News Round Up 2016

[Roxyfire]

It wouldn't be just about the developer - it would also require more work for the bus driver, which would require new training for every bus driver...which would cost more money...which I doubt they would do at this point.

That sort of thing is possible in development, but you have to have a source of the data, and getting that source is a real challenge, especially if you want to avoid a large training budget to be added.

I understand as I work in training. It would be (theoretically) easy on their end by relaying a message to dispatch or pressing a switch. This would indicate availability that acts as a simple if/then/else statement on the end of the app where they get the data from the driver directly. You're right in that it would have to be easy and very turnkey as the driver should be focused on driving safely.

 

[luisov]

Film News

Disney has released a brand new behind-the-scenes sizzle reel for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story along with the first poster for the film.

See the new poster here: http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/07/video...e-one-a-star-wars-story-sizzle-real-released/

 

[Travis B]

Here in Chicago there's a very simple way to track the busses - each bus stop has a sign with a number assigned to that stop, and you can get bus times via text message. It's beauty is in it's simplicity, and it will work with any cell phone. There are also web-based trackers, apps, etc. There are fluctuations due to traffic and other factors, and on rare occasion a bus will seem to vanish into thin air, but generally it works well. Certain stops also have screens displaying the arrival times of upcoming busses. My point with all of this is that the technology is already available, and Disney doesn't need to reinvent the wheel to track busses. My suspicion is that practical issues like capacity, busses being rerouted, running less fixed routes, etc, make the the tracking problematic. OTOH, I have no particular insight into how Disney runs their busses so who knows...

From what I understand based on the article, though, the 'Uber-style' transportation option mentioned in the survey has absolutely nothing to do with the busses. It sounds more like a resort to resort on-demand shuttle service, maybe using a GPS based app to summon your vehicle. It's a potential income stream that they're not taking advantage of (yet). It also is reported to be a flat-fee service, so could end up like the DDP where you pay a premium for something you really have to work hard to get your full value out of.

I don't think you'll ever see the GPS locations of busses on an Uber style screen - it would just give people more to be pissed off about when they can see a bus headed their way suddenly change course, or 3 busses headed to one resort while none head to them.

 

[Missyrose]

Does anyone know how long it took the regular tickets to sell out last time? Considering going but don't really want to put up the money for tickets right now

The single-day tickets for Friday and Saturday sold out a few weeks ahead of the Expo, I'm not sure if the three-day passes ever officially sold out. I bought my three-day tickets just before the early bird discount expired in December.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Seeing the buses in real time map on a Disney app is counter productive for a number of reasons.

It should be an accurate ETA estimate only

 

[skier_pete]

For me, it would be more helpful to know which parks bus is coming next. It would save me from running, when I can see a bus pulling in and we are a hundred yards away and can't read the sign on the bus. Point to point directions in the resorts would be nice.

Amen to that. I would be all for just knowing if it's worth it to sprint for the bus or not.

I do agree with @Budshark says. Telling you it's 5 and it actually being 20 is worse to most people than telling you nothing at all. It's similar to why generally all the posted wait times are LONGER than the actual wait times. Expectations vs Actual it's always better to surprise customers positively than negatively.

 

[rteetz]

News

New phone charging option available at Disney Springs.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/07/photo...ntly-testing-temporary-rental-phone-chargers/

 

[Alice Royal]

News

New phone charging option available at Disney Springs.

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/07/photo...ntly-testing-temporary-rental-phone-chargers/

They better be ready to order quite a few of these. The $35 should more than cover the cost if someone doesn't return theirs, but that looks more like a souvenir to some than it does a rental.

 

[rteetz]

News

Uniqlo is now open!

http://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/un...ens-first-florida-store-at-disney-springs.htm

 

[rteetz]

News

Disneyland shake up, sales and marketing employees let go.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disneyland-722465-sales-marketing.html

 

[lockedoutlogic]

News

Disneyland shake up, sales and marketing employees let go.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/disneyland-722465-sales-marketing.html

Sure...squeeze your local, domestic core customers a little too much...attendance begins to falter...fire your overseas salesmen.

What's hard to figure out there?

 

[graychef]

Disney does not devote sufficient resources to its existing IT infrastructure, so asking for them to pony up more time and money for a tracking/notification system or app for the transportation systems is a tall order.

 

[rteetz]

News

Disney Employee fired for tweeting sign backstage

http://www.people.com/people/mobile/article/0,,21018927,00.html?xid=socialflow_facebook_peoplemag

 

[han22735]

News

Disney Employee fired for tweeting sign backstage

http://www.people.com/people/mobile/article/0,,21018927,00.html?xid=socialflow_facebook_peoplemag

and then re-hired...

 

[Fantasia79]

I had a dollar for everyone I was told exactly to say from my job even though it wasn't true, I wouldn't have to work anymore.

 

[soniam]

Does anyone know how long it took the regular tickets to sell out last time? Considering going but don't really want to put up the money for tickets right now

The Disneyland podcast last weekend indicated that the regular tickets don't sell out fast and are available pretty close to the event. The VIP packages at $2000 something do sell out quickly

 

[rteetz]

The Disneyland podcast last weekend indicated that the regular tickets don't sell out fast and are available pretty close to the event. The VIP packages at $2000 something do sell out quickly

The sorcerer package sold out in 10 minutes or so I believe.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

News

Uniqlo is now open!

http://www.wdwmagic.com/shopping/un...ens-first-florida-store-at-disney-springs.htm

I just visited one of these stores in NY and they had some very nice Pixar shirts. They're also available online if anyone wants to check it out.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

The problem (from experience) is tracking the bus capacity (especially in the mornings). So, you are standing at a board at stop 3 of a resort. It says MK bus is 5 minutes away. Ok, get out there. 2 minutes later it says MK bus is 10 minutes away. What the heck? 15 minute swing??

Well what happened? There was an MK bus on its way. It got to Stop 2. Stop 2 had two ECVs, and a couple big groups and it was full. So it left to go to the resort. Another bus was called, but now its either got to travel, or frequently it starts at Stop 1 again. Its not right or efficient, but it makes tracking a problem.

Disney has all the tracking Uber has. They just don't operate like Uber (single purpose, targeted response). So there are things out of there control, and its striking a balance. Its the old expectations conversation. Telling people a bus is coming is better than leaving them without any information. Telling them a bus is coming in 5 minutes, and then changing that to 20 minutes is worse than never telling them a bus is coming. So somehow they have to strike the balance with what information they share. That is the real question/problem.

Autonomous transport is part of the answer - because then you take at least a good portion of the variability out (shift change, sick drivers, breaks).

That makes a lot of sense. With that in mind, the system would most likely work the best in the afternoon and evening when not so many people are typically waiting for the buses.

 

[Budshark]

That makes a lot of sense. With that in mind, the system would most likely work the best in the afternoon and evening when not so many people are typically waiting for the buses.

No factual evidence but our 4-5pm busses have always been more reliable. I'm sure others remember it differently!