NextGen/xPass Making the News Again

[mbrittb00]

First hard ticket party we went to my daughter's wristband fell off her hand in the first hour.

And if you're talking about loading height info onto the RFID wristband, that won't work. Those are going to have to be removable so they can take them off at night. (Unless they plan to load and reissue them daily.) And as long as there's a traditional FP in the parks in some form, many folks will want to remove them to give their FP runner.

No not talking RFID. In fact I'm not a big fan if it. Especially if you have your CC info on it as well. What is to keep someone else from using your RFID accidentally (or on purpose) when you happen to be too close whey they are checking out someplace. Plus how would you use it for restaurants? Would you take it off and give it to the server to go scan it?

As doconeill said, this subject has been hashed and rehashed before. The height requirements application for wristbands is a safety and liability issue for Disney, not just one involving park admission or guest convenience or habits. Therefore it is a whole different ball of wax.

If you want to discuss further, I suggest a different thread. Let's get this one back on track please.

Understood. But a lot of other parks do in fact use this type of system and it works great for them. I would assume that they are aware of any potential liability issue, but as long as they are non-transferable I don't see any liability issue. Anyway moving on.

As to the issue at hand. I guess the question is what is Disney trying to accomplish with the xPass? Are they 1) Trying to reduce wait times, or 2)Trying to create a perk that will cause more people to stay onsite? Considering that a large number of people will stay offsite regardless of the perks, I don't see how you can accomplish both at the same time. I just hope that what ever they come up with doesn't make it impossible to tour without using the xPass, and that it still allows for some flexibility.

 

[mom2rtk]

No not talking RFID. In fact I'm not a big fan if it. Especially if you have your CC info on it as well. What is to keep someone else from using your RFID accidentally (or on purpose) when you happen to be too close whey they are checking out someplace. Plus how would you use it for restaurants? Would you take it off and give it to the server to go scan it?

My mistake. I thought this thread was about X-pass, and by connection the RFID wristbands the X-pass reservations could be loaded onto.

I'm sort of thinking separate height wristbands might do better for you as a separate thread.

 

[mesaboy2]

As to the issue at hand. I guess the question is what is Disney trying to accomplish with the xPass? Are they 1) Trying to reduce wait times, or 2)Trying to create a perk that will cause more people to stay onsite? Considering that a large number of people will stay offsite regardless of the perks, I don't see how you can accomplish both at the same time. I just hope that what ever they come up with doesn't make it impossible to tour without using the xPass, and that it still allows for some flexibility.

Yep--good points all. As mom2rtk said a couple of pages back, this will be interesting to see how it eventually unfolds.

 

[Belle0101]

My sister's ex-DH would love the NextGen/xPass. When they went to WDW he had everything planned out, everything. He had a detailed schedule for each day - order of rides, meal times, parades, etc. It was uber commando style.

My sister on the other hand hated the lack of spontaneity. She would want to stop and look in a gift shop, grab a snack, snap a photo, interact with a character or something and he would say no. Reason being, it would throw off the schedule.

So obviously it's not going to be for everybody. I don't think it would be for our family, especially given the limited info made available at this point in time. To quote Ferris Bueller, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

 

[basas]

It's been discussed on other boards (and probably this one as well), but NextGen is nothing more then a way for Disney to gather piles of information on each guest, then to use it to get more of their money. They're not putting billions into this program for any other reason that they believe it can make them a boatload of money. And think...all of this could have actually gone into freshening up the increasingly stale parks. But I guess it's easier to coast on 'legacy' and hope the guests just keep coming.

They talk about "changing the way you experience the Disney parks". I didn't think the way I 'experience' the parks was the problem!

 

[doconeill]

No not talking RFID. In fact I'm not a big fan if it. Especially if you have your CC info on it as well. What is to keep someone else from using your RFID accidentally (or on purpose) when you happen to be too close whey they are checking out someplace. Plus how would you use it for restaurants? Would you take it off and give it to the server to go scan it?

Since we do NOT know how it is implemented yet, we cannot say.

But for starters, RFID/NFC (Near-Field Communication, a newer system expected to be included in electronic devices) for these applications are short range systems. Unless someone happens to be waving their wristband around the reader while someone else is purchasing, then it isn't accidentally going to happen. When people talk about tracking your movements around the park, they are talking about increased use of the system, not being able to read your position remotely every moment. There are plenty of technologies that can do that without having to place a tracker on you...

Two-factor identification (i.e. a PIN or something) solves RFID skimming issues.

I'm sure Disney has or is considering these issues.

