Is the Lack of Magic Bands hurting UOR's Overall Image?

[Mad Dog]

The Fallon rumored ride reservations?

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I've seen more of that survey and it posed a lot of questions, from ride reservations in an app to places to charge cell phones. Just like Smurfs replacing KidZone, it's a gauge, not a sign of things to come.

 

[Nick]

Got a Universal survey today and it was all about new features to their app. It was a lot of would you like to be able to make ride reservations and restaurants.



Seems they are interested in doing something close to magic bands but make it all in the app.

They'd have to majorly upgrade their app if they were to actually do this. The current one, while it does get you the info you need, it could be designed in a much better/user friendly way.

 

[UNIrd]

Sounds closer to what Disneyland is doing, which makes sense. Hopefully the Magic Bands don't make their way there, as APs will snap up all FastPass+. But if they're making enough money of the stupid accessories, it's only a matter of time.

 

[drumset333]

Got a Universal survey today and it was all about new features to their app. It was a lot of would you like to be able to make ride reservations and restaurants.



Seems they are interested in doing something close to magic bands but make it all in the app.

I got the same survey as well but one of the features I did like a lot was the ability to order food and beverages anywhere in the park and have it delivered to you. That and outlets under the seats of select shows to charge your phone.

 

[RonaldsModernLife]

I'd rather not use an app, only because that's gonna kill my phone's battery. Its hard enough trying to get a phone to last all day, let alone when you're using it in this way.

 

[craigt]

The general public doesnt know about budget cuts, cancelled plans, lazy executives, ride stagnation, etc. They just see a technology being implemented in a scope that hasn't been paralleled in the business, and they think it's cool. Also of note, the family you spoke to probably doesn't have any indication about how much Universal has grown lately, since they don't go often enough to gauge growth, so that also doesn't play into their opinions.

Hopefully, even the most ignorant family should have noticed by now that there's not been 1 new E-ticket in over a decade, and not even one under construction.

The reason why there is not Magic Bands in DL is because of the set up of the park.... refering to security. Anyone can technically walk to the park entrance by foot, so the open gates idea is not good for them. WDW parks are away from civilization and in order to get in you have to go thru some kind of gate... mostly Parking lot, before you can even have a glimpse on the parks entrance. I think they will eventually find a way to introduce it in California.... I guess

I don't see that being a factor at all, there was no need to scrap the barriers. They could easily exist alongside the bands, scan the band, get green light, turnstyle unlocks. To be honest, I don't know why they went to the trouble of getting rid of them at WDW. I'm sure they could just have retrofitted the RFID readers to the old turnstyles.

The wait for Peter Pan was 50 mins on average before magic bands, and I haven't noticed a real increase since their implementation. I think the "inflated" wait times, is just message board chatter. Does anyone have any actual proof of this?

I don't think it's a significant factor for rides which ran out of FPs for all times during the day. Under the new system, they're probably not handing out any more FPs. It's the rides which weren't running out, they now have more demand on them. And as we all know, the more people who use FP Return, the longer standby waits.

Everyone blows the $2B number way out of hand. This whole MM+ initiative is simply infrastructure upgrades that they decided to market. Normally this type of investment would have no return whereas Disney has made it possible to get at least a slight return with merch, limited edition Magic Bands, etc.

So you don't think they'd have seen any RoI if they'd put 10 E-tickets instead of MM? I disagree.

They could still have had magic bands for park entrance, room keys, room charging and FP issue for a very cheap cost. The infrastructure for that was largely already all in place. It's the

 

[adjjb]

I'd rather not use an app, only because that's gonna kill my phone's battery. Its hard enough trying to get a phone to last all day, let alone when you're using it in this way.

I think that's why they gave the option for charging stations under your seats during shows, as well as stations in lockers while you're on Hulk or something you can't take the phone it's charging while in the locker.

They know they can't add all these features like the food delivery or the parking app to locate your car without the phone being able to last.

 

[captainmoch]

Hopefully, even the most ignorant family should have noticed by now that there's not been 1 new E-ticket in over a decade, and not even one under construction.

Well, some families consider stuff like TSMM and 7DMT e-tickets, so you never know what they'd think...

 

[kingcooger]

Sounds closer to what Disneyland is doing, which makes sense. Hopefully the Magic Bands don't make their way there, as APs will snap up all FastPass+. But if they're making enough money of the stupid accessories, it's only a matter of time.

MagicBands will probably come to DL but not the FP+ system. Given how big pin trading is in the DL area, I imagine collector/limited edition MagicBands. As to how they plan on implementing the system, who can tell. But if there is money to be made, they will do it.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

Lack of Magic bands is why we bought UOR ANNUAL PASSES before...

