MyMagic+ Delay - Article

[clsteve]

~I have always said from the beginning that FP+ won't be ready until the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is online, it just makes sense. I also predicted that both the 7DMT and FP+ would debut together sometime in early 2014 or late 2013 at the earliest, so this comes as no surprise to me. I was really shocked when rumors surfaced that FP+ was ready to go. This timeline sounds just about right.

Could make sense: 2 large projects, both delayed. And, it could end up that way. But, I think they're scrambling too much and need good press by at least opening the Train on time.

Just keep in mind the expense involved and how much "face" the exec's are now starting to lose. All joking aside, this article's a big deal for them -Analysts are starting to ask questions, they've missed their September completion date by at least 2 quarters, they're over budget, every follow-on project (like the big marketing release), is also now behind sched, so the cost overrun will continue.

They don't like that it's the first public (besides us) "chink in the armor" and need some positive progress to the analysts whether it's all on-site guests up, or the Train up, or something...

 

[ArwenMarie]

I believe further "tiered levels" will be be implemented. Criteria to to include onsite vs offsite and possibly resort levels and maybe "magical experiences" available for purchase. If you overbuild onsite stay capacity, underbuild total them park capacity, focus on travel agencies and tour groups, hope AP and DVC won't notice a difference... what is left for an offsite guest?

References on another website to CM training involving guests at Levels 1-4 involving FP+ reservation opportunities and tiering let me to this.

I read that about the "Levels" of guests too...Hmm...

 

[Rosanne]

Kind of ironic that Disney saw returns on Cars Land sooner than they expected (A wonderful new themed area where customers get positive new experiences) and more to actually do).

Yet...

Returns are past schedule on the Magicband, FP+ thing which is supposed to have customers stay longer, come back more often and spend more money.

I'm thinking the hope is that they think people will come back more often, stay longer and spend more money because people won't get to do the things they want to do in a reasonable amount of time.

 

[ktlm]

You forget -- they got a lot of feedback about how you used the MBs just analyzing your movements and ride/buying history...

Didn't get any feedback on my buying history from the MB. I declined linking a credit card to it. I always declined it on my KTTW card. too. I don't need my CC attached to something than can pop off my wrist or that I am taking in and out of my purse every time I enter a park or get a FP-. Plus, we had heard some reports (even while there from people who had it happen), of the MBs occasionally glitching and not asking for a pin when people were charging something. To get my buying info, they will have to work a little harder by looking up the credit card info itself- which they no doubt have as well.

Honestly, I don't know what it really gains them. Before they could track my ADRs, my buying through my credit card, and my park and FP- through my KTTW. They could get the same info they can get with MB now.

If they are tracking by what FP+ you used or didn't use, they have a major flaw. They don't know why you didn't use them. I'm sure they will interpret them as not needed, when the truth some of them weren't used because they were inconvenient and a pain, and MDE was too glitchy to change anything with!

Several people on here keep talking about FP+ making less time in line and more shopping. That may be Disney's objective, but the tiered system has the exact opposite effect. They are now effectively limiting me to one FP a day, since Tier 2 has nothing for which I need a FP. As such, they are making me spend significantly more time in line, which leaves me significantly less time to shop.

 

[ktlm]

I'll give you my opinion after we check out DCA for ourselves in 16 days!

I'm jealous! I really want to see DLR at the holidays with all its decorations and the overlays at Small World and Haunted Mansion!


We are not Cars fans at all, but we thought Carsland was absolutely fabulous! Such attention to detail everywhere. (We also think RSR absolutely puts the new test track to shame! ) I can't wait to see the photos you get as I know how good you are with a camera! I hope you post some!

Have a fantastic trip and come back and tell us all about it!

 

[wn01aa]

Good points- we should just give it a few more days to a week, or so. Hub validated other resorts are going follow "very soon" and it would seem to make sense to get resort guests up and off of double dipping so they can level the playing field for off-site for the holidays - FP+ for onsite, FP- offsite.

Plus, it gives them a good usage pattern and data collection timeframe, having the guests separated into 2 distinct categories (allowing for some anomalies like AP onsite or onsite with old KTTW's).

If they don't start moving other resorts to FP+ only, at least starting the week after Thanksgiving, it would be very surprising.

