Disney's NextGen Initiative

[JungleSkip]

I think his tone was just fine. It's true that the congressman ignorantly attacked with already publicly answered questions and why wouldn't that be infuriating? One thing I hate about Disney is that they generally sugar coat too much and tend to run around without a backbone. While I'm not fond of this product, I'm actually enjoying this side of Disney.

Sorry, but many of the questions were unanswered and remain so. The letter from the Congressman was far from an attack. It was a very even leveled inquiry, which Iger replied to like a spoiled brat.

And even if it were an attack, Iger's tone would still seem bratty and catty to match the attack. It was not a professional response.

 

[coasterj]

I think his tone was just fine. It's true that the congressman ignorantly attacked with already publicly answered questions and why wouldn't that be infuriating? One thing I hate about Disney is that they generally sugar coat too much and tend to run around without a backbone. While I'm not fond of this product, I'm actually enjoying this side of Disney.

But the congressman wrote just as professional a letter, and doesn't disney teach its cast members that sometimes you have to answer the same questions over and over to different people. I would think the CEO would hold to that moral as well. Especially when you are trying to sell people on a product or idea that you have invested so much money in. He could have taken this as an opportunity to speak out and further elaborate instead I feel he came close to personally attacking someone who was just questioning what it was all about, simply asking what the company is going to do with the info as well as the fairness probe. While disney has every right to say "none of your business" or "do your research" I just felt like they missed a huge opportunity to get more people on board and have free advertisement.

 

[Mike]

I think his tone was just fine. It's true that the congressman ignorantly attacked with already publicly answered questions and why wouldn't that be infuriating? One thing I hate about Disney is that they generally sugar coat too much and tend to run around without a backbone. While I'm not fond of this product, I'm actually enjoying this side of Disney.

I too thought Markey was over the top with this political stunt, and in normal circumstances a staffer would have contacted Disney directly before releasing such a public letter. I get that. They went for the easy mark.

However, Bob Iger is an officer, the top officer, in a publically traded corporation which operates with tax and liability privileges provided to it by both the Federal government and the State government in which it is incorporated. He has a duty to the shareholders of the corporation to best represent it and the corporate interests; especially doing so in a Congressional arena. He wrote a letter to, like him or not, a Congressional representative of the people of Massachusetts who was elected by them to represent their and the United States’ interests. Bob Iger was wrong in every way, other than political calculation, to address the letter in the way that he did.

Someone needs to sit his team down in American Adventure and HoP one more time. And for God’s sake try not to be so shallow to use the NY Times to push a poorly thought out initiative.

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doesn't disney teach its cast members that sometimes you have to answer the same questions over and over to different people. I would think the CEO would hold to that moral as well.

What great insight! Great point!

 

[JungleSkip]

And for God’s sake not try be so shallow to use the NY Times to push a poorly thought out initiative.

Glad you brought that up, because that's the beginning of this fiasco. The NYT article was vague, uninformative, confusing, and clearly Disney thought the info given would be welcomed with open arms.

Clearly it wasn't, and when people started questioning them, they obviously had no idea how to respond.

The handling of the reveal of MyMagic+ has been piss poor from the get go. Iger's letter is just the latest in the long line of blunders.

 

[ReelJustice]

Robert Niles has 2 great articles about this:

Perspective on RFID and why this matters:http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201301/3344/

How Iger isn't properly representing the Walt Disney Co.http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201301/3343/

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

I don't mind people questioning things, but I don't mind Iger's style of response either. I would never expect every question to be answered right away because the product isn't released yet. I also can't help but visualize all the "bravos" being spit left and right if this response came from virtually any other theme park CEO, and certainly Universal's.

It just seem like people are making a deal out of something that isn't fully warranted yet. Was the money poured into this project seemingly overkill? Heck yea. I'd love to have seen that money go into anything, really. But as far as the "big brother" people are seeing over the horizon, I just think it's a gross overreaction. So you have to plan in advanced to get reservations to popular restaurants? If you haven't been doing that from the get go then I hardly feel sorry for you. Even when I had day trips to parks and wanted reservations somewhere (CRT, Mythos, LeCelliar) I got them because I called a month if not two or three in advanced. Even daytrips need planning when it comes to theme parks. I highly doubt Disney is vanquishing your right as a non-passholder or resort guest to make reservations. So stop crying. Also, fastpass distribution is now might be going to people who pay more than you're willing too? Hardly a new concept. It's already been stated that your Magicband is customizable. Don't want spam? Don't apply for it. Worried about your child's information getting in the wrong hands? Don't give it to them. Don't want your card or any strongly personal info attached to your wristband? You control the settings!