Understood. But a lot of other parks do in fact use this type of system and it works great for them. I would assume that they are aware of any potential liability issue, but as long as they are non-transferable I don't see any liability issue. Anyway moving on.

That's the problem...they are. Maybe not easily, but don't underestimate the determination of some people.

Other parks don't seem as concerned, true. They judge the cost of extra employees, etc. vs. liability, and choose to save money. But they increase the risk of fines, lawsuits, etc.

But saying the wristbands "work great" when it is easy enough to transfer them and the employees don't care is disingenuous.

As to the issue at hand. I guess the question is what is Disney trying to accomplish with the xPass? Are they 1) Trying to reduce wait times, or 2)Trying to create a perk that will cause more people to stay onsite? Considering that a large number of people will stay offsite regardless of the perks, I don't see how you can accomplish both at the same time. I just hope that what ever they come up with doesn't make it impossible to tour without using the xPass, and that it still allows for some flexibility.

They absolutely expect to make money off this somehow. But again, we don't know the implementation details - who can get xPASS? So we don't know how they expect to spend money. But overall, the idea will be to either literally or by illusion create a better customer experience by the promise of being able to ride the attractions you most want to with minimal wait, without having to be up at 7:00am every morning, etc.

 

[mjp12831]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think that this is the goal. Based on what I've heard and read, it seems like the goal is to "control" the # of people at a particular attraction at any given time, thus reducing the ride times for everyone.

They already had an excellent system in place that controlled lines - for instance, you could go on 4th of July week and ride everything including the headliners multiple times WITHOUT ever standing in a line more than 20 minutes.

Everyone keeps assuming that Disney is doing this to make things easier for the customer (which it may very well do) but the primary factor is going to be profit.

Exactly - read through this thread and others like it and try to find something that really enhances the park experience. There aren't any.

This is about perception - to the general tourist, the idea of using technology to reduce line time and get you on the rides you want to get on sounds so super. Perception sells trips.

You can advance reserve your time on Sorin and not have to worry about if they run out of FP or waiting in a 120 minute line sounds like a good idea, however, compare to an actual experience - I was at Epcot on an 8 park day last August and rode Sorin 4 times without ever waiting more than 20 minutes.

This is all about sounding cool - utilizing technology, having something other parks don't have... That sells trips. If they were actually concerned about park experience they would have left things alone.

 

[Robo]

If they were actually concerned about park experience they would have left things alone.

I have that tattooed on my arm.

 

[WillAustin]

This is about perception - to the general tourist, the idea of using technology to reduce line time and get you on the rides you want to get on sounds so super. Perception sells trips.

That's why I'm expecting something that only goes halfway and doesn't do much to help the guests in reality. Something like the ability to book a ride on one headliner per day, but only if the time is still available when you try. If you don't get it booked right away when you can, all the times will be filled up. I'd guess the plan might be to slowly ramp up the number of spots reserved for X-Pass as more people get used to the idea.

 

[KellyNY]

A week away from Dis and here, this thread. What is new, not a single word, not a single detail, just another article and 16 pages of nothing in 2 days. We need new hobby, really.

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

I don't see Disney spending billions of dollars to implement a system that merely enhances or improves guest experience, there has to be a payback. So how does Disney expect to see a return on this investment?

1) Offer it as a pay service.
2) Offer it as a perk to on-site guest, a variant can be offering it to deluxe guest only or on varying levels based upon your accommodations.
3) In conjunction with RFID, through the sale standard wristband alternatives.
4) Hope that this "enhanced and improved" guest experience brings in new customers in droves.
5) All of the above.

 

[mjp12831]

That's why I'm expecting something that only goes halfway and doesn't do much to help the guests in reality. Something like the ability to book a ride on one headliner per day, but only if the time is still available when you try. If you don't get it booked right away when you can, all the times will be filled up. I'd guess the plan might be to slowly ramp up the number of spots reserved for X-Pass as more people get used to the idea.

This is an example of something that sounds great and exciting, that you don't need to show up at HS at 9am and run/fast walk to the FP machines for TSM, but...

How much fun do you have getting on line at 8am at your 120 day mark and making your ADR's? I detest that experience, and the worst part of it is that 6 months before you get to WDW you are committing to what park you will be in at a certain time of day.

Now I'm supposed to be excited that I can book a ride (a 3 to 5 minute experience compared to an ADR of 90 minutes) on TSM on September 23rd at 9 am, and I have to coordinate my ride reservation with my ADR park.

Then consider that if it's this easy and it's free, then everyone will be using it. Many of these people will book rides and be no shows - some days you'll have more no shows, and other days most everyone will show up and because they overbook to accomodate no shows your 9am ride on TSM will be 9:30 or 9:45.