I know there is lots of talk about onsite getting to use both FP+ and FP- or offsite people getting lots of FP- (more then the 3). To make it fair until all have FP+, couldn't they stop giving KTTW meaning all onsite get 3 and also make it that those offsite can only pull 3 FP- during the day, after that it would say on the ticket "maximum of 3 FP reached". The machines know when you already hold a ticket for another ride so couldn't they just do this so that everyone is only getting 3.

 

[wn01aa]

I know there is lots of talk about onsite getting to use both FP+ and FP- or offsite people getting lots of FP- (more then the 3). To make it fair until all have FP+, couldn't they stop giving KTTW meaning all onsite get 3 and also make it that those offsite can only pull 3 FP- during the day, after that it would say on the ticket "maximum of 3 FP reached". The machines know when you already hold a ticket for another ride so couldn't they just do this so that everyone is only getting 3.

Would it be possible to program the FP- machines to only give out a maximum of 3 FP- per day for a KTTW or paper ticket entry?

 

[myhouseofmouse]

Would it be possible to program the FP- machines to only give out a maximum of 3 FP- per day for a KTTW or paper ticket entry?

If they could, you would think they would have put that in place before they started limiting On-site guests to only 3 FB (POP) Doesn't seem to make sence to limit on-site guests before off-site guests right??

 

[clsteve]

I know there is lots of talk about onsite getting to use both FP+ and FP- or offsite people getting lots of FP- (more then the 3). To make it fair until all have FP+, couldn't they stop giving KTTW meaning all onsite get 3 and also make it that those offsite can only pull 3 FP- during the day, after that it would say on the ticket "maximum of 3 FP reached". The machines know when you already hold a ticket for another ride so couldn't they just do this so that everyone is only getting 3.

You make some very interesting points. From the comments in the article, It's obvious Disney has been caught off-guard. Remember, less than a year ago, they were confident enough to tell the analysts and the press that virtually everybody would be up and running on MB's and FP+ by at least September. So, any contingencies such as yours didn't need to be and weren't in the project plan.

Adding contingencies now is difficult and costly - i.e., shifts resources away from implementation, further slowing them.

They may also feel super users (us, for example) who can to exploit FP+ and FP- are statistically insignificant enough to not warrant it.

They also haven't been working on FP- for a long time since they never connected all FP- rides to the FP- system (MK). Plus, the rides on FP+ are a different list than those on FP-, further confusing what they could do.

It would seem they're going to go full speed ahead with the Plan they have and have decided to just take the complaint bullet.

On the plus side, if they do think super users are statistically insignificant: if I was going during this time and was at a resort they suddenly stopped me from being able to pull FP-, I would definitely put the effort into complaining up the chain (in a nice objective way, of course ) to get my KTTW activated as long as other resorts had the capability. Can't hurt.......

 

[baileybrad]

What I took away from the article is simple, "This is not working like we had planned and unless we want riots over Xmas and be the opening story on every news program/headline on news sites, we need to slow this puppy down and regroup in early 2014."


But then I can be uber-cynical.

I like how you think.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm jealous! I really want to see DLR at the holidays with all its decorations and the overlays at Small World and Haunted Mansion!


We are not Cars fans at all, but we thought Carsland was absolutely fabulous! Such attention to detail everywhere. (We also think RSR absolutely puts the new test track to shame! ) I can't wait to see the photos you get as I know how good you are with a camera! I hope you post some!

Have a fantastic trip and come back and tell us all about it!

Thanks so much! We aren't necessarily huge Cars fans either, but can't wait to see that area of the park. I've seen a few photos of what they do over there at Christmas and am just so anxious to see it all.

And thanks for the kind words. I'm sure I'll have 1..... or 2 photos to share when I get back.

 

[rastuso]

Cars land is really cool, but really over-rated, imho. RSR is a VERY fun ride. I would expect an even MORE fun ride for the 100+ million they spent on it, but people are lapping it up. I only enjoyed it as much as I did because of single rider. It's a 30 minute tops wait ride for me, and probably less so now that I've ridden it a few times.

The other two rides are very MEH. They fact that a Flying Saucers clone was actually built, and I"ve stood at its entrance on about 5 different days, and NEVER went into it, speaks volumes of how totally boring it looks.

