Official word on the success of MyMagic+

[MakiraMarlena]

Well..you could ask what happens when something like 9/11 occurs and people won't travel.

And then you need the locals and repeaters to sustain a theme park, and you've already alienated them by fundamentally changing the experience to cater to the first timers.

None of which the current mangement is anticipating, and I wouldn't expect them to anticipate that.

 

[Angel Ariel]

MM+ is a lot more than FP+. Even as a FP+ skeptic, I can tell you that the rest of my experience with the MM+ system was fantastic. We had no issues with our MBs at all. We never had an issue with reservations disappearing from MDE, no issues with MDE crashing in the parks or being difficult to use. We chose not to attach our CC to our MBs (we never attached it to the KTTW either), but I am sure that would have worked fine as well. We also had no issues with the functionality of FP+ (as in the system itself worked..no technical glitches, nothing that made us go to GS at any point).

So if Disney were to ask my opinion on MM+, I'd give them a great rating. If they were to ask me my opinion on FP+, it would be quite different. So I guess all I'm saying is that I wouldn't take away from the OP that because the ratings for MM+ are high, that means all those people also love FP+ and have no issues at all with it.

 

[lugnut33]

People are snapping up the special magic bands at $29 each, I can see how they are making more money off the program.

 

[jade1]

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.
.

We were down for 2 weeks-mostly an odd offsite project but as AP holders picked 3 each day, usually later or even evenings.

WORKED FABULOUS.

Sitting in a Bob Evans on 192 Sunday AM oh 11AM-kids asking Mom when they had FP+ for that day? Also heard this many other times in Walmarts etc.

Just seemed to notice a lot of laid back no hurry to get there (like us) since they had a known plan in the back pocket.

We also grabbed FP+ a couple weeks before Thanksgiving/weekend with no problem-although we mostly took MK and 7DMT I think 6 days worth-pretty fun esp at night and in the back. Oh and P Pan for the first time in years.

Many times the night before and also many changes day of.

 

[erin1715]

MM+ is a lot more than FP+. Even as a FP+ skeptic, I can tell you that the rest of my experience with the MM+ system was fantastic. We had no issues with our MBs at all. We never had an issue with reservations disappearing from MDE, no issues with MDE crashing in the parks or being difficult to use. We chose not to attach our CC to our MBs (we never attached it to the KTTW either), but I am sure that would have worked fine as well. We also had no issues with the functionality of FP+ (as in the system itself worked..no technical glitches, nothing that made us go to GS at any point).

So if Disney were to ask my opinion on MM+, I'd give them a great rating. If they were to ask me my opinion on FP+, it would be quite different. So I guess all I'm saying is that I wouldn't take away from the OP that because the ratings for MM+ are high, that means all those people also love FP+ and have no issues at all with it.

This is exactly my thought and experience too. It sounds like Disney is asking about the functionality of MM+ on surveys instead of asking about the current FP+ system. But I supposed if I was a first timer and never knew another way, I'd also think FP+ was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

 

[jade1]

But I supposed if I was a first timer and never knew another way, I'd also think FP+ was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

As a 40+ timer I think it is as well, and will get even better.

 

[BrianL]

I work in research for a big company and I can tell you that they absolutely CAN make correlations between MM+ and the gains in key performance indicators. There is a lot of science behind it and a company like Disney, I can guarantee you is on top of that. They would only use spin if the results were poor. It seems to be having a positive impact, and just because a poster on this board hates MM+ does not somehow make that untrue.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

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.

This is exactly my thought and experience too. It sounds like Disney is asking about the functionality of MM+ on surveys instead of asking about the current FP+ system. But I supposed if I was a first timer and never knew another way, I'd also think FP+ was the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I wonder where and when those survey's were taken. If I was asked while in the park how I feel I'm sure I would give a much more positive answer then when I was sitting at my desk and the website wasn't working.

There is an entire science to polling. You can absolutely get the answers you want by nuanced wording, timing and location.

I too think there is a big difference between first timers opinions on FP+ and veteran park goers. Even within the subgroup of veterans there are very few who dislike everything about +MM. I love the magic bands. The website is finally working pretty consistently.

The 2013 Global Attractions Attendance Report from the Themed Entertainment Association and AECOM includes the group's estimates for attendance at top theme parks worldwide, in the United States, and for other regions around the world. Worldwide there was a 5.4% growth in 2013

Magic Kingdom attendance was up 6% and Universal Studio's was up 14%. Was Universal's larger growth due to Disney's +MM?

http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/...conomics/_documents/ThemeMuseumIndex_2013.pdf

 

[jade1]

Oh, grabbed this little beauty (yes finally saw Soarin again as well because of FP+) exactly 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. Esp good since we had Thanksgiving at our friends condo first.

