Over a billion for Magic Bands, that is awesome!!!!!!!

[Bob Roberts]

Thanks Disney, looks like you hit another home run here for you guests. Why bother spending that money in the parks to enhance the guest experience when you can do this?????

Bob Iger you warm my heart. Boy that Michael Eisner was a real jerk, wasn't he?

 

[disneyworld1977]

Thanks Disney, looks like you hit another home run here for you guests. Why bother spending that money in the parks to enhance the guest experience when you can do this?????

Bob Iger you warm my heart. Boy that Michael Eisner was a real jerk, wasn't he?

Oh boy!

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Oh boy!

Sadly...I'm tending to agree with the guy under the bridge...in this case

 

[dansamy]

Sadly...I'm tending to agree with the guy under the bridge...in this case

They need a COMPLETE OVERHAUL of their network/system. Imo, the entire IT department needs to be fired. The whole thing is a hot mess.

 

[Planogirl]

Sadly...I'm tending to agree with the guy under the bridge...in this case

Me too. Plus he is far from the only individual saying this.

 

[Bob Roberts]

Its only a matter of time before this all take and no give mentality that Uncle Bob and the gang have will back fire on them.

 

[ethanwa]

Don't like it? Don't go. Simple.

 

[mm1971]

It seems that you are of the impression that if the $$ was not spent on MB and the new technology that it would have been spent on the parks. That is where, in my opinion, your sarcasm fails. The money spent is for infrastructure and marketing purposes. That money would have just been spent in a different way for those purposes, not on new rides and attractions. Those areas have their own budget and operate accordingly. I don't disagree that a billion dollars is a lot to spend on any project, but I assure you that the money spent will quickly be recouped by the increased sales they are seeing and the sales of MB related items. Don't you want a Winnie the Pooh for your band?

 

[rteetz]

It seems that you are of the impression that if the $$ was not spent on MB and the new technology that it would have been spent on the parks. That is where, in my opinion, your sarcasm fails. The money spent is for infrastructure and marketing purposes. That money would have just been spent in a different way for those purposes, not on new rides and attractions. Those areas have their own budget and operate accordingly. I don't disagree that a billion dollars is a lot to spend on any project, but I assure you that the money spent will quickly be recouped by the increased sales they are seeing and the sales of MB related items. Don't you want a Winnie the Pooh for your band?

I have to completely agree with you. This is a different part of Disney, they still have money to update the parks and they will when they feel they need to. We all think they need to now they think otherwise. But eventually they would need a new system so instead of waiting they did this first. Once they notice decrease in park attendance then things will change but until then your going to get what you get. If you don't like it don't go.

 

[Son of Gadsden]

It seems that you are of the impression that if the $$ was not spent on MB and the new technology that it would have been spent on the parks. That is where, in my opinion, your sarcasm fails. The money spent is for infrastructure and marketing purposes. That money would have just been spent in a different way for those purposes, not on new rides and attractions. Those areas have their own budget and operate accordingly. I don't disagree that a billion dollars is a lot to spend on any project, but I assure you that the money spent will quickly be recouped by the increased sales they are seeing and the sales of MB related items. Don't you want a Winnie the Pooh for your band?

I agree. The mentality is just pure sarcasm without real logic to it. It's just not that simple. This sarcasm would assume not only that the money would be spent at the parks, but plays off the idea of the money being a pure expense. My question to the OP would be, are you suggesting that no one is coming to the parks to try to magic bands out? Because, I assure you, a LOT of people are attracted to coming to the parks because of the magic bands, though they may not be all that popular here at the DISboards. Plus, the bands' statistics show that they are increasing Disney's profit in the parks. So, the whole idea is a little distorting, because these bands will likely pay for themselves if successful. Combine all that with the fact that I've heard the magic bands cost is built into the resort room prices...I don't see how that billion can be labeled as a complete loss in budget, much less a loss in attraction budget.

Rest assured, Disney isn't going to voluntarily lose money, not to just make 'guest experiences' better for free. Everything they do is to improve their bottom line.

 

[mikek]

while i wholeheartedly agree it's different budgets, different departments, etc, etc

It's not like ANY company doesn't notice a billion dollar outlay on it's bottom line. It COULD for sure effect other capital plans.

for example their capital spending "swelled to $2.3 billion in 2011 — equal to 24.7 percent of the revenue generated by its U.S.-based resort businesses. The 2012 tally should be even higher" http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...imation-resort-toy-story-mania-domestic-parks

a billion dollars is a noticeable investment even to Disney and it COULD effect other capital outlays. Not at all saying it WILL but it could. On the flip side as others posted if it drives revenue it could help increase capital spend down the road.

my own take is it will provide a reasonable amount of positive to me so it's not a complete "back of the house" waste. (For example if they could get cracking and Cinderella says hello to my daughter by first name sometime soon so it’s still magical to her then I think that’s pretty cool.)

 

[Bob Roberts]

I can't wait to bump this thread after the Magic Bands bomb in the parks and rub it in the face of all of the " Its Disney, they can't do anything wrong, if you don't like it don't go people". Mark my words, this will be a billion bucks flushed down the old Kabota and I'll gladly be one of the people pushing the lever.

BOMBS AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

 

[k5jm]

Magic Bands are only a small portion of the Next Gen upgrade. There is more RFID and NFC in use in Room keys, AP's, Attractions (Test Track), and other Pay methods. Magic Bands may die, but the infrastructure and methodology is here to stay.

 

[Stitch71]

I personally enjoy the MB... I think it was money well spent.

 

[Stitch71]

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

~I don't understand comments like this. Magic Bands is an overall efficiency upgrade to a dated infrastructure. All of the WDW resorts have been upgraded with keyless RFID entry -- all of the POS at restaurant and retail locations have been upgraded -- the resort check in and Magical Express process have been streamlined -- the turnstiles and ride queues are receiving upgrades -- all of which will maximize efficiency through utilization of the "Magic Band." Infrastructure. Seriously, we see these types of updates and changes every single day in every business and corporation -- there is not much you can't do online and like it or not -- this has become the preferred way to handle our daily transactions.

~"Magic Bands" has nothing to do why your one little coaster is taking five years -- just be thankful you have that. Disney has experienced nothing but record growth and profit with virtually *no* investment in the parks.

~So, don't hold your breath waiting on Magic Bands to fail!

 

[dansamy]

The problem is they laid all of this on top of the clunky, antiquated back end systems. They built the cart. Now, they need a (very expensive) new horse.

 

[disneylover1980]

I think they should have been able to come up with a better system for a billion dollars. Wow!

 

[Son of Gadsden]

I can't wait to bump this thread after the Magic Bands bomb in the parks and rub it in the face of all of the " Its Disney, they can't do anything wrong, if you don't like it don't go people". Mark my words, this will be a billion bucks flushed down the old Kabota and I'll gladly be one of the people pushing the lever.

BOMBS AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

and we "disney can do no wrong"ers expect you to do the same and admit you were wrong if they are successful.

 

[MaxsDad]

I don't have a problem with the MB or the increase in RFID. I think it is great, although it is definitely a lot of money that could have been better spent in the parks instead of into hotel room door locks. That doesn't really enhance my experience all that much, and with the constant improvements to Universal the parks is where Disney needs to compete. Also IMO it doesn't matter where the money came from, it still comes from Disney, and the amount they spent was a significant amount, not just a couple grand or something easy to write off. Simply saying, well that money came from the marketing department is a cop out imo.

Like I said, I don't mind the MB, or generally speaking the RFID enhancements, my main complaint with the next gen is the FP+, simply because my family doesn't like to plan and these FP+ have caused us some serious stress for our upcoming trip.