Originally Posted By leobloom >> Again, how difficult would it have been to pick up the phone and call down to WDW and have the questions answered in detail? Apparently the congressman was too stupid, busy, or clueless to figure that out. << You're assuming he could've gotten the answer by calling WDW. Even they apparently don't know how MyMagic+ is going to work.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt A congressional representative inquiring about privacy issues regarding MyMagic+ would be talking to the top people in WDW Operations, not the boy operating the Teacups.
Originally Posted By TP2000 "A congressional representative inquiring about privacy issues regarding MyMagic+ would be talking to the top people in WDW Operations, not the boy operating the Teacups." HA! For the life of me, I still can't wrap my head around why some folks (who I often agree with and enjoy) dislike or are scared of MyMagic+ so much. All of my spending and habits I pay for on Disney property have been in their databanks for decades, since the age of the Diners Club Card. And all of my hotel stays and Fastpass usage and AP discounts applied for the last 15 years are at their disposal, should they want to refer to them. Every park visit of the last 15 years, what time I entered, which turnstile I used, is known by Disney. Who cares if they know how many non-Fastpass rides I go on? Who cares if they know I used my band to buy a Dole Whip and an XL t-shirt? Who cares if they know my birthday and when I ride Pirates in the year 2016 a drunken animatronic will say "Arrr! Thar be a birthday boy in that boat!" as I float by? What does it matter? If it helps them plan out showtimes and change merchandise stock and tweak lunch recipes and keep the bar open an hour later for me, then let 'em pour over every move I make on Disney property. Let them know I sat on the Hungry Bear patio for 28 minutes on a July afternoon watching the boats go by without buying a meal. I don't care. I just can't wrap my head around why people are so scared about this technology, and why they don't realize Disney already had access to much of this real-time information since the first credit card reader was installed in the 1970's. What's the big deal? "But what about THE CHILDREN!?!" Gimme a break.
Originally Posted By Yookeroo "For the life of me, I still can't wrap my head around why some folks (who I often agree with and enjoy) dislike or are scared of MyMagic+ so much." It's pretty bizarre. They seem to think ticket prices are going to double or something.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>If it helps them plan out showtimes and change merchandise stock...<< You'd think they could use this to help figure out the merchandise stocking needs, but I wouldn't count on it. runDisney (a branch of Disney after all) is infamously bad at planning quantities of event merchandise, often selling out of many styles on the first day of the 3-4 day long expos on race weekend. And this is a group who, through the registrations, knows exactly how many runners they're dealing with, their age and gender, and even their exact shirt size. Yet, somehow, they ALWAYS run out shockingly early into race weekend. If they can use all the data they have collected through the years to predict these sorts of things, that's awesome. But Disney's track record so far makes me less than confident that they will be able to pull this off in any meaningful way.
Originally Posted By leemac <<For the life of me, I still can't wrap my head around why some folks (who I often agree with and enjoy) dislike or are scared of MyMagic+ so much. All of my spending and habits I pay for on Disney property have been in their databanks for decades, since the age of the Diners Club Card. And all of my hotel stays and Fastpass usage and AP discounts applied for the last 15 years are at their disposal, should they want to refer to them. Every park visit of the last 15 years, what time I entered, which turnstile I used, is known by Disney.>> WDW Co. hasn't done themselves any favors with the launch of MyMagic+ - they have released very little information and in some cases that information was either wrong or immediately changed (like the PIN protocols). I have every sympathy for folks trying to plan vacations to WDW this year and are worried about the impact of their lodging choices on MyMagic+. Personally I'd have waited until the roll-out to formally announce the project but the decision to announce earlier this month was foolhardy - either release all of the information or none of it. It is easy to dismiss the nay-sayers as upset fanbois but unfortunately a lot of first-timers and non-fanboi guests rely on those blogs, message boards etc. for vacation planning tips. I'm sure it must be a nightmare trying to plan for this summer. I'm unfazed by the privacy issues - I think WDW Co. has created this debacle so I have no sympathy - as I'm certain that they will not breach any existing legislation. Rep. Markey had every right to submit that letter due to his committee affiliation even if it was misinformed and partially politically motivated. WDW Co. has a whole team of government relation officials and lobbyists and I would have expected them to reach out to his committee in the first instance - that is just PR 101. They happily lobby all the time concerning the high speed rail project. TP2000 - it is a complicated picture relating to what information WDW Co. already holds on you. WDW Co. uses a credit card processing agent and therefore only has sight of the information contained on your card. If you are a resort guest then they do have additional information but at present there is not the data mining tools in place to use that data effectively. Even with FP WDW was always a level playing field. It didn't matter where you were staying or what type of ticket admission that you bought you got access to exactly the same experience. A very small minority has always had premium access but that doesn't impact regular guests. MyMagic+ has the ability to prioritize resort guests to the detriment of off-site guests and AP-holders. I'm not comfortable with that notion. I understand the logic but there have always been better ways to reward resort guests like EMH. The BoD greenlighted a nine-figure capex project based on returns that I don't believe exist. MyMagic+ is about upselling guest experiences. This is no longer the level playing field that has been the bedrock of Disney theme park experiences since '55.
