Results of MB data mining

[famy27]

With all the talk of MM+ and how the MBs would be a gold mine of data, I am wondering if anyone has seen any signs of what Disney is doing, or may be planning to do, with all of the data?

When the concept of the MB first surfaced, there was speculation that you might receive FPs directing you to a certain area of the park or digital coupons for particular stores or restaurants. Has any of that happened yet? If so, what type of offers have you received and under what circumstances?

If this hasn't happened yet, I wonder what Disney is waiting for. It seems like it would be a no-brainer that if you use your FP for Soarin' or LwtL, the system could send you a coupon for a free soda at Sunshine Seasons or something along those lines, especially if it were for a quieter time of day. Kind of like Sonic's half-price drinks from 2:00-4:00. Since the system "knows" where you are at all times, you'd think they'd be trying to monetize that as much as possible.

 

[thefriendlyfloridian]

Wow, what an interesting point. I wouldn't mind a half price dole whip, lol. I think something like that would be cool and really could spread out the crowds a lot better!

 

[agavegirl1]

There was so much speculation two years ago when I began planning my October 2014 trip and so many changes that occurred during this time. I think WDW is getting SOME of the information they intended. I think they have not fully implemented the capability of Magic Bands. I think they are better able to determine "per guest spending"...a big part of their quarterly report announcements. I also know (as a stockholder) that much of their increase in per capita spending is due to price increases in park tickets, merchandise and restaurant prices. Who knows.

 

[Missyrose]

There were so many things the system was supposed to be capable of doing (personalized greetings by M&G characters, personalized ending to It's a Small World, "surprise" FP+ reservations for crowd control), but Disney has encountered so many IT problems with the system that it makes sense none of the extras have come to pass.

 

[toddinboston]

the main purpose of the MB was to squeeze more money out of Disney guests... mission accomplished... I believe the Disney CEO was crowing last year during an earnings conference call that in park sales during Christmas week had increased 10% due to the MB usage...
as for getting coupons or free offers based on your recorded usage, wouldn't hold my breath...

 

[For]

There were so many things the system was supposed to be capable of doing (personalized greetings by M&G characters, personalized ending to It's a Small World, "surprise" FP+ reservations for crowd control), but Disney has encountered so many IT problems with the system that it makes sense none of the extras have come to pass.

I read that, the US government had some issues with privacy and so the personalization was dropped.

 

[mom2rtk]

There were so many things the system was supposed to be capable of doing (personalized greetings by M&G characters, personalized ending to It's a Small World, "surprise" FP+ reservations for crowd control), but Disney has encountered so many IT problems with the system that it makes sense none of the extras have come to pass.

I believe this article points out that they have abandoned some of these enhanced elements already.

 

[rwdavis2]

They can barely get MDE to work on a reliable basis so I doubt they are going to implement too many enhancements. Besides they have to get all the foreign IT guys they are hiring right now trained up first.

 

[3Gsandme]

My guess is that analyzing and then deciding how best to use this data would take a substantial amount of time. It's not like in Twister or something. It's a long process, especially to push changes through the corporate structure and to spin it so people who don't buy Magic Bands don't feel like second class Disney citizens.

My husband had an opportunity to talk to a muckety muck recently and they're working on something I think is really cool and hopefully comes to pass, but, again, it takes a lot more time than you think.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

The MB's are not a problem. Many companies get a lot more data when you walk in a store with a phone in your pocket....they note where you going the sore and what you end up buying, they note who and where and when you text and call, credit cards in general..........what, where and when you use them........the MB's only record Disney stuff, not a problem in my book!

AKK

 

[cakebaker]

Much like anything new, ideas and plans will come and go as they go along. I would expect some ideas will never see the light of day and others they never thought of in the beginning will. I don't see it as any sign of failure that they haven't implemented all the ideas they came up with at the beginning of this project.

 

[itchin2go]

I believe this article points out that they have abandoned some of these enhanced elements already.

I was going to say the same thing. I got the impression from that article that for various reasons, none of which were very clear to me (Imagineer push-back was the main one I remember), those enhancements were abandoned. The whole thing seemed rather clumsy and ineffective to me, but with a really big price tag!

 

[darrengs]

The MB's are not a problem. Many companies get a lot more data when you walk in a store with a phone in your pocket....they note where you going the sore and what you end up buying, they note who and where and when you text and call, credit cards in general..........what, where and when you use them........the MB's only record Disney stuff, not a problem in my book!

AKK

And if you do not use the stores app, how are they supposed to be tracking all of this?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I do not believe the personalization was dropped because of interference by the government. I believe they found out that guests didn't like it as much as they thought guests would like it; in fact it bothered some guests a lot. For other issues they haven't figured out the capability yet.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

And if you do not use the stores app, how are they supposed to be tracking all of this?

Phones have location devises, not to mention they track the phone number as you enter the stores and as you shop they follow you in the store. They also use face screenings to ID you and plain old cameras to track you.............if you have a credit card with a magnetic strip they scan it as you enter and do the same things. As you use a credit card to buy at different stores they are tracking your travels and what your buying where. I did a recent Refrigerator search on line and suddenly the ads on the computer screen was busy popping up the brands I looked at.

This is nothing new, it been around for a few years now.

AKK

 

[darrengs]

Phones have location devises, not to mention they track the phone number as you enter the stores and as you shop they follow you in the store. They also use face screenings to ID you and plain old cameras to track you.............if you have a credit card with a magnetic strip they scan it as you enter and do the same things. As you use a credit card to buy at different stores they are tracking your travels and what your buying where. I did a recent Refrigerator search on line and suddenly the ads on the computer screen was busy popping up the brands I looked at.

This is nothing new, it been around for a few years now.

AKK

Yes, they can track you via your phone and their wifi as you walk around the store, but it must be turned on and connected, and they can track your purchases via your credit card. However, they cannot track your phone calls and text messages.

As for targeted ads online, that has nothing to do with your cell phone and being in a store, and you can stop that pretty easily as well.

 

[notnothin]

Phones have location devises, not to mention they track the phone number as you enter the stores and as you shop they follow you in the store. They also use face screenings to ID you and plain old cameras to track you.............if you have a credit card with a magnetic strip they scan it as you enter and do the same things. As you use a credit card to buy at different stores they are tracking your travels and what your buying where. I did a recent Refrigerator search on line and suddenly the ads on the computer screen was busy popping up the brands I looked at.

This is nothing new, it been around for a few years now.

AKK

To clarify, they track the MAC address of a phone and not the actual phone numbers.

 

[darrengs]

To clarify, they track the MAC address of a phone and not the actual phone numbers.

And it is easy to defeat, just turn off wifi.

 

[notnothin]

And it is easy to defeat, just turn off wifi.

Yes

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Yes, they can track you via your phone and their wifi as you walk around the store, but it must be turned on and connected, and they can track your purchases via your credit card. However, they cannot track your phone calls and text messages.

As for targeted ads online, that has nothing to do with your cell phone and being in a store, and you can stop that pretty easily as well.

The bottom line is all added together, they are getting and selling alot more sensitive data then Disney is with what stuffed charater or which meals you buy at WDW or DL.

AKK