POLL: Do you think that FP+ and Magic Bands are a good investment or a waste?

[Bob Roberts]

Just would like to get an idea with a poll on here.

Bob Roberts (Old School DVC OKW Member, from an era when Disney gave free passes for DVC member stays, seriously this is true. It was a time before Disney got crazy cheap)

 

[kmarie99]

Good Investment

 

[kittychatalot]

I booked a two night at pop- got my band but booking my fast passes failed. Called wdw and the person tried to transfer me to magig+. she came back on the line wiht me and literally told me they were so so overwhelmed she could not transfer me and i needed to call back! great- so no fast passes for me. ILuckilly I am there a lot so I dont mind if I dont ride on a fast pass- but boy- if I saved for years to take this once in a lifetime trip i would be livid. every great Wold Lodge has these bands- they are no big deal- so what is Disney's problem?

 

[wiigirl]

Good Investment

 

[got2lovedisney]

Don't get me wrong...I like the idea of the Magic Bands. It's the FastPass+ that I think is an epic fail. Are they worth the money? Not based on the figures I've seen on the web. A billion dollars for a bracelet? Not enough bang for my stock holder's buck.

 

[beer dave]

The wonderfully sarcastic wording in the poll makes it virtually impossible to vote for liking MDE.

 

[WMorganS]

Good investment / it's about time.

I think it goes way beyond FP+ and Magic Bands. It's a huge overhaul. But my positive vote is because I'm just looking forward to not carrying around a ton of cards in the middle of summer!

 

[Batstang2000]

I think it is a good investment, but your poll is worded so wrong that I can't vote in it.

 

[Yellowstonetim]

The poll is not fair because you have to say you don't want spending in the parks to answer in the affirmative. The two are not mutually exclusive. We do have Cars Land, new Fantasy Land, Pandora, Star Wars, etc..

Also, people need to completely separate their feelings on the number of FP+'s available as that has nothing to do with MM+ but is only a management decision and probably temporary. If they decide on 6 FP+ tomorrow with park hopping, how would you feel then about MM+? That is a management decision and not a technological one. And other than the numbers and park hopping, FP+ works fantastic!

There is so, so, MUCH about this technology that is so BEYOND Fastpasses and apps that will both serve Disney and will be great for us!

For the first time Disney will know what is really going on: Who is going where, and doing what, within the entire property. This will allow them to adapt and customize to suit me.

I cannot wait. It is worth 4 Billion, and the one to two Billion it has cost is small change to Disney in the grand scheme of things. They will make Billions back hand over fist as the years go by. They will be the leader with this technology decades ahead of everyone else.

And it will make a visit to Disney so much better than any other theme parks.

Did I mention I voted in the affirmative?

 

[SinceDay1]

We have used them on 3 trips and are going this weekend, I booked rides for my DW and DD and her friend, no issues at all. We haven't had any issues on the previous trips and think in time they will be great. I am a positive person and understand what test phase means.... By the way. when I voted, I hit the wrong key and could not correct, so I logged out, but will not let me vote again, but I am thinking they are awesome!

Richard

 

[PuppyJonathan]

Magic Bands were going to happen anyway, I like the idea of magic bands, not the idea of Fastpass+. I still rather have the money invested in new attractions but I know once I get my Magic Band I am going to love it

 

[The Grays]

I want to like it. I am hoping that when they get all the glitches solved it will run smooth.

We have a time share and do not stay on property. So at this point we are not getting any benefit of them. If it stays that way we will feel so cheated with not being to have them. DD so wants one and I do feel that some of the lines may benefit from this.

So you poll is not quite a yes or no answer for me yet.

 

[KYMickey]

I don't have feelings about the bands themselves one way or the other. They may actually have advantages by not requiring people to carry as much around with them as pointed out earlier. What I do object to is Disney trying to control more of our visit time. They continue to keep making everyone's visit more structured and less flexible.

They've already succeeded in making the dining experience a regimented ordeal instead of a relaxing experience by forcing visitors to decide far in advance of their trip when and where they will dine. They have also, through their free dining programs, significantly reduced the variability and choices available on the menus.

Now they want to make us decide well in advance of a trip what rides and shows we will visit at what times!

Are they doing any of these things to make the visitors experience better? I really don't think so. They are doing them to increase the bottom line and without having to increase the capacity of available rides, shows and restaurants. They are just trying to make more by doing less! Something that's good for them but bad for the visitors.

 

[WMorganS]

I don't have feelings about the bands themselves one way or the other. They may actually have advantages by not requiring people to carry as much around with them as pointed out earlier. What I do object to is Disney trying to control more of our visit time. They continue to keep making everyone's visit more structured and less flexible. They've already succeeded in making the dining experience a regimented ordeal instead of a relaxing experience by forcing visitors to decide far in advance of their trip when and where they will dine. They have also, through their free dining programs, significantly reduced the variability and choices available on the menus. Now they want to make us decide well in advance of a trip what rides and shows we will visit at what times! Are they doing any of these things to make the visitors experience better? I really don't think so. They are doing them to increase the bottom line and without having to increase the capacity of available rides, shows and restaurants. They are just trying to make more by doing less! Something that's good for them but bad for the visitors.