Again, I hate that such a large amount of money wet into this initiative, but the tech doesn't appear to be anything frightening whatsoever.

 

[Felipe]

Oooh the gloves are coming off :catfight:

http://www.deadline.com/2013/01/disney-bob-iger-magicband-congressman-ed-markey-magicband-privacy/

"publicly attack" ?!?!?!!? :inquisitive: Sensitive much?

I don't think the point is their policies, because we all know policies don't mean crap if some sicko Disney employee has access to the information and decides to "misuse it" (to put it lightly). The point is that so much of such personal and sensitive information should not be mined and kept for any purposes in the first place.

He conveniently side-stepped Markey's last (and I think one of the most important) question about guests receiving an inferior product if they opt out, thus creating a not so subtle situation where a parent who would be hesitant and not give such information is now pretty much coerced into doing so. Still reeks to me.

Totally agree. I question the practices here, when, from the name to the description of the program, they're enticing people and trying to hook them on the fact that this program will be giving them an experience above the regular Disney visit, which who wouldn't want? People are often careless, ignorant, or just plain naive. I'm glad Disney is being put on the hot seat for this, and although the exposure of the issue alone is worthwhile, I also hope they really re-think this whole program.

 

[JungleSkip]

I also can't help but visualize all the "bravos" being spit left and right if this response came from virtually any other theme park CEO, and certainly Universal's.

Nice straw man.

It just seem like people are making a deal out of something that isn't fully warranted yet.

Which is why you don't realease info on a project like this until you're ready to release all the info.

Again, I hate that such a large amount of money wet into this initiative, but the tech doesn't appear to be anything frightening whatsoever.

There is nothing frightening going on. But every time personal information comes into play, people will worry no matter what. Which is why releasing so little info and then acting like a spoiled brat when people question that info is such a poor decision.

 

[coasterj]

To another point... I can't speak for others on here but I would be just as critical on other companies that were do this it's just not good business. Fact is UO to my knowledge hasn't done this recently, nor are they taking the approach of spending money on technology...they are actually building rides. Good rides.

 

[Scarletwebslingr]

Nice straw man.

If the shoe fits...

Which is why you don't release info on a project like this until you're ready to release all the info.

It's extremely hard to imagine a project this big having zero information released until it's debut.

There is nothing frightening going on. But every time personal information comes into play, people will worry no matter what. Which is why releasing so little info and then acting like a spoiled brat when people question that info is such a poor decision.

I'm glad you think so, but many people here seem to Disney is handing over all their information to pedobear. I didn't read Iger as "acting like a spoiled brat." It came off as frustrated but that isn't beyond reason. Not the best wording he could have come up with but certainly not worthy of all the comments here.

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To another point... I can't speak for others on here but I would be just as critical on other companies that were do this it's just not good business. Fact is UO to my knowledge hasn't done this recently, nor are they taking the approach of spending money on technology...they are actually building rides. Good rides.

I don't think you'll find anyone who disagrees.

 

[Felipe]

Robert Niles has 2 great articles about this:

Perspective on RFID and why this matters:http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201301/3344/

How Iger isn't properly representing the Walt Disney Co.http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201301/3343/

Great stuff :thumbs: He also updated the second article after Disney reps sent him the full response, with the addendum.

 

[Disneyhead]

There's an old legal aphorism that goes, "If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. If you have the law on your side, pound the law. If you have neither on your side, pound the table."

Iger seems to be pounding the table.

And if anyone actually believes Iger wrote this, I think you're fooling yourself. This was written by Disney Legal and they intentionally chose the path of "Righteous Indignation" trying to get the Rep. to back down. I don't believe it will work.