Originally Posted By leemac <<It's pretty bizarre. They seem to think ticket prices are going to double or something.>> MyMagic+ has the ability to upsell experiences including ticket media. So WDW Co. could opt to sell a ticket that comes with 6 FPs per day rather than the current policy. Obviously they are within their right to do so but I'm worried that they will eventually price their regular guests out of the game. Ticket prices have been growing way beyond inflation and I'm sure it won't be long before we see a $100+ day admission. I should add that there are currently no plans to change the MYW structure that has been in place for nearly a decade. However MyMagic+ gives them the option to tweak the admission policy structure.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom <<TP2000 - it is a complicated picture relating to what information WDW Co. already holds on you. WDW Co. uses a credit card processing agent and therefore only has sight of the information contained on your card. If you are a resort guest then they do have additional information but at present there is not the data mining tools in place to use that data effectively.>> I also agree that the data mining tools are not in place to use any data effectively. However, I do feel obligated to point out that the Disney Company has an affiliations with a major Visa card company and has the potential to farm data well beyond the scope of their parks. Disney also has affiliations with cable and satellite entertainment providers which also allows them the ability to go well beyond the data collecting abilities of their parks.
Originally Posted By Kennesaw Tom "Even with FP WDW was always a level playing field. It didn't matter where you were staying or what type of ticket admission that you bought you got access to exactly the same experience. A very small minority has always had premium access but that doesn't impact regular guests. MyMagic+ has the ability to prioritize resort guests to the detriment of off-site guests and AP-holders. I'm not comfortable with that notion. I understand the logic but there have always been better ways to reward resort guests like EMH. The BoD greenlighted a nine-figure capex project based on returns that I don't believe exist. MyMagic+ is about upselling guest experiences. This is no longer the level playing field that has been the bedrock of Disney theme park experiences since '55." This
Originally Posted By leemac <<However, I do feel obligated to point out that the Disney Company has an affiliations with a major Visa card company and has the potential to farm data well beyond the scope of their parks. Disney also has affiliations with cable and satellite entertainment providers which also allows them the ability to go well beyond the data collecting abilities of their parks.>> It is only an affinity card so TWDC only has access to data provided by JPMorgan on the Disney VISA. There aren't that many in circulation and the card hasn't been the success that was envisaged (mainly due to the offers being so poor even for Disney fans). Cable and satellite companies are very reticent about supplying data about their customers to network operators. Most networks have to rely on Neilsen ratings in order to determine their viewing figures and demographics.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<WDW Co. hasn't done themselves any favors with the launch of MyMagic+ - they have released very little information and in some cases that information was either wrong or immediately changed (like the PIN protocols). I have every sympathy for folks trying to plan vacations to WDW this year and are worried about the impact of their lodging choices on MyMagic+. Personally I'd have waited until the roll-out to formally announce the project but the decision to announce earlier this month was foolhardy - either release all of the information or none of it. It is easy to dismiss the nay-sayers as upset fanbois but unfortunately a lot of first-timers and non-fanboi guests rely on those blogs, message boards etc. for vacation planning tips. I'm sure it must be a nightmare trying to plan for this summer.>> First of all, leemac, brilliant post. And this paragraph right here is what I was trying to say. I honestly don't care much about the project itself other than its price tag and the potential FP implications. But Disney's handling of the reveal so far has been AWFUL. Just plain bad. <<I'm unfazed by the privacy issues - I think WDW Co. has created this debacle so I have no sympathy - as I'm certain that they will not breach any existing legislation. Rep. Markey had every right to submit that letter due to his committee affiliation even if it was misinformed and partially politically motivated. WDW Co. has a whole team of government relation officials and lobbyists and I would have expected them to reach out to his committee in the first instance - that is just PR 101. They happily lobby all the time concerning the high speed rail project.>> Again, agreed all around. << Even with FP WDW was always a level playing field. It didn't matter where you were staying or what type of ticket admission that you bought you got access to exactly the same experience. A very small minority has always had premium access but that doesn't impact regular guests. MyMagic+ has the ability to prioritize resort guests to the detriment of off-site guests and AP-holders. I'm not comfortable with that notion. I understand the logic but there have always been better ways to reward resort guests like EMH. The BoD greenlighted a nine-figure capex project based on returns that I don't believe exist. MyMagic+ is about upselling guest experiences. This is no longer the level playing field that has been the bedrock of Disney theme park experiences since '55.>> Selling the soul for the almighty dollar. It's sad. It really is. I stay onsite, but only ever at a moderate. I worry that I'm going to be shut out of stuff by the Deluxe crowd.
