MagicBand.

I was talking to my wife, just the other day, about exactly that.

It'd be a "high end" (read: expensive) addition...at least for a nice one..but one I hope they consider.

That's a great idea. I would definitely purchase that.

 

[doconeill]

That may be true if he's talking to the "little" investors who buy a couple of shares just because it's Disney. But if he's talking to his major investors, or anyone who takes investments seriously, he darned well better go into detail! Listening to the investors calls will be interesting; there will likely be further details about the ROI on the bands.

He isn't going to go in to technical details, how it operates, etc. for investors, which is what I was referring to. He's going to talk about how it makes money for them. Even if there is some handwavium involved in how it does that. And sometimes, "Look, it did it!" is enough for them, even if it is uncertain how exactly it did it.

From that side, it's almost certain that MyMagic+ won't fail. There are a number of ways that this will certainly increase revenue, if not actual spending. The thought of cutting the number of transactions by pooling is interesting - but I don't know what Disney's per-transaction cost is. If it's a straight-up percentage, then it shouldn't matter. If there is a fixed per-transaction+%, or a graduated scale (bigger transactions, less %) then there are savings to be made. Frankly I've been appalled at how the CC clearinghouses charge small customers...but that's a different discussion.

From the guest side....

 

[wilkeliza]

Looks like DVC members and renters staying at BLT get their hands on magic bands and fastpass+ next. Some were notified today offering participation for a week long test.

 

[DisneyDreamingGirl]

Looks like DVC members and renters staying at BLT get their hands on magic bands and fastpass+ next. Some were notified today offering participation for a week long test.

Do you know the dates?