Here Comes Day Guest MagicBands

[crostorfer]

If I had to guess I would say no I've been going to these parties for years and yes we could go in at 4 but technically the hard ticket is from 7 pm and when it comes to FP+ I think it would stand as a no, especially since there is no FP during parties

I suppose we'll have to see what the hard party tickets look like. If they are RFID and have a bar code, I don't know what would prevent it from being scanned into MDE. Considering that people who don't link their MB's are getting two sets of FP+ in multiple parks per day, I don't know how the party ticket would be any different from 4-7 for same day, at least.

 

[morethananyonex]

We visit once a year offsite, usually tied to a major holiday when DVC points are very expensive. We do so only because we purchase an AP and we connect it to a cruise. We could easily choose to cruise from another port other than Tampa or Port Canaveral and not do the additional trip to WDW.

+1 Furthermore, as a local AP holder I'm further insulted they held out the MBs from us as long as they did with no information of how/when they would become available to us. Now just as we are getting them, they roll them out to offsite day guests. I see where we rate as guests, the same guests that visit frequently and spend frequently.

The ironic part of all of this, is FP+ fits our family perfectly simply because we are close and can drop in when we feel like it. To schedule FP+ on our way to the park and knowing what we can/can't ride upfront is a dream. But the way they've handled this mess and the arrogance with which they've alienated their local guests is too much. I don't feel like a valued customer but a dollar sign walking through their gate. That's a feeling that doesn't lend itself to us renewing our passes, or stepping foot on property again. Yes, I'm

If it makes you guys feel any better, my family is the "most valued" type of guest to Disney. We're the family who stays onsite, even better yet pays cash for DVC villas . We don't feel anymore valued than you guys do. I don't feel like the extra 30 days means Disney values me more, I feel like it means Disney thinks I'm the biggest kind of sucker they get .

I would feel the same way. But we all feel like dollar signs at this point I think this new FP has really exposed the fact that we are just $ signs...not that we didn't always know that, but it wasn't so obvious. It just all seems so calculated now.

I can only speak for myself, but I've always been aware that Disney is in the business of making money. The difference now is it feels like the focus has shifted from maximizing the guest experience in order to make money, to maximizing the profits made and guest experience being secondary in importance.

 

[travelinggnomes]

Do we have any set idea on how much the magic bands are going to cost? My tween thinks she is REALLY going to need one! lol Also, what is the typical time for shipping on these? By the time that we are allowed to order, it will be 3.5 weeks till our trip. Is that enough time?

 

[ilm2000]

Maybe I'm not thinking about this correctly but how will the gauge 30 days out. Will the window just be open for 30 days or less in the future at anytime as long as you have tickets linked. Not triggered by dining ressies as we suspected.

Another perk or onsite will be setting fp for length of stay. Offsite will have to go in day by day to set it up.

 

[Tink575]

As an Annual Passholder, the reduction of the booking window for FP+ from 60 days to 30 was something I found insulting, but I understood the value of providing a benefit for on-site guests. To now find out that those staying off-site will have the same booking window as Annual Passholders, makes me feel devalued as a customer. This will have an impact on my decision to renew.

I posted the other day that I felt like a second class citizen. I'll amend that now to say Disney doesn't care about Annual Passholders at all. The ultimate and last possible insult will be if those staying offsite get 10 days worth of FP+ in advance for a 10 day ticket when we get 7.

I'll be in FL for 6 weeks shortly, but can book 7 days of Fastpass+ and wait for a day to roll off and get more. By then everything will be taken, not sure if I should book 1 day a week at 30 days... so upset right now. If this was all we were getting why did we have to wait so long? I'm with you Tom.

 

[OtherScott]

I posted the other day that I felt like a second class citizen. I'll amend that now to say Disney doesn't care about Annual Passholders at all. The ultimate and last possible insult will be if those staying offsite get 10 days worth of FP+ in advance for a 10 day ticket when we get 7.

I'll be in FL for 6 weeks shortly, but can book 7 days of Fastpass+ and wait for a day to roll off and get more. By then everything will be taken, not sure if I should book 1 day a week at 30 days... so upset right now. If this was all we were getting why did we have to wait so long? I'm with you Tom.

So an AP holder can only prebook 7 days initially, then book an 8th once the first date comes and goes?!

AP holders should at least get to book for the longest MYW ticket offered.

 

[Angel Ariel]

If I had to guess I would say no I've been going to these parties for years and yes we could go in at 4 but technically the hard ticket is from 7 pm and when it comes to FP+ I think it would stand as a no, especially since there is no FP during parties

IIRC, though, party tickets were able to pull legacy FP during that 4-7 window, weren't they? I'm pretty sure we used legacy FP when we used our MNSHHP tx to enter at 4 last year...(just until 7, when the party actually began)

If so (and I totally admit I could be misremembering), then why wouldn't they continue that ability with FP+?

 

[DisneyMinnie]

If I had to guess I would say no I've been going to these parties for years and yes we could go in at 4 but technically the hard ticket is from 7 pm and when it comes to FP+ I think it would stand as a no, especially since there is no FP during parties

For Night of Joy in Septemeber I linked my ticket. It was just an eticket as well. I had to exchange it for my main ticket when I arrived. It let me make a fastpass+ selection for the entire day. The MDE doesn't discriminate against time, just days.