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Rep. Markey had every right to submit that letter due to his committee affiliation even if it was misinformed and partially politically motivated." People have the right to do a lot of things, but sometimes taking action just because you can is a sign of poor judgement. "MyMagic+ is about upselling guest experiences. This is no longer the level playing field that has been the bedrock of Disney theme park experiences since '55." Yep, because the ticket media that existed at DL, WDW, and TDL for decades created such a level playing field for guests.
Originally Posted By ReelJustice <<MyMagic+ has the ability to upsell experiences including ticket media. So WDW Co. could opt to sell a ticket that comes with 6 FPs per day rather than the current policy. Obviously they are within their right to do so but I'm worried that they will eventually price their regular guests out of the game. Ticket prices have been growing way beyond inflation and I'm sure it won't be long before we see a $100+ day admission.>> They've already out priced my family. We had intentions of going for Mardi Gras, but as a family of 4 + a gf, we decided it wasn't feasible (and that's staying offsite and having old tickets leftover).
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper The ticket media is high, no doubt. But I think there's a difference between flat out not being able to go, and scrounging together enough money to take your family on a "magical" vacation, staying off site and making things meet, only to get there and have a miserable time because the deluxe visitors are getting all the good stuff. As it sits now, getting into the park gets you the ability to get everything everyone else does. MyMagic+ could change that, and if leemac is correct, will change that.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> A congressional representative inquiring about privacy issues regarding MyMagic+ would be talking to the top people in WDW Operations, not the boy operating the Teacups. << No kidding? No wonder you're a doctor. The top people know so clearly what MyMagic will entail? Because it looks like they're groping in the dark. And Iger's hissy fit certainly doesn't make it look like he can calmly explain what the program will look like when it's all said and done.
Originally Posted By leobloom >> Personally I'd have waited until the roll-out to formally announce the project but the decision to announce earlier this month was foolhardy - either release all of the information or none of it. << Maybe I missed it, but what forced their hand? That blog whose name escapes me, that leaked some info about MyMagic? Why did they trot out Nick Franklin for the media and start trickling out info about it? What was the rush?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "Because it looks like they're groping in the dark." Looks like is a whole lot different than not knowing. If you don't like what's been revealed about MM+ so far or the way it's being sold to the public, then fine. With the exception of one or two people who have inside information everything else being stated here about the program beyond that is a collection of baseless assumptions. Of course it would just be too much trouble to sit and wait and see how this whole thing pans out before passing judgement, wouldn't it?
Originally Posted By Dr Hans Reinhardt "What was the rush?" I'm still waiting for someone to tell me when Disney officially made an announcement or exactly when the official roll out will be - or has that announcement even been made? I'm pretty good at skimming over details, so I figure I must have missed something somewhere.
Originally Posted By HokieSkipper <<I'm still waiting for someone to tell me when Disney officially made an announcement or exactly when the official roll out will be - or has that announcement even been made? I'm pretty good at skimming over details, so I figure I must have missed something somewhere.>> There was a New York Times "article" that read more like a press release and a Disney Parks Blog post.