 

[Mike]

I never for a second thought it was written by Bob Iger. It has attorney cadence all over it. And I do agree that the tone was intentionally measured for posturing, these people aren't idiots. What I guess I tried to say above is that Bob was willing to put his name to it rather than the General Counsel's name. He now owns what amounts to be a political response rather than one in the tradition of Disney PR and class.

 

[IzzyB]

What adds insult to injury is instead of growing capacity around the park to make it less of a blow that 1 out of 2 riders cannot ride a top attraction in their visit, they are simply throwing this mess on more attractions. So now rides like TLS or Haunted Mansion will make you stand in line longer than you ever needed to before, all because Disney can't give out too many Soarin' FP+s. Instead of creating attractions to fill the demands that Disney has artificially created, they are adding scavenger hunts and more exit passes to otherwise manageable queues.

I don't care one way or the other. I am not crying about it. I just think those who are concerned about it affecting them ahead of time, are reaching that concern through pretty solid assumptions.

I do think it will increase wait times for rides that currently do not have fast passes. I stated that in an earlier e-mail. I just don't think it will increase times in lines that currently have fast passes. No where have I seen where they are going to distribute more fast passes using this system. I think (not sure) they distributed more when they started enforcing the hour window, but from my experience that has not changed much. Other than for a week or two the fast pass line was longer because they weren't enforcing the hour rule yet.

But yes, haunted mansion line may be longer. It runs from no wait to up to 40 minutes. So now it may be 10 or 15 minutes to 50 to 60 minutes. I do think that will happen and I never said it would not.

The article was used I believe, because it had Tom Staggs WDP&R head, promoting the initative.

I am not saying that they couldn't state that article, I am saying that was their only source. Which was poor research on their part, because no company when advertising a product gives all the fine print in an article. They should have gone and read the fine print

 

[IzzyB]

Yep.

And while people keep saying we can opt out, we all know that while you CAN, your vacation experience at WDW will be terrible. So essentially, you are being forced to do it and be data mined. So, there are privacy issues everywhere regarding this program.

Isn't this just life? When I fill out a Tivo survey if I want to enter the contest I have to give them my private information, if I opt out, then I don't get entered into the contest. And I am still not sure what information you have to give them that you don't already have to give them when getting a pass or staying in their hotel room. The only people that don't give information out are the people that buy the pass at the front gate. And so far no one even knows how the program is going to work for them.

So overall, I don't see it as being forced, but having the option to plus your vacation. Which honestly is life. My father-in-law still writes checks out and spends extra time doing this instead of just setting up to pay his bills online. He is opting out of using his bank's features to save his time and make his bill paying process more pleasurable. He is "scared" to pay things online and so he loses out. His choice. It is the same thing here. You can still go to Disney, you can still ride rides, see shows, eat, etc. The basic functions of going to a theme park you will still have if you opt out.

 

[Mike]

I just don't think it will increase times in lines that currently have fast passes. No where have I seen where they are going to distribute more fast passes using this system.

I guess I rushed through when I said that it doesn't matter if Disney messes with the ratios. Let me flesh it out.

When you have a fixed supply (the 48/43.5% capacity) distribution ratios do not matter. I agree with you that at a high level, if Soarin' gives 5000 FPs out a day, and it will give 5000 FP+s out a day, standby waits should be stable.

What I haven't seen you address though is, 1) since the Soarin’ supply is fixed (48% capacity) Disney can't really distribute more FPs without increasing times in line. 2) Disney will be offering and encouraging FP+ without the need for someone to visit the park to have one issued to them. This will drive up demand on FP+, which will force people who do NOT plan in advance (locals, APs, etc) to either sit in a standby line or forgo the ride. This could increase the standby waits if folks have no other option. When only 1 out of 2 guests have the ability to ride even if the wait time is ZERO, the only thing that can break\give with less day-of FP+ available is an increase in standby waits. 3) Disney knows this, hence, the additional games in many queues. What would exacerbate the issue even more is when some guests get more FP+ than others. Especially with the rumored limit on AP FP+

I think you are looking at this through the lens of FP, where the allotment of FPs given resets each night and starts fresh the next day. FP+ really throws the standby dynamic for a loop, since if someone visits and really wants to ride Soarin', they very well could no longer have the choice between 60 min. standby or return 4 hrs. from now with FP. They will have to choose Standby. Multiply this by 1000x and you very well could see inflated standby waits since again, we are fixed at 48% even with zero minute standby waits.