 

[Mad Hattered]

Just sayin'..... Mine Train, anyone? *cough*

 

[Planogirl]

I don't get the fuss about offsite people getting the 1 month prebooking. Many of them go frequently and spend a lot on passes and dining and souvenirs. It's illogical to think that Disney would treat them badly.

This is good news. When we go back I plan to stay onsite but if that falls through I'm pleased that we won't have to struggle with the kiosks.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

I don't get the fuss about offsite people getting the 1 month prebooking. Many of them go frequently and spend a lot on passes and dining and souvenirs. It's illogical to think that Disney would treat them badly.

This is good news. When we go back I plan to stay onsite but if that falls through I'm pleased that we won't have to struggle with the kiosks.

That's wrong. Its totally logical that they would be 3rd tier. Why? Because they spend way less per day....both in tickets and in soft spending like souvenirs and meals.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I posted the other day that I felt like a second class citizen. I'll amend that now to say Disney doesn't care about Annual Passholders at all. The ultimate and last possible insult will be if those staying offsite get 10 days worth of FP+ in advance for a 10 day ticket when we get 7.

I never liked the old-coke vs new-coke analogies as a foil to My Magic+. AP holders are more like back-up prom dates. We will never take the hint that we aren't really wanted, and just move on.

 

[kmb584]

That's wrong. Its totally logical that they would be 3rd tier. Why? Because they spend way less per day....both in tickets and in soft spending like souvenirs and meals.

People staying off-site pay the same amount for tickets than those staying on-site. I also highly doubt they're spending less on souvenirs and food (no DP for off-siters).

 

[wuzzy6]

It probably indicates that they think the AP holder has gotten their money's worth after x number of visits and is then getting the rest of the year "free." If the AP holder is local staying at home or staying offsite, Disney is not making any additional revenue. In fact, they are essentially losing money on AP holders getting maximum use of their AP because those guests are not paying for those additional days, but they are still taking up ride capacity, etc. Don't misunderstand. I don't have anything against APs. But I think this is how WDW views the situation.

As a FL Res AP holder, I totally agree with this. (We will be staying onsite several times this year, but our day trips will far exceed those onsite days.)

 

[TISHLOVESDISNEY]

Well, we always stay offsite (timeshare thru inlaws) it's the only way we could afford a week down in Orlando.
BUT, when it comes to money spent at Disney? I have a daughter who LOVED princesses, so I've done EVERY princess meal, photo pkg, bought PLENTY of souvenirs for all 3 of my children. We spend plenty of money at Disney.
This upcoming trip I am cutting back on the meals, only doing 2 for my DS2 as the older kids don't care anymore. But with 4 kids, even though my oldest will now pay her own way, still plenty of money will be spent from our group of 7.
So, yes, I am thrilled that Disney is giving us 30 days. 60 would have been great, lol, but not greedy, just thankful!!!!

 

[clsteve]

People staying off-site pay the same amount for tickets than those staying on-site. I also highly doubt they're spending less on souvenirs and food (no DP for off-siters).

FWIW, from a past math thread another poster (Nabas, I think?) analyzed Disney's 10K Filing where they provide the Domestic Per Room Guest Spending. It shows an on-site family spends at least $257/day more than an off-site family.

 

[mom2rtk]

It probably indicates that they think the AP holder has gotten their money's worth after x number of visits and is then getting the rest of the year "free." If the AP holder is local staying at home or staying offsite, Disney is not making any additional revenue. In fact, they are essentially losing money on AP holders getting maximum use of their AP because those guests are not paying for those additional days, but they are still taking up ride capacity, etc. Don't misunderstand. I don't have anything against APs. But I think this is how WDW views the situation.

So could it be that Disney has stomped out the FP "superuser" and has now shifted their focus to another class of "superuser"?

 

[mom2rtk]

FWIW, from a past math thread another poster (Nabas, I think?) analyzed Disney's 10K Filing where they provide the Domestic Per Room Guest Spending. It shows an on-site family spends at least $257/day more than an off-site family.

I missed that. Does that excludes the price of the room?

 

[2Tiggies]

I missed that. Does that excludes the price of the room?

I'd actually love to get a link to that. Very interesting.

It must surely include room cost? Or if not, perhaps food? Offsite guests are more likely to bring their own food or at least their own snacks/waters than onsite guests. Also, just because onsite guests are redeeming dining credits does not mean they are not paying. The DDP is by no means a cheap add-on and adding free dining means paying rack rate for a room when the price would ordinarily be lower so effectively they are just shifting where the food bill appears on the invoice to fall under 'room' rather than 'dining' But money spent is money spent, regardless of where you post it.

I also suspect that offsite guests who typically have their own transport and easier access to malls and retail outlets are doing much of their souvenir shopping offsite as well for less.

None of the folk I personally know who stay offsite spend much in the parks compared to us (and we are fairly low spenders in terms of souvenirs -except my DD who keeps Disney in business!)

 

[clsteve]

I missed that. Does that excludes the price of the room?

It takes the avg room rate and only their spend at the resort and not at the Parks for food/beverage, tickets, souvenirs, etc. When you figure in the industry avg. that an on-site guest has 1.5-1.7 more meals than off-site, etc., and they make up around 50% of attendance- it's not insignificant.

I'd actually love to get a link to that. Very interesting.

Here's the link:

http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/investors/financial-information/sec-filings