MM+ never materialized?

[bcrook]

Comments made on the record are comments made on the record.

It seems your impressions of when things would be rolled out are different than the OPs. Neither is wrong.

I took "never" to mean "up to now", although I have gathered, from one place or another that some of these interactive elements have been abandoned. No source for that - just what I have gathered from stuff I've read. I feel like the company has backed off from those elements, but is leaving the door open.

Again, I didn't read OP's post as being mad at Disney about this - just wondering, hey - what happened with that other stuff that was discussed?

The article from the New York Times that I listed in the original post does a good job of describing the grand plan which included the data collection, convenience factor and "We want to take experiences that are more passive and make them as interactive as possible — moving from, ‘Cool, look at that talking bird,’ to ‘Wow, amazing, that bird is talking directly to me,’ ” said Bruce Vaughn, chief creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering."

It was a major component, and as I said earlier it is the Transformative piece that Staggs referred to in dozens of interviews.

I didn't know about the etch a sketch. See that is the kind of thing I was looking for.

 

[Planogirl]

The OP's topic sounds perfectly rational. I remember that we all heard about these possibilities so why not wonder about them?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

I do wonder how much the current lawsuits have to do with the delays in rolling out other parts of the puzzle. At least one of the suits is likely to be very problematic to a project whose budget got completely out of hand before full implementation.

 

[WillAustin]

The OP's topic sounds perfectly rational. I remember that we all heard about these possibilities so why not wonder about them?

It's been a year and a half since they added the monitors to the goodbye room of IASW...

http://www.disboards.com/threads/television-monitors-in-small-worlds-good-bye-room.3202899/

 

[JimmyV]

I think that people are putting way too much emphasis on "press releases". To the extent that someone introduced that concept into the thread, it was clearly an error or overstatement. Press releases are not where companies explain new technological advances. Instead, they are discussed in "on the record" interviews in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times or Business Week or in panel discussions such as D23. If anyone is looking for press releases either for support or refutation of the idea that MM+ was supposed to include cool stuff like characters greeting you by name, you can stop looking. Read articles that quote Disney execs instead. Press releases are where you will find personnel announcements and corporate acquisitions.

 

[larryz]

It's been a year and a half since they added the monitors to the goodbye room of IASW...

http://www.disboards.com/threads/television-monitors-in-small-worlds-good-bye-room.3202899/

Let me tell you, good-bye doesn't mean forever...

 

[jtowntoflorida]

How "official" do you have to get? Apparently, statements made on the record to journalists aren't good enough. What about statements made on investor calls? How about in SEC filings? What about in patents filed by Disney? Are those "official" enough sources to confirm for y'all that Disney has not delivered on promises that were made in the past?

 

[itchin2go]

So are we talking bait and switch or are we talking--"hopes and dreams" of what is possible.

Just re-read and wanted to comment on this. I am just one person, and certainly not the most informed person about this issue, but I have never viewed it as a bait and switch situation. I also think (just one person's opinion) that the plans for these things were more than just "hopes and dreams". I think Disney or at least some at Disney legitimately wanted to achieve these effects, and I think actions were undertaken in furtherance of achieving these things. They didn't happen, or haven't happened yet for whatever reason (I speculated above), but I don't think Disney is being accused of lying or misrepresenting. I think this project just fell short of certain goals in some respects.

 

[LOL!]

I think that people are putting way to much emphasis on "press releases". To the extent that someone introduced that concept into the thread, it was clearly an error or overstatement. Press releases are not where companies explain new technological advances. Instead, they are discussed in "on the record" interviews in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Times or Business Week or in panel discussions such as D23. If anyone is looking for press releases either for support or refutation of the idea that MM+ was supposed to include cool stuff like characters greeting you by name, you can stop looking. Read articles that quote Disney execs instead. Press releases are where you will find personnel announcements and corporate acquisitions.

Whew..... thanks for explaining that! I was beginning to wonder what exactly MM+ was supposed to be without any press releases to support it!

Wait. What exactly was MM+ supposed to be again? Because if all it turned out to be was a wristband to replace a plastic card, a web/phone app for FP's to replace paper ones, and a modern rendition of ET saying goodbye to riders, that was a pretty big chunk of change spent. I'm reading a lot of people saying what it WASN'T supposed to be but they aren't exactly offering any encouraging thoughts as to what we might expect in the future. And when that future might actually come....

 

[LOL!]

How "official" do you have to get? Apparently, statements made on the record to journalists aren't good enough. What about statements made on investor calls? How about in SEC filings? What about in patents filed by Disney? Are those "official" enough sources to confirm for y'all that Disney has not delivered on promises that were made in the past?

Patents would be good. Companies don't protect their ideas with patents unless they think they have merit. What do the patents talk about in terms of MM+ ??

 

[LOL!]

Disney doesn't need a loyalty card when people keep coming back, even though they claim to be so dissatisfied with the state of things.

I don't know that any company "needs" a loyalty program but it sure does mean a lot to me when they offer one. Especially if they have a large group of customers claiming to be dissatisfied with the state of things, a loyalty program can go a long way.