I think we all feel these pains, but it's not all Machiavellian scheming. They're trying to solve problems created enthusiasts like us, who have a TP for HS RD that includes sprinting to TSM to grab FP's before they're all gone (apologies to non-enthusiasts reading this))!

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Just would like to get an idea with a poll on here.

Bob Roberts (Old School DVC OKW Member, from an era when Disney gave free passes for DVC member stays, seriously this is true. It was a time before Disney got crazy cheap)

The poll was a good idea.

The bias wording however was just a cheap shot at the people in favor of the
system.


AKK

 

[beer dave]

I don't have feelings about the bands themselves one way or the other. They may actually have advantages by not requiring people to carry as much around with them as pointed out earlier. What I do object to is Disney trying to control more of our visit time. They continue to keep making everyone's visit more structured and less flexible.

They've already succeeded in making the dining experience a regimented ordeal instead of a relaxing experience by forcing visitors to decide far in advance of their trip when and where they will dine. They have also, through their free dining programs, significantly reduced the variability and choices available on the menus.

Now they want to make us decide well in advance of a trip what rides and shows we will visit at what times!

Are they doing any of these things to make the visitors experience better? I really don't think so. They are doing them to increase the bottom line and without having to increase the capacity of available rides, shows and restaurants. They are just trying to make more by doing less! Something that's good for them but bad for the visitors.

Here's the thing-- The restaurants are crowded because the parks are crowded-- If there was no adr, there would be a long line at the restaurants to get in to eat. In order to help eliminate the long lines, Disney first started having priority seating, and now ADR's. (thank you this makes my park experience better) Now, since park attendance is still rising, they are designing a similar system for rides. (again , thank you)

The problem is not Disney trying to manage your trip-- it is the fact htat there are now sooo many people to compete with for the available venues that if they don't structure in some way, many people will not get their "fair share".

Disney built four parks because of the demand / load requirements of the visiting public, and the visiting public increased to the point where the availability is now maxed again.

They have 3 choices (maybe 4)

1) build more space to accommodate people.

2) manage the people to spread them out over the parks.

3)And the one that everyone doesn't want-- raise the prices to reduce the number of people in the parks but keep the revenue the same or higher.
Less people in the parks would also reduce the CM requirements and the wear on the parks.

4 is any combination of the first 3-- which is what they are doing.

Unfortunately for all of us who have been going to Disney most of our lives, the old days are over. Be glad you were able to have them.

 

[beer dave]

The poll was a good idea.

The bias wording however was just a cheap shot at the people in favor of the
system.


AKK

Agreed- the wording made it difficult to vote positive, but I did because I didn't want to let that slant the poll, as it would seem it was intended to do.

I would think some of the "too early to tells" are not positives for this reason.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I think Disney had no choice: they had to update their technology and that technology had to integrate all parts of park guests' stays and make all those things available on a mobile phone app and a website.

That was the must have. High on the "want" list, I'm sure, was the ability to customize guests' Disney experiences and to figure out how to get guests to spend more money.

These are all admirable goals for the company. Somewhere along the way though, the implementation of this project went into the weeds.

And that's where we are today.

Eventually it will all pan out, I'm sure, but I wonder at what cost it will do so and when. Also, I don't think the want of shaking down guests for more money will necessarily go according to plan, at least at first.

 

[mikek]

i think investing in the technology is a wise investment.
What they may or may not do with it is a different question.

for example their CHOICES with FP+ at the current moment seem odd (But i suspect are going to change as they get things really working). On the flip side if my kid can walk up to talking Mickey sometime soon and he greets her by name- and she thinks it's magic- then that's priceless.

However I dont have rose colored glasses and think that the billion + they spend on this all at once (and the ongoing upkeep which they have been sure to tell wall street is non-trivial) isn't effecting their other investment choices. And for that I am bummed.

On the flip side- they keep pinky swearing (with zero explanation when pressed besides "of course it will")- that it will make them more money starting shortly. So maybe they'll have more to spend on rides...

 

[Viva Las Disney]

I just got back last night and loved the MB's, I'm still on the fence about FP+.

I think all the money they are spending on conveniences like the touch to pay system, touch to enter room knobs, touch park entrance readers, etc. all make the whole vacation so much easier and more pleasurable it is all money well spent.

I think this is a great example of how you can't please everyone, the same people who complain the Wifi is terrible are probably the first to complain when Disney spends money on technology upgrades like better Wifi rather than spending the money on rides. No matter what they do they can't win.

PS, the biased wording of the poll is going to skew accuracy.