Disneyatwork.com reports today that a part of the MyMagic+ program, tentatively entitled "Disney's Story Maker", is about to begin in WDW theme parks. Below is a significant part of that blog entry:
So what is it?
Its sort of like Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom meets PhotoPass. Another way to think of it is the interactive magic wands being used at the Harry Potter attractions at Disney, only your MagicBand would trigger the magic. But this time, something would happen to capture that magical moment so that you could have a photo/video keepsake long after it was over.
I know a band doesnt sound as exciting as a wand. But it could be if the interaction or the magic was cool enough. And at any rate, the wands have problems as well over at Universal. It practically requires an employee to work with guests at each location to get them to trigger correctly. There were also other variations of how Disney will use this. My understanding was that even Jungle Cruise skippers would have some sort of tablet by which they would know interesting tidbits about the Guests that they could use in their dialogue.
So why isnt it working yet?
My sources indicate that the major reason is that the entire front end props and presentations and capture have all been created, at the cost of around 20 million dollars. But in the craziness of pulling together the entire initiative, no one had pulled together the back end of the software that would bring it all together and deliver it to the Guests afterwards.
But there were two other problems: One, is that part of what created interaction was that they knew information about youwhat your favorite ride was, or where you were from, or what your favorite Disney character was. With all of the big brother discussion going on, and with so many organizations out there not being able to keep your personal data from being stolen, there has been some understandable concern about sharing more infoeven if that info was knowledge that Tinker Bell was your favorite character.
Still there is another big part of the problemand one I didnt know until recentlywas that this initiative was going to be something you paid for. Unlike Phineas & Ferbs Agent Ps World Showcase Adventure, or A Pirates Adventure: treasures of the Seven Seas, this one was going to require putting down money in some way. Thats where they grow revenue comes into play. I think there has been some uncertainty as to how popular it might be, and thus would anyone pay for the memorable photo keepsakes that would come from it? Im not even sure if you can interact for free, and then if you want to keep photo memory you pay for it later on, or what.
There maybe other opportunities to grow more revenue from MyMagic+ in this quarter. I think the day they start letting annual pass holders have an account for charging gifts as well as food and beverage is one such possibility. But this is the biggest part of MyMagic+ that hasnt been introduced. Indeed it is the Magic of MyMagic+. Lets see if it comes soon.
Below a picture of three magazine covers exhibited in DHS Hollywood Brown Derby, the blogger adds:
Head to the Brown Derby right now and you wont see these three framed magazine covers. Theyve been covered up with different photos until this system is released to Guests. But during the few days they were up, the date would change to the current one, but in the year 1933. I would assume your photo would come up as a black and white image in these pictures.
So what is it?
Its sort of like Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom meets PhotoPass. Another way to think of it is the interactive magic wands being used at the Harry Potter attractions at Disney, only your MagicBand would trigger the magic. But this time, something would happen to capture that magical moment so that you could have a photo/video keepsake long after it was over.
I know a band doesnt sound as exciting as a wand. But it could be if the interaction or the magic was cool enough. And at any rate, the wands have problems as well over at Universal. It practically requires an employee to work with guests at each location to get them to trigger correctly. There were also other variations of how Disney will use this. My understanding was that even Jungle Cruise skippers would have some sort of tablet by which they would know interesting tidbits about the Guests that they could use in their dialogue.
So why isnt it working yet?
My sources indicate that the major reason is that the entire front end props and presentations and capture have all been created, at the cost of around 20 million dollars. But in the craziness of pulling together the entire initiative, no one had pulled together the back end of the software that would bring it all together and deliver it to the Guests afterwards.
But there were two other problems: One, is that part of what created interaction was that they knew information about youwhat your favorite ride was, or where you were from, or what your favorite Disney character was. With all of the big brother discussion going on, and with so many organizations out there not being able to keep your personal data from being stolen, there has been some understandable concern about sharing more infoeven if that info was knowledge that Tinker Bell was your favorite character.
Still there is another big part of the problemand one I didnt know until recentlywas that this initiative was going to be something you paid for. Unlike Phineas & Ferbs Agent Ps World Showcase Adventure, or A Pirates Adventure: treasures of the Seven Seas, this one was going to require putting down money in some way. Thats where they grow revenue comes into play. I think there has been some uncertainty as to how popular it might be, and thus would anyone pay for the memorable photo keepsakes that would come from it? Im not even sure if you can interact for free, and then if you want to keep photo memory you pay for it later on, or what.
There maybe other opportunities to grow more revenue from MyMagic+ in this quarter. I think the day they start letting annual pass holders have an account for charging gifts as well as food and beverage is one such possibility. But this is the biggest part of MyMagic+ that hasnt been introduced. Indeed it is the Magic of MyMagic+. Lets see if it comes soon.
Below a picture of three magazine covers exhibited in DHS Hollywood Brown Derby, the blogger adds:
Head to the Brown Derby right now and you wont see these three framed magazine covers. Theyve been covered up with different photos until this system is released to Guests. But during the few days they were up, the date would change to the current one, but in the year 1933. I would assume your photo would come up as a black and white image in these pictures.