 

[Disneyhead]

Heaven forbid anyone questioning the motivations and protocols of a major corporation for putting Electronic Location Monitoring Bracelets on children.

 

[Mike]

As you can see in my recent posts. That doesn't bother me nearly as much as the expansion of the FP program. I guess if you don't like it, don't go. I reached that decision roughly 6 years ago.

I agree with you that people should question Disney, and should call them out when they do such a bad job of introducing the concept. On the other hand, I do think Markey was taking advantage of an easy public opportunity and didn't approach Disney through the normal legislative/corporate relations process.

 

[Disneyhead]

As you can see in my recent posts. That doesn't bother me nearly as much as the expansion of the FP program. I guess if you don't like it, don't go. I reached that decision roughly 6 years ago.

I agree with you that people should question Disney, and should call them out when they do such a bad job of introducing the concept. On the other hand, I do think Markey was taking advantage of an easy public opportunity and didn't approach Disney through the normal legislative/corporate relations process.

I don't really know much about the normal legislative/corporate relations process. But seeing that Rep. Markey read about Disney's intentions in a very public and Disney approved article in The New York Times I don't see why he wouldn't address this publicly. As representative of the people of Mass., it is his job to protect his constituents and wouldn't you want your boss to know that you are doing your job?

 

[IzzyB]

What I haven't seen you address though is, 1) since the Soarin’ supply is fixed (48% capacity) Disney can't really distribute more FPs without increasing times in line. 2) Disney will be offering and encouraging FP+ without the need for someone to visit the park to have one issued to them. This will drive up demand on FP+, which will force people who do NOT plan in advance (locals, APs, etc) to either sit in a standby line or forgo the ride. This could increase the standby waits if folks have no other option. When only 1 out of 2 guests have the ability to ride even if the wait time is ZERO, the only thing that can break\give with less day-of FP+ available is an increase in standby waits. 3) Disney knows this, hence, the additional games in many queues. What would exacerbate the issue even more is when some guests get more FP+ than others. Especially with the rumored limit on AP FP+

First, as I said, nowhere has it been speculated they would increase Fast Pass distribution amounts. If they did when they enforced the hour policy it was because Fast passes were going unused. The interesting part about this system is they will be able to track usage better and get the fast pass distribution amount down pat better. So lets say they track Soarin' usage for a month. They will know on average they give out 100 fast passes for a given time period, but only 90 are actually used. They then know that they have a 10% loss of fast passes. This will allow them to either reduce the number of fast passes given if their loss is lower than expected or increase them if their loss is higher than expected. They can't be tracking this very well in the system today. So that will be a plus with this system and I think one of the main reason's they started to restrict people coming in after their hour is up. Where things get tricky is guest assistant cards. I am wondering if these will also be hooked to the bracelets, because then they can track this over time and see if they have too many and need to decrease fast passes given out. Of course what I think this will bring along is tighter restrictions on them being given out. Because today they are given out way too easily. They might even find a way to enforce that the handicapped person is actually riding the ride, because this is not always enforced either. I agree if they just increase fast passes without the proper studies, it will increase wait times. But as I stated, there is no evidence they plan on doing this.

Your second point is the one where I want to wait and see how the implement it. Because if they hold back some to be released on the day of for AP holders and people who buy tickets that day at the gate, then that problem would be solved. Now this already happens with Soarin', because unless you get them before noon they are sold out on busy days.

And I also agree that the limit on AP holders needs to be solved. But I am not sure how. Because they can't give unlimited, that would be unfair to non-AP holders. It would also cause some people to book in advance for days they "think" they will go and then never use them because there is no penalty. I think a good way to do this is limit this based on your average usage. So if you used your pass on average 10 times a quarter, then you would get 40 passes with a limit of only being able to use 4 a day (if others are limited to 4 a day). I doubt they will do this though as it is complex. Because each quarter your average usage would change.