 

[rhino4evr]

Lack of Magic bands is why we bought UOR ANNUAL PASSES before...

to be honest, that's a pretty silly reason to buy an annual pass to another park. Magic Bands or Paper Tickets don't deter me from going to the park I want to visit.

 

[JungleSkip]

to be honest, that's a pretty silly reason to buy an annual pass to another park. Magic Bands or Paper Tickets don't deter me from going to the park I want to visit.

That's you.

Me? I love that I can go to UOR with 0 planning, do what I want to do comfortably, eat where I want to eat without issue, and still have time to enjoy the resort at large.

 

[Nick]

to be honest, that's a pretty silly reason to buy an annual pass to another park. Magic Bands or Paper Tickets don't deter me from going to the park I want to visit.

Agreed. I'm not going to sit here and defend Magic Bands, but if you are buying APs to a park, I can guarantee that you are doing it based on the PRODUCT, not the fact that a system like MyMagic+ isn't in place at Uni.

 

[rhino4evr]

That's you.

Me? I love that I can go to UOR with 0 planning, do what I want to do comfortably, eat where I want to eat without issue, and still have time to enjoy the resort at large.

think we had this argument earlier. Magic Bands are not "required" to enjoy the park or even enter it. Fast pass is free, and is optional. You can always just use Stand by lines. I only had 3 fast passes the last time I went to the park, and was able to enjoy myself just fine. Most people already plan ahead when visiting a park. You may feel "pressured" to try an obtain the "best" fast pass rides, but that's still in your head. The key has always been to get to the park early, take a mid afternoon break when the park is busiest, and then come back at night. This has been a tried and true method of avoiding crowds since before Al Gore invented the internet and "Touring Plans" was created.

 

[rhino4evr]

hell I even used a Fast Pass for Fireworks which is considered a major "no no" because it limits the "extra" FP you can get.
I used a FP for Thunder Mountain and Snow White Mine Train.
We later waited in line for TM (25 mins, posted at 40) and rode it again.
The SD Mine Train I wouldn't wait more than 30 mins for.
Everything else I walked on or waited in the standard line. No issues...lots of fun.

 

[JungleSkip]

The key has always been to get to the park early, take a mid afternoon break when the park is busiest, and then come back at night. This has been a tried and true method of avoiding crowds since before Al Gore invented the internet and "Touring Plans" was created.

And what if I want to sleep in on my vacation. *gasp* The audacity of the thought!

You can claim that it's all optional all you want, but you don't get you money's worth without hyper planning at WDW. That is a fact.

 

[rhino4evr]

And what if I want to sleep in on my vacation. *gasp* The audacity of the thought!

You can claim that it's all optional all you want, but you don't get you money's worth without hyper planning at WDW. That is a fact.

Well that's your prerogative I guess. When I go to the parks, I usually go once or twice a year, so you are damn right I am going to get my $100! a ticket worth. I don't have the luxury of an annual pass or the ability to stay on-site for weeks at a time.

UOR has long standby lines too...so I don't really understand the difference. Only the folks that stay on premises or pay extra are treated to Express Pass. Sure, that makes it "more convenient" but it comes at a price.

If I was going to IOA or USF, you damn straight I would get to the park at rope drop.

 

[IAmFloridaBorn]

to be honest, that's a pretty silly reason to buy an annual pass to another park. Magic Bands or Paper Tickets don't deter me from going to the park I want to visit.

So because I don't buy an annual pass to go to a park where they basically want me to plan my experience, I'm silly for going to another park?
I could easily say you're silly for starting a thread that asks an opinion then you criticize an opinion that isn't like yours.
The funny thing is, I know several people first hand , with the close close relationship regarding my everyday work with Disney who avoid Magic Bands and Passes. They may purchase tickets, but a lot of people prefer not to have the magic bands esp if they are going to be spending considerable time there, then there are people who wont be doing Disney as often, so it's the least of their worries.

 

[Nick]

So because I don't buy an annual pass to go to a park where they basically want me to plan my experience, I'm silly for going to another park?
I could easily say you're silly for starting a thread that asks an opinion then you criticize an opinion that isn't like yours.
The funny thing is, I know several people first hand , with the close close relationship regarding my everyday work with Disney who avoid Magic Bands and Passes. They may purchase tickets, but a lot of people prefer not to have the magic bands esp if they are going to be spending considerable time there, then there are people who wont be doing Disney as often, so it's the least of their worries.

You aren't silly for going to another park. But you can say all you want that Magic Bands are the reason, but I will never believe it. You got a Uni AP because of their current product and what they offer. Maybe you didn't like the MyMagic+ system and that made you feeling a bit conflicted about WDW right now, but you're on a Universal forum, you were likely going to go there anyway.