MyMagic+

[Wizzard419]

Really? Did they not do the wristbands? That seems like overkill, plus easy to bypass since they probably weren't doing a very careful inspection of the info on the cards.

[Amy]

Really? Did they not do the wristbands? That seems like overkill, plus easy to bypass since they probably weren't doing a very careful inspection of the info on the cards.

No wristbands either of the last two years we went. Some of the CMs were very careful to make sure the dates were valid on the hotel key card, some only glanced to make sure you were an on-property guest, other CMs didn't even really look at all. Some sort of a wristband would have made more sense.

[Wizzard419]

Now that is surprising, esp considering Disneyland has paper wristbands for the special events and is vigilant about it. They literally set up 5 checkpoints in the park to make sure no one was just staying too late, trying to blend in with the crowd.

[boilerbabe]

We experienced the same thing as Amy, the only time we had wristbands was when we attended MVMCP, they did hand out wristbands to make sure you had paid for the party.

[boilerbabe]

We experienced the same thing as Amy, the only time we had wristbands was when we attended MVMCP, they did hand out wristbands to make sure you had paid for the party.

[BenB]

No wristbands during EMH when I've been there in the last few years. There was nothing to keep people from staying late - except that they wouldn't be able to ride anything due to the cast members checking passes at the entrances. As others have said, some cast members were thorough, some weren't.

[Amy]

Now that is surprising, esp considering Disneyland has paper wristbands for the special events and is vigilant about it. They literally set up 5 checkpoints in the park to make sure no one was just staying too late, trying to blend in with the crowd.

We experienced the same thing as Amy, the only time we had wristbands was when we attended MVMCP, they did hand out wristbands to make sure you had paid for the party.

No wristbands during EMH when I've been there in the last few years. There was nothing to keep people from staying late - except that they wouldn't be able to ride anything due to the cast members checking passes at the entrances. As others have said, some cast members were thorough, some weren't.

Maybe the sheer number of wristbands that would be required each night is just too high? There are a lot more rooms on WDW property than there are on DL property. With the special events, Halloween and Christmas parties, that makes sense to hand out wristbands as that isn't tied to staying on property, just that you have paid for the party!
I would guess people could always sort of hang out in the parks and watch at attraction entrances to which ones were lax on checking hotel key cards. I don't think most people would bother for an extra hour or two of maybe being able to get on the attractions that are still open during EMH though.

[Wizzard419]

It probably was a lot, but at the same time there is no real monetary harm that comes to the company if someone sneaks into an EMH since the operational cost is sunk.

[Soarin08]

Really? Did they not do the wristbands? That seems like overkill, plus easy to bypass since they probably weren't doing a very careful inspection of the info on the cards.

No wristbands either of the last two years we went. Some of the CMs were very careful to make sure the dates were valid on the hotel key card, some only glanced to make sure you were an on-property guest, other CMs didn't even really look at all. Some sort of a wristband would have made more sense.

They haven't done wristbands for EMH since at least 2009. The last time I recall doing it was in 2008 on our summer trip.

[Cardinals314]

Well it seems like the entire Next Gen Experience has gone completely over the initial predicted amount to implement. The planned amount was $1.1 billion. There are inside reports that that figure is currently around $2.5 billion and could possibly go near $3.0 billion. Is this entire Next Gen Experience worth that much to guests? It probably is for Disney

[Polynesian Princess]

Maybe the sheer number of wristbands that would be required each night is just too high? There are a lot more rooms on WDW property than there are on DL property. With the special events, Halloween and Christmas parties, that makes sense to hand out wristbands as that isn't tied to staying on property, just that you have paid for the party!
I would guess people could always sort of hang out in the parks and watch at attraction entrances to which ones were lax on checking hotel key cards. I don't think most people would bother for an extra hour or two of maybe being able to get on the attractions that are still open during EMH though.

We always thought it would be possible to bring back old KttW cards. Most CMs just looked to see that you had enough cards for your party, very few bothered to look closely at the date. If caught, the guest would just have to act surprised and be ready to sell a good story - just got there, old cards in wallet, must have forgotten new cards in rooms, etc. We never noticed anyone doing this though.

Disney actually made more money off of us though once they stopped the wrist bands. We usually kept our KttW in my husband's wallet, but it was a hassle dragging it out at every attraction, so we bought a lanyard for quick flashing. I turned our cards facing opposite directions so we only needed one. I'm excited about the new bands, but I think I'll miss my lanyard.

[Wizzard419]

Well it seems like the entire Next Gen Experience has gone completely over the initial predicted amount to implement. The planned amount was $1.1 billion. There are inside reports that that figure is currently around $2.5 billion and could possibly go near $3.0 billion. Is this entire Next Gen Experience worth that much to guests? It probably is for Disney

Unless there are hard figures for that, I am going to have to cast doubt on the development costs since that cost is multiple times the cost of building a theme park.

[theBIGyowski]

Well it seems like the entire Next Gen Experience has gone completely over the initial predicted amount to implement. The planned amount was $1.1 billion. There are inside reports that that figure is currently around $2.5 billion and could possibly go near $3.0 billion. Is this entire Next Gen Experience worth that much to guests? It probably is for Disney

Unless there are hard figures for that, I am going to have to cast doubt on the development costs since that cost is multiple times the cost of building a theme park.

[Cardinals314]

Unless there are hard figures for that, I am going to have to cast doubt on the development costs since that cost is multiple times the cost of building a theme park.

Disneyland Paris was made for 4 Billion in 1992, with inflation involved it would be more today.









**********WARINING MY RANT OF MYMAGIC+ FOUND BELOW. PLEASE SKIP IF DESIRED*********