Not midnight at 60 days, 2 weeks. Stopped after 7DMT to take a kiosk shot.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

I work in research for a big company and I can tell you that they absolutely CAN make correlations between MM+ and the gains in key performance indicators. There is a lot of science behind it and a company like Disney, I can guarantee you is on top of that. They would only use spin if the results were poor. It seems to be having a positive impact, and just because a poster on this board hates MM+ does not somehow make that untrue.

Where do you see that correlation?

 

[JoshuaShaw]

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

I'm sure a recovering economy had no effect on revenue.

 

[sukhakuli]

Everyone I know in real life loves the new FP+ and Magic Bands and so on. They are not first timers, either. One person I know recently coordinated a trip with 20 people, and because they could link everything to every different family, they all knew when to be where. She said it made the whole trip seamless.

The Disboards do not represent Disney attendees as a whole.

 

[ghtx]

I'm sure a recovering economy had no effect on revenue.

It's almost as if correlation does not imply causation.

 

[Brian Noble]

I have no doubt that MM+ is going to lead to revenue gains, and I've believed that all along, despite the fact that some long-timers hate the entire system.

That said, I remember reading this sentence when the earnings call/release came out:

During the fourth quarter MyMagic+ had a positive contribution to year-over-year increase in the segment’s operating income.

It's very carefully (and cleverly) worded---"a positive contribution to year-over-year increase in ... income" could mean many things. One thing it could mean is "We lost less money, net-net, on MM+ this year than we did at this time last year." And, that is very likely true. They are no longer spending nearly as much on the roll-out and deployment, and more guests are using it leading to more revenue. But, that doesn't mean that MM+ is now in the black as a standalone entity. And, if it were in the black, you'd think they'd want to say it, because the analysts have been hammering them from the beginning about how much the initiative costs and how long it has taken to turn a profit. Because they didn't make that stronger statement, I think it's reasonably safe to conclude it isn't yet true.

If you read that sentence less than fully carefully, though, you might conclude that it has finally turned a profit. I'm guessing the person who came up with that sentence was very handsomely rewarded. It's really that good.

But, again: I fully expect that it will be a great thing for WDW's business. I've said from the very beginning that I believe MM+ is designed to tip the playing field away from the "in-the-know" and in favor of the more casual visitor---and there are many more casual visitors than those "in-the-know."

 

[ArwenMarie]

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.

Right, those things wouldn't be noticed by first-timers. Other things not noticed by first-timers are old shows, cut parades, cut entertainment, less holiday decorations, the list goes on. Lots of decisions that Disney makes can be run through the first-timer filter and it starts to make sense.

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"

Exactly, impossible to run out. Add in South America and Europe as well and even more.

 

[DebbieB]

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.

It's helped this 20 year veteran have a better trip. Love it!

Attendance is likely up due to the improving economy, I doubt it's due to magic bands or FP+.

 

[dawgsgirl]

Well..you could ask what happens when something like 9/11 occurs and people won't travel.

And then you need the locals and repeaters to sustain a theme park, and you've already alienated them by fundamentally changing the experience to cater to the first timers.

None of which the current mangement is anticipating, and I wouldn't expect them to anticipate that.

This is a good point and one I have pondered over at one time or another. After 9/11 the locals and us Disney nuts kept the parks going. It seems very short-sighted from a business perspective to ignore repeat visitors.

 

[Brian Noble]

Another black swan event (or worse, significantly more expensive oil for a sustained period) is a problem for WDW no matter what they do between now and then---the Resort is not scaled to the local population in the way that Disneyland is, and chunks of it would have to scale back, just like they did when 9/11 happened: suspend construction on hotels, closing hotels, drastically cutting back hours and entertainment, etc.

 

[ArwenMarie]

Another black swan event (or worse, significantly more expensive oil for a sustained period) is a problem for WDW no matter what they do between now and then---the Resort is not scaled to the local population in the way that Disneyland is, and chunks of it would have to scale back, just like they did when 9/11 happened: suspend construction on hotels, closing hotels, drastically cutting back hours and entertainment, etc.

Yep, oil affects everything, including airfares on a direct level. Airfare is a huge part of the budget for many folks. I know it is for us...We look at the total price-per-day versus what we think we are getting out of the trip, versus regional destinations within a few hours drive.

 

[BrianL]

Where do you see that correlation?

Disney sees the correlation. I'm sure that someone that does a very similar job to what I do at my company has helped to determine it. There are a lot of claims that they can't possibly know, or that it's only an recovering economy that is causing it. My point is that they certainly CAN know, and it sounds like they DO know based on that release. I do not work at Disney so I do not know for sure, but I would think a company that size has a competent research department to do this kind of work. Could their methodology be completely flawed? Yeah, it could, but I have no reason to think that it is.