Seems the new My Magic Plus system is looking more and more like a failure!

[MrInfinity]

That might be true but will many of them book Stitch because they don't know any better? If we're dealing with people who had trouble understanding FP- then how will they ever know which rides are the best to book? I wouldn't put much faith in travel agents (even though some are fabulous).

Does it matter to you what they book? Obviously commando's did not care back when it was FP- and the same customer was waiting an hour in every line. Now if they pick something less than perfectly optimized, they're still getting on 3 things fast.

And from your POV, you should like that customers can opt for less than perfect things, as it makes the lines you want to go thru shorter.

And if someone wants to go on Stitch, so be it! I actually like the ride. Really... people do just pick things they think they'll like and go for it... Most ppl do not tour Disney World doing mathematical calculations and line analysis like we do. Nuttin wrong w that.

 

[EAWildman]

Just got back from a 4 day trip during spring break. I made 3 FP+ reservations each day and used them all. Worked flawlessly! Saw/went on 18 attractions in MK in 13 hours (plus ate lunch and dinner) in thick spring break crowds. Did all but a couple of attractions at HS and arrived at 11AM. In fact, I never made rope drop, but did stay until park close.

I would say the FP+ is working quite well. I agree that the tiering at EP and HS is a weakness. While I would like the Fastpasses to park hop with me, it didn't slow up my park touring on this trip. Plus they will likely make adjustments in these problem areas.

I would call it a success!

 

[HydroGuy]

And if you read all the topics and posts you will also see plenty of positive reviews on MBs and FP+. I am not saying issues are not occurring, but there are range of views on the technology and a long time before the data will indicate to WDW as to success or not.

I believe I said just that.

 

[Planogirl]

Does it matter to you what they book? Obviously commando's did not care back when it was FP- and the same customer was waiting an hour in every line. Now if they pick something less than perfectly optimized, they're still getting on 3 things fast.

And from your POV, you should like that customers can opt for less than perfect things, as it makes the lines you want to go thru shorter.

And if someone wants to go on Stitch, so be it! I actually like the ride. Really... people do just pick things they think they'll like and go for it... Most ppl do not tour Disney World doing mathematical calculations and line analysis like we do. Nuttin wrong w that.

If at least part of the purpose was to help the poor people that didn't understand how to use fastpass then how does them possibly signing up for the wrong fastpasses help them? I never said that I didn't want others to get fastpasses; I've just argued all along that anyone could figure out the old system. Anyone.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Disney is in the business of making and printing $

A monorail expansion is going to do what? Resorts are already at capacity at the busiest times of the year and during low times there is plenty of space at the MK Monorail resorts.

If they were going to do any expansion I would assume it would be to Epcot and AK resorts. Thus it would make these even more premium and they would raise costs. Issue is they can raise costs at these resorts already without needing to spend money on the monorail expansion.

As far as MM+ you forget this system is being built to squeeze all the money you have out of you. Right now it looks like online booking and FP+. They are going to be utilizing this information for marketing and research purposes. It doesn't matter what the big wigs say to the public there is going to be information that is collected and builds a profile moving forward of every single guest that ever walks onto any WDW piece of land.

MM+ will allow Disney to make better decisions around what to invest in and what to cut. Think about Push being saved because they realized on days where a person saw Push they were 95% more likely to splurge on a dessert snack within the following 10 mins. (That is not a fact trying to show you that there is extremely unique ways to use the information they are going to be able to collect) This works for off-site guests as well that pay with cash because the cash register could in theory scan your RFID when you are checking out thus knowing who you are and what you purchased.

I can save them the trouble right now. The best investments are new attractions.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Will they replace the band if lost? So, if your band is very buggy, couldn't you report it "lost" and get it replaced, and hopefully the new band would work better?

Good questions; I don't know. I haven't heard of anyone losing it yet.

As for the backup KTTW cards, I believe that their *official* policy is to provide the backups when asked, but, in practice, they have been moving away from that. IMHO, guests should refuse to book on-site unless they get assurances that they will get a backup. We shouldn't be at the mercy of a potentially buggy MB.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Another article to add to the discussion:

http://micechat.com/62433-disneys-m.../News+(MiceChat:+A+Different+Look+At+Disney+)

 

[clsteve]

Another article to add to the discussion:

http://micechat.com/62433-disneys-m.../News+(MiceChat:+A+Different+Look+At+Disney+)

Insightful and well written article. Thanks for the link!

 

[granmanh603]

Just got back from a 4 day trip during spring break. I made 3 FP+ reservations each day and used them all. Worked flawlessly! Saw/went on 18 attractions in MK in 13 hours (plus ate lunch and dinner) in thick spring break crowds. Did all but a couple of attractions at HS and arrived at 11AM. In fact, I never made rope drop, but did stay until park close.

I would say the FP+ is working quite well. I agree that the tiering at EP and HS is a weakness. While I would like the Fastpasses to park hop with me, it didn't slow up my park touring on this trip. Plus they will likely make adjustments in these problem areas.

I would call it a success!

Wow I was just there too and used the 3 FP+ they gave me and left the park, will not wait on a line for more than 30 min. Also the FP+ lines were longer than before there were ques for them at TM there were 4 lines and then it still was across the walkway. On Monday the line at lunch for POC was 75 min and FP+ line was all over the walkway...you had trouble walking by. Different experience than you. Oh AP holder but I sure would not have gotten my $99 worth last Wed

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Another article to add to the discussion:

http://micechat.com/62433-disneys-m.../News+(MiceChat:+A+Different+Look+At+Disney+)

Nothing like an opinion article.

Trying to increase spending per day, it's valid business model. If you attempt to continuously increase attendance, satisfaction will eventually go down, since the experience will be more crowded with longer wait times.