Maybe when the system actually gets released I'll be surprised and find out that they came up with something amazing that no one even considered and that I was so wrong to lament the loss of the old FP/late return system. Also, maybe I'll wake up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet.

 

[mcd2745]

This is an example of something that sounds great and exciting, that you don't need to show up at HS at 9am and run/fast walk to the FP machines for TSM, but...

How much fun do you have getting on line at 8am at your 120 day mark and making your ADR's? I detest that experience, and the worst part of it is that 6 months before you get to WDW you are committing to what park you will be in at a certain time of day.

Now I'm supposed to be excited that I can book a ride (a 3 to 5 minute experience) on TSM on September 23rd at 9 am, and I have to coordinate my ride reservation with my ADR park.

Then consider that if it's this easy and it's free, then everyone will be using it. Many of these people will book rides and be no shows - some days you'll have more no shows, and other days most everyone will show up and because they overbook to accomodate no shows your 9am ride on TSM will be 9:30 or 9:45.

Maybe when the system actually gets released I'll be surprised and find out that they came up with something amazing that no one even considered and that I was so wrong to lament the loss of the old FP/late return system. Also, maybe I'll wake up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet.

Then they'll add a CC guarantee/$10 fee just like they were practically forced to do with ADRs.

 

[mom2rtk]

Then consider that if it's this easy and it's free, then everyone will be using it.

Yep.... this. For the same reason, I don't want to walk in and see a bank of FP machines allowing me to get what I need for the day, including selection of times. The easier it is, the more demand there will be. And they can't change that constant "X" of maximum ride capacity. No matter how hard you try.

It wasn't broke. They didn't need to "fix" it.

Anyone know any of the product development folks from the "New Coke" rollout????? We need them advising the Disney folks........

 

[mjp12831]

It wasn't broke. They didn't need to "fix" it.

Anyone know any of the product development folks from the "New Coke" rollout????? We need them advising the Disney folks........

It's broke now.

Essentially what they've been telling us is that window enforcement was in anticipation of next gen.

They broke it so they can sell what they give us next as a "fix"

 

[mom2rtk]

It's broke now.

Essentially what they've been telling us is that window enforcement was in anticipation of next gen.

They broke it so they can sell what they give us next as a "fix"

Well, yeah. There's that. I've made my feelings pretty well known on that. And I totally agree.

I'm still thinking they did that so they could monkey with the number of FP's distributed, to test how much more they could squeeze out of the system when the new system is rolled out. I think they did it 3/7 so they could experiment with the spring break crowds.

And don't ask me what I'm basing that one. It's pure conjecture.

 

[Dr.Girlfriend]

I hope this NEVER happens. A last minute trip may no longer be possible because everything will be booked. Its nag enough that you can't get popular restaurants last minute.


Posted from disboards disney forums Reader for Android

It stinks for us locals who want to just go into the park for the evening, too.

 

[goherdibg]

This all sounds like it is getting dangerously close to all rooms and amenities being the same and the amount you pay depends on your income. How appropriate for tax time.

....and then Atlas Shrugged

 

[goherdibg]

The most valuable thing Disney has is data. Data on admissions, data on fast pass usage, data on where people eat, data on just about anything you can imagine. I can guarantee you that they have/are slicing and dicing every bit of that data to determine usage patterns. Given the incredible amount of data they have they'll be able to accurately predict how the new Xpass system will work. Add in the RFID data once Xpass is implemented and they'll be able to tell you how many people go the bathroom at 1:39pm after eating at the San Angel Inn. They don't do anything major like this without doing extensive modeling and data mining.

Ding Ding Ding!!!! Exactly right. Think about it this way.....

On our last trip to WDW we spent more than $1500 on extras - beyond hotel, tickets, and food.

Another family goes to WDW and stays at the same hotel for the same number of days and has similar family demographics (adult ages and number of kids) but spends $150 on the extras.

If Disney can somehow know this by using xPass (or any other method)....which family would Disney send "special offers" to? If they can send me a discount for a hotel that saves me $700 but I end up spending $1500 in the parks they make more money overall.

Data is power!

 

[goherdibg]

..... The reverse is also true in that the quicker that Disney can get people on and off a ride the quicker the patron is able to get back to buying things (you can't buy anything standing in a line). .....

Why not? Instead of putting the shops at the end of the rides why not put them at the beginning and have each person take a number (like at the deli)?

You shop for 10-15 minutes then your number is called and you immediately get on the ride????