 

[JimmyV]

Whew..... thanks for explaining that! I was beginning to wonder what exactly MM+ was supposed to be without any press releases to support it!

Wait. What exactly was MM+ supposed to be again? Because if all it turned out to be was a wristband to replace a plastic card, a web/phone app for FP's to replace paper ones, and a modern rendition of ET saying goodbye to riders, that was a pretty big chunk of change spent. I'm reading a lot of people saying what it WASN'T supposed to be but they aren't exactly offering any encouraging thoughts as to what we might expect in the future. And when that future might actually come....

Right now, MM+ does about what my Key To The Kingdom (or was it "World") card used to do. Opened my hotel door and got me in the park. The "upgrade" embeds my FP's which I can now book in advance. Hardly the innovations that were alluded to in all those interviews.

 

[bcrook]

This was a very good article I read regarding MM+. Among other things, creative plans for MM+ are discussed therein.

http://www.fastcompany.com/3044283/the-messy-business-of-reinventing-happiness#chapter-Tomorrowland

I legitimately thought most knew about these plans. I haven't read that article in awhile, but as I've said before, I got the impression these elements weren't implemented either because the project went over budget and past deadline, or because of pushback from Imagineers, or because of guests' concerns (such as privacy). These were just impressions that I got - not swearing by anything.

I don't understand the insistence on press releases. Disney's execs have gone on the record with reporters. I'm not sure why those statements would not be relevant.

That was a fantastic article! I think that backstory of how MM+ and NextGen played out pretty much how we were speculating during the roll outs. Those long silences in information. The little bits of information. It was a fantastic mess!

The quote from Staggs saying infrastructure changes would be too expensive for Anaheim. And that smartphones can work instead of magicbands. Fascinating.

It did clearly describe that the Theme Park as a platform concept is officially dead. Pandora won't have much interactivity.

Wow, what a great read. Thanks for sharing itchin2go.

 

[LOL!]

Awwwww man. Not exactly what I was hoping to hear (from the article):

"Honestly, it’s not so magical," one cast member tells me about MyMagic+, echoing a common sentiment I hear from park employees during my visit. "It’s just for your hotel room [door] and paying for things." When you look closely, there’s less to MyMagic+ than what some on the team had hoped for.

Well that blows........

 

[itchin2go]

I don't know that any company "needs" a loyalty program but it sure does mean a lot to me when they offer one. Especially if they have a large group of customers claiming to be dissatisfied with the state of things, a loyalty program can go a long way.

I am a sucker for a loyalty program. Starbucks has got my number.

Whenever they send me an email about buying so many frappucinos in so many days and getting extra stars, it goes to the top of my list. And I know I am being a sucker. But I kind of like it.

I don't mind that a company wants to separate me from my dollars, but I like to feel good about what I get in return.

 

[mom2rtk]

So bcrook...... you're saying that you were looking forward to getting back to the parks to see what improvements had been made on the MM+ program? And in the end they did not "surprise and delight" you?

 

[3DisneyFanz]

This was a very good article I read regarding MM+. Among other things, creative plans for MM+ are discussed therein.

http://www.fastcompany.com/3044283/the-messy-business-of-reinventing-happiness#chapter-Tomorrowland

I legitimately thought most knew about these plans. I haven't read that article in awhile, but as I've said before, I got the impression these elements weren't implemented either because the project went over budget and past deadline, or because of pushback from Imagineers, or because of guests' concerns (such as privacy). These were just impressions that I got - not swearing by anything.

I don't understand the insistence on press releases. Disney's execs have gone on the record with reporters. I'm not sure why those statements would not be relevant.

Reading this with what I know now of the project I can't help but laugh at the comments about this being a response to people complaining about lines and ticket prices. Ticket prices didn't stop going up and lines haven't gotten any shorter since implementation. In some cases your line got significantly longer since you have no hope of FP multiple big rides in certain parks.

 

[Robo]

Awwwww man. Not exactly what I was hoping to hear (from the article):

"Honestly, it’s not so magical," one cast member tells me about MyMagic+, echoing a common sentiment I hear from park employees during my visit. "It’s just for your hotel room [door] and paying for things." When you look closely, there’s less to MyMagic+ than what some on the team had hoped for.

Well that blows........

By George, I think you've GOT it!

 

[bcrook]

Right now, MM+ does about what my Key To The Kingdom (or was it "World") card used to do. Opened my hotel door and got me in the park. The "upgrade" embeds my FP's which I can now book in advance. Hardly the innovations that were alluded to in all those interviews.

The article mentioned by itchin2go reinforces this viewpoint. All the creative aspects have been cut, it is predominantly a tool of functionality.

It's under the section entitled FANTASYLAND.

So maybe I should have named the thread"... Creative aspects of MM+: never materialized?

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It's been a year and a half since they added the monitors to the goodbye room of IASW...

http://www.disboards.com/threads/television-monitors-in-small-worlds-good-bye-room.3202899/

I had no idea they were even there.