Official word on the success of MyMagic+

[MrInfinity]

Specifically on MyMagic+... August 2014...

At Walt Disney World, this was the first full quarter in which MyMagic+ was available to all guests. About half of the guests now use MagicBands and 90% of them rate the experience as excellent or very good. We’re very pleased with the growing popularity of MyMagic+ and expect it to contribute to parks earnings growth starting in the fourth quarter.

I guess this confirms that overall the experience is indeed very positive (Excellent or Very Good) in general. Those who say most people don't like MyMagic+ are just wrong. And those who say nobody knows that only Disney knows if it's successful, well, now we know.

And, November 2014...

The early returns we are seeing from MyMagic+ are encouraging. During the fourth quarter MyMagic+ had a positive contribution to year-over-year increase in the segment’s operating income. Attendance at our domestic parks was up 4% with Walt Disney World setting a new fourth quarter record.

MyMagic+ directly increased income, and attendance is up. New 4th quarter record in fact.

And...

Per room spending at our domestic hotels was up 5% and occupancy was up 5 percentage points to 83%.

Rooms occupancy is up, and those staying in rooms are indeed spending more. So, this does confirm that in general, ppl are spending more, and those who say "no but I'm spending less" are the minority and have little effect on the big picture.

And just this week...

Disney delivered the highest results in its history in Fiscal 2014, reflecting the extraordinary quality of our creative content and the unparalleled strength of our brands," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "We achieved record revenue, net income and earnings per share for the fourth year in a row, and we are delighted to be able to increase our shareholder dividend by 34 percent while continuing to invest for future growth

Awesome!

 

[ghtx]

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

 

[Mome Rath]

Post hoc ergo propter hoc

Perhaps. But, you'd have to see the statistics and how the statistics were gathered to know if it is a fallacy or a true refection of cause-and-effect. To jump to either conclusion before seeing it all (which we will never get to do) is illogical.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

giving it maybe 5 posts before someone says he's probably lying (too late! looks like it didn't get past the 2nd post). However, if it is working in the way described, that's exactly what Disney wanted and the new system will stay awhile no matter how much some of us hate it.

If the stats are true, then if more guests hated it the place wouldn't be setting attendance records.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I believe park attendance and tourism in general is up everywhere.

How did they pinpoint that WDW's increases were directly related to MyMagic+?

Sounds like some really nice spin to justify serious cost overruns.

Was the increase in spending enough to justify the cost?

 

[robinb]

giving it maybe 5 posts before someone says he's probably lying (too late! looks like it didn't get past the 2nd post).

LOL! It snuck by us because it was in Latin .

However, if it is working in the way described, that's exactly what Disney wanted and the new system will stay awhile no matter how much some of us hate it.

If the stats are true, then if more guests hated it the place wouldn't be setting attendance records.

Yes, I'm sure that Disney is happy with MM+. I've said it before ... they are not interested with the repeat visitor as much as the "once in a lifetime" visitor.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

giving it maybe 5 posts before someone says he's probably lying (too late! looks like it didn't get past the 2nd post). However, if it is working in the way described, that's exactly what Disney wanted and the new system will stay awhile no matter how much some of us hate it.

If the stats are true, then if more guests hated it the place wouldn't be setting attendance records.

I'm sure the stat's are true. Besides there are three types of lies. Lies, dang lies and statistics.

Yes attendance is up. No one is questioning that, but why?

I'd be more interested in data in the 5th full quarter.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

On this board I'd guess the most relevant question would be not "why is attendance up" but "why isn't attendance down" since I think many of us are anticipating a backlash against MM+ and FP+, maybe it's too soon to tell.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Specifically on MyMagic+... August 2014...



I guess this confirms that overall the experience is indeed very positive (Excellent or Very Good) in general. Those who say most people don't like MyMagic+ are just wrong. And those who say nobody knows that only Disney knows if it's successful, well, now we know.

How many negative emails did they receive from long time guests?

And, November 2014...



MyMagic+ directly increased income, and attendance is up. New 4th quarter record in fact.

And...

[COLOR="red"}] He took an Tylenol and got hit by a bus. Tylenol kills. [/COLOR]


Rooms occupancy is up, and those staying in rooms are indeed spending more. So, this does confirm that in general, ppl are spending more, and those who say "no but I'm spending less" are the minority and have little effect on the big picture.

And just this week...

[COLOR="red"]This year yes. I'm curious to see how next year goes.[/COLOR]

Awesome!

Yes that is some awesome spin. People will see what they want to see.

 

[wisblue]

I'm sure the stat's are true. Besides there are three types of lies. Lies, dang lies and statistics.

Yes attendance is up. No one is questioning that, but why?

I'd be more interested in data in the 5th full quarter.

Some people have questioned whether attendance is up.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

On this board I'd guess the most relevant question would be not "why is attendance up" but "why isn't attendance down" since I think many of us are anticipating a backlash against MM+ and FP+, maybe it's too soon to tell.