If however, you keep attendance relatively even, but targets guests that will spend more money per day....you gain profit without reducing customer satisfaction. (other than for the people who will not spend as much, and therefore are not targeted)

 

[MrInfinity]

If at least part of the purpose was to help the poor people that didn't understand how to use fastpass then how does them possibly signing up for the wrong fastpasses help them? I never said that I didn't want others to get fastpasses; I've just argued all along that anyone could figure out the old system. Anyone.

"helping poor people get on rides" is not part of the purpose.

The purpose is to make more money.

Yes anyone could figure out FP-. But few actually did so. It's just the way it was.

Disney has made FP+ so easy to use that now, everyone naturally opts to use it. That is exactly what's happening. That is why commandos have to wait so long now, because everyone is using FP+. As a brilliant villain once said, "once everyone is super, no one will be". And that's exactly what's going on here.

Some are picking suboptimal rides like Stitch or MI, others are picking BTMRR or POTC. Because many are picking BTMRR or POTC, you're having to wait for those. Be glad there are suboptimal choices to be made (I am). If Stitch wasn't FP enabled, the users pulling Stich FPs would be picking something we want instead.

And why are you pretending to "want to help people make good FP+ choices"? Obviously you'd rather most ppl get no fast passes at all (like before), and instead all the FP slots be used by just a handful of ppl like under FP-. I'd certainly prefer that, as I think we all would. So your arugments about how these poor ppl who didn't know how to use FP- so they need to be helped aren't valid, cuz in the same breath you advocate a return to FP- which benefitted you (and me) extensively and most guests not at all.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Some are picking suboptimal rides like Stitch or MI, others are picking BTMRR or POTC. Because many are picking BTMRR or POTC, you're having to wait for those. Be glad there are suboptimal choices to be made (I am). If Stitch wasn't FP enabled, the users pulling Stich FPs would be picking something we want instead.

And why are you pretending to "want to help people make good FP+ choices"? Obviously you'd rather most ppl get no fast passes at all (like before), and instead all the FP slots be used by just a handful of ppl like under FP-. I'd certainly prefer that, as I think we all would. So your arugments about how these poor ppl who didn't know how to use FP- so they need to be helped aren't valid, cuz in the same breath you advocate a return to FP- which benefitted you (and me) extensively and most guests not at all.

Imagine if they went back to FP-, but allowed all visitors to get them on their MDE app? Wow these boards would light up in disgust! LOL

On your other point, I have to imagine that eventually almost everything will be FP enabled....except for stuff like the River Boat ride. It makes sense that Disney would let everyone get a "pass" for the attractions that are most important to THEM.

 

[clsteve]

Nothing like an opinion article.

Trying to increase spending per day, it's valid business model. If you attempt to continuously increase attendance, satisfaction will eventually go down, since the experience will be more crowded with longer wait times.

If however, you keep attendance relatively even, but targets guests that will spend more money per day....you gain profit without reducing customer satisfaction. (other than for the people who will not spend as much, and therefore are not targeted)

Curious as to what makes you think this. The article's premise is increased attendance comes with increasing capacity, not just increasing attendance. I'd love to see where increasing capacity has ever caused a decrease in satisfaction.


And, yes, increasing guest spend is a valid business model- but with a cap. Especially if the model continues to narrow your customer base to those who will only spend enough to support your model. And, there have been many examples of that.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Curious as to what makes you think this. The article's premise is increased attendance comes with increasing capacity, not just increasing attendance. I'd love to see where increasing capacity has ever caused a decrease in satisfaction.


And, yes, increasing guest spend is a valid business model- but with a cap. Especially if the model continues to narrow your customer base to those who will only spend enough to support your model. And, there have been many examples of that.

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. You need to add more attractions to increase capacity. I'm saying if all things stayed the same, it isn't really the most desirable outcome to continuously increase attendance.

 

[Davey Jones II]

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. You need to add more attractions to increase capacity. I'm saying if all things stayed the same, it isn't really the most desirable outcome to continuously increase attendance.

Of course, but all things won't stay the same, because the best way to increase attendance is to add high quality attractions that will become popular people eaters. So you attract more people, but you have increased capacity to handle the crowds (except at peak periods, when the parks will be crowded no matter what).

The related issue is that Disney built a lot of half-day parks, with the plan of gradually adding to them. Three of the four WDW parks still need more capacity, but Disney seems to be slowing down the already glacial pace at which they add attractions, and MM+ seems to be the main reason.

 

[DougEMG]

Of course, but all things won't stay the same, because the best way to increase attendance is to add high quality attractions that will become popular people eaters. So you attract more people, but you have increased capacity to handle the crowds (except at peak periods, when the parks will be crowded no matter what).

The related issue is that Disney built a lot of half-day parks, with the plan of gradually adding to them. Three of the four WDW parks still need more capacity, but Disney seems to be slowing down the already glacial pace at which they add attractions, and MM+ seems to be the main reason.

And that is exactly why we have tiers, not enough capacity in three of the four parks.

 

[FlipHipster]

Another article to add to the discussion:

http://micechat.com/62433-disneys-m.../News+(MiceChat:+A+Different+Look+At+Disney+)

Good article, pretty much hit all the points.

We keep throwing around the $1b now $2b numbers like its pocket change, but rarely does anyone ask where the money is going.

Obviously the extra $1b was spent on fixing infrastructure, more kiosks, fixing the website/app or the data corruption, fixing the scanners...

ehh, doesn't appear to be, still have the same problems as when it cost $1b.

There are more CM's on the ground with Ipads, but $1b worth? (sorry CM's I think you are worth $10b easy).

Somebody's making serious bank with this project. I haven't been following it long enough to know all the players but I am betting someone with the word "consulting" in the title......