Now Nightmare Mansion. THAT's perfection.

Jason

 

[jtowntoflorida]

I am not spending my hard earned $ at WDW because of all the MyMagic+ stuff, I am spending it in spite of it. I also don't see how my spending habits will be any different because of the magic bands. (ie. my budget doesn't change just because they give me an ugly wristband instead of a plastic card )

ITA. We spent a week at WDW in October. We rented points and stayed DVC, so Disney got $0 from us there. Tickets were purchased through UT. We did do the dining plan (family of 4 for a week long trip) and went to two Halloween parties, so that gave them some cash. Our total spending besides the dining plan, tips, and party tickets was a whopping $140, and $40 of that was forced on us because our son lost a shoe at the first Halloween party, so we had to buy the Mickey crocs so he'd have shoes to wear for the rest of the week. We also spent $40 to add a day to our UT tickets, and used price briging to get a huge discount to today's ticket prices by doing that. We averaged $20 in room charges a day, and that's pretty typical because we're simply not big shoppers, and we don't buy a lot of stuff at Disney. I'm a dismal failure in "spending more because I have MB." LOL.

Today, "cash" barely exists - many people utilize a transparent method in everyday spending in the form of a debit card, pay their bills online, etc. This has changed and will continue to change how "transparent" non-cash payment actually is, as people adapt their thinking to changes in technology. When we link our debit card to our MBs in January, we know our budget for spending money and despite the increased transparency of waving a rubber band in the air, our minds are able to bridge that gap and remind us of the pain of payment and keep our spending in check. This is becoming increasingly true for everyone - it's not Monopoly money when all money is Monopoly money. And this is on top of the problem that the studies done on these things are generally small-scale and don't address the unique factors that apply to people on a Disney vacation. A psychologist would never latch on to this sort of research and cross-apply it to this huge of a situation.

This is one of my favorite posts of all time on here. Thank you! I might steal the bolded part and hang it on my wall. It's so, so true.

 

[Pooksie]

I think that the idea they are making fast passes a commodity is interesting (I don't feel a positive or a negative either way). I can see them creating fast pass packages and issuing them as add-on items to your magic your way tickets. If you truly want it to be YOUR way and you are willing to pay for it you can get unlimited fast passes added to your band.

I've speculated in many posts now that I believe that Disney will monetize the FP+ system by selling additional FP+ reservations above and beyond the three per day you are given.

I do not think that you will see an "unlimited" option. The reason is that Disney has to maintain some control over the amount of a la carte FP+ reservations that they sell vs the capacity of the rides. I agree with Arwen Marie that capacity will be a concern, but with Disney's exact tracking of each ride and it's usage, they will be able to control what is offered at what times for additional FP+ reservations. You can't offer everyone unlimited FP+ because when all of the slots are full at the major rides during high attendance times, what do you tell the guests who paid for unlimited but can't use the feature? It's much easier to control by offering and limiting additional a la carte FP+ based on ride usage and slot availability.

Think of it like a restaurant. FP- is like an unlimited buffet, it's all you can eat so to speak. FP+ is like an a la carte menu. You get the basics, three per day, and the rest are all priced per item. You can't order unlimited food off of an a la carte menu. You can buy multiples of any one item and pay for each one, but you can't order unlimited of any one item. That 's the difference between buffet style and a la carte.

Disney is eliminating the buffet style of FP- and replacing it with the a la carte style of FP+. Therefore, it makes sense for them to tier rides and offer additional FP+ reservations a la carte, but it doesn't make sense for them to offer a buffet/unlimited FP+ option because the buffet style(all you can eat) of FP- is exactly what they are trying to get away from. Just my 2 cents.

 

[sonofanarchy]

"Executives have said they think the project will ultimately get travelers to make more trips to Disney World and spend more time and money at the resort when they visit.



Do they REALLY think that's going to work?

 

[ArwenMarie]

I've speculated in many posts now that I believe that Disney will monetize the FP+ system by selling additional FP+ reservations above and beyond the three per day you are given.