How does attendance compare to other theme parks?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Why would Mr. Iger care about other theme parks?

I guess that's a note that maybe Universal is or should be doing better than WDW.

 

[MrInfinity]

On this board I'd guess the most relevant question would be not "why is attendance up" but "why isn't attendance down" since I think many of us are anticipating a backlash against MM+ and FP+, maybe it's too soon to tell.

Exactly. Despite the assertion of lies (what - Iger is lying to investors on record??) and the belief that MyMagic+ would spell doom for Disney World... That is simply not the case. Life goes on, the parks set new records. Resort stays are up. Per-person resort spending is up. Attendance is up. You can say these are not related to MyMagic+ if you like, but the doom and gloom some predict is definitely not occurring. You cannot re-spin that.

Before, the argument was "we don't know if resort spending is up, so we can't say if MyMagic+ is having a positive effect". Now, we see actual reporting and that it is up, and the argument changes to... "well yea... but maybe he's lying".

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Why would Mr. Iger care about other theme parks?

I guess that's a note that maybe Universal is or should be doing better than WDW.

I guess we should have counted how many posts until someone took a shot a Universal's success.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Exactly. Despite the assertion of lies (what - Iger is lying to investors on record??) and the belief that MyMagic+ would spell doom for Disney World... That is simply not the case. Life goes on, the parks set new records. Resort stays are up. Per-person resort spending is up. Attendance is up. You can say these are not related to MyMagic+ if you like, but the doom and gloom some predict is definitely not occurring. You cannot re-spin that.

Before, the argument was "we don't know if resort spending is up, so we can't say if MyMagic+ is having a positive effect". Now, we see actual reporting and that it is up, and the argument changes to... "well yea... but maybe he's lying".

No one said he was lying. No one is denying attendance and spending is up.

Some of us our using our critical thinking skills and don't see the cause and effect.

Maybe profits are up because they fired all the bathroom attendants? See the other thread.

Again. If you take a Tylenol and get hit by a bus does not mean Tylenol is harmful.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Yes, I'm sure that Disney is happy with MM+. I've said it before ... they are not interested with the repeat visitor as much as the "once in a lifetime" visitor.

I agree, I do think it's a success from Disney's standpoint, due to their emphasis on the first-timers.

And I honestly do think that even having 3 FPs prebooked each day can help first-timers have a better trip.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

So we are thinking that if spending is up, it has nothing to do with MM+, it's just that more people are going to theme parks and this will backfire eventually, because there will not be enough first timers to sustain WDW. And people will pick other theme parks and are already picking other theme parks.

Maybe they are but it's only relevant to Disney if enough of them do it. Too early to tell.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I agree, I do think it's a success from Disney's standpoint, due to their emphasis on the first-timers.

And I honestly do think that even having 3 FPs prebooked each day can help first-timers have a better trip.

I agree.

I love having 3 FP+ prebooked especially arrival afternoon. Nothing wrong with that.

It is being limited to those three, tiering, the "hurry up and wait" and the negative effect on standby lines I had a problem with. None of which would even be noticed by first timers.

 

[MrInfinity]

No one said he was lying. No one is denying attendance and spending is up.

Some of us our using our critical thinking skills and don't see the cause and effect.

Maybe profits are up because they fired all the bathroom attendants? See the other thread.

Again. If you take a Tylenol and get hit by a bus does not mean Tylenol is harmful.

Right.
When results don't align with what you expected, try to attribute them to something else. That is a fallacy in itself!

The bottom line is many predicted that MyMagic+ would be seen as an outrage, lines would be horrible, it is hated by most, and attendance would drop.

What we have instead, is 90% of guests reporting Excellent or Very good, attendance up, per-guest spending up, resort stays up, and record profits.

You can try to say... Yeah but none of that matters, it's still bad those stats are due to something else... well.. they're due to lots of things! But what cannot be faulted, is that like the Mayan doomsday, the Disney doomsday did not come to be. Instead we have new records.

And the argument of "we don't know enough yet" was the same argument last year. Now we know more, and it still does not support your point, so you assert we don't know enough yet. I have to think that no matter what good news continues to come, one can always say "yeah but we STILL don't know enough".

This is concrete reporting to investors over the last 4 months.

 

[hakepb]

I agree, I do think it's a success from Disney's standpoint, due to their emphasis on the first-timers.

And I honestly do think that even having 3 FPs prebooked each day can help first-timers have a better trip.

So we are thinking that if spending is up, it has nothing to do with MM+, it's just that more people are going to theme parks and this will backfire eventually, because there will not be enough first timers to sustain WDW. And people will pick other theme parks and are already picking other theme parks.

Maybe they are but it's only relevant to Disney if enough of them do it. Too early to tell.

If it's successful with 1st timers, then that alone is enough to sustain WDW. Disney is marketing to families with kids in the 4-12 age group. There will always be more families entering that demographic, so it's impossible to "run out"