I do not think that you will see an "unlimited" option. The reason is that Disney has to maintain some control over the amount of a la carte FP+ reservations that they sell vs the capacity of the rides. I agree with Arwen Marie that capacity will be a concern, but with Disney's exact tracking of each ride and it's usage, they will be able to control what is offered at what times for additional FP+ reservations. You can't offer everyone unlimited FP+ because when all of the slots are full at the major rides during high attendance times, what do you tell the guests who paid for unlimited but can't use the feature? It's much easier to control by offering and limiting additional a la carte FP+ based on ride usage and slot availability.

Think of it like a restaurant. FP- is like an unlimited buffet, it's all you can eat so to speak. FP+ is like an a la carte menu. You get the basics, three per day, and the rest are all priced per item. You can't order unlimited food off of an a la carte menu. You can buy multiples of any one item and pay for each one, but you can't order unlimited of any one item. That 's the difference between buffet style and a la carte.

Disney is eliminating the buffet style of FP- and replacing it with the a la carte style of FP+. Therefore, it makes sense for them to tier rides and offer additional FP+ reservations a la carte, but it doesn't make sense for them to offer a buffet/unlimited FP+ option because the buffet style(all you can eat) of FP- is exactly what they are trying to get away from. Just my 2 cents.

I'm still on the fence about whether or not they will ever sell FPs outright. I still think there is a capacity issue, but who knows, maybe that's why they are tiering.

They already sell an unlimited FP...The VIP Tour for the small price of $1800 for six hours

 

[fairestoneofall]

If they are tracking by what FP+ you used or didn't use, they have a major flaw. They don't know why you didn't use them. I'm sure they will interpret them as not needed, when the truth some of them weren't used because they were inconvenient and a pain, and MDE was too glitchy to change anything with!

Several people on here keep talking about FP+ making less time in line and more shopping. That may be Disney's objective, but the tiered system has the exact opposite effect. They are now effectively limiting me to one FP a day, since Tier 2 has nothing for which I need a FP. As such, they are making me spend significantly more time in line, which leaves me significantly less time to shop.

yes! it's getting harder to cancel or change things, so we just left some of them alone. i was able to change some of our selections on our trip, but it was a process. also, they make you pick three FP+ when you're making reservations. for Epcot, we didn't really need three, but had no choice. so, that takes up a reservation that someone else may want.

as far as the last paragraph, TRUE! if i can't get both Test Track and Soarin' at Epcot, then that forces me to do one of two things: wait in line for one of them or schedule another morning for Epcot. neither of those options is freeing up time for me to spend money.

 

[deakam]

We had lots of issues with all of this crap on our last trip----including what seemed to be an allergic reaction to the band itself. Since I am not one to plan my vacation minute by minute I will not be participating in this ridiculousness. I will be spending my next vacation at Universal, with a possible trip to Disney for a one night stay and a Halloween party. It will be the first time in 18 years that we have not spent at least one week at Disney.

Another thing I noticed on our last trip----during the food and wine festival, the cash only line was almost always immediate service. Needless to say, I did cash only all day.

This tiered thing sounds like a loser to me. The only things at Epcot I need fast passes for are Soarin' and Test Track. Currently you can get both with the regular fast pass system. With FP+ you can not. Right now I am a little disappointed but I will probably not return for a few years, maybe by then they will have it all figured out.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I may start another thread just for the heck of it, but seriously folks, get yourself prepared for paying for Fastpass. There's no way around it. There is absolutely NO positives when it comes right down to it with the new system. I would bet good money Disney is going down this path because they know people will still want to go, but will not stand for this nonsense. By 2015 ticket options will be as such:

MYW Base Ticket
MYW with Park Hopper
MYW with No Expiration
MYW with water park and fun
MYW with limited FP
MYW with FP Unlimited

They copied Universal's take on the GAC. And they're now copying Universal's Express program, only a lot slower.

Sorry, but anybody who thinks the new system is an improvement on the old one, is either delusional, or has never been to WDW during peak season.

 

[sonofanarchy]

I'm still on the fence about whether or not they will ever sell FPs outright. I still think there is a capacity issue, but who knows, maybe that's why they are tiering.

They already sell an unlimited FP...The VIP Tour for the small price of $1800 for six hours

See my post above. By 2015. And before anyone asks, no I have no insider info and I don't know anyone who works for Disney. There just simply is no other logical explanation for what they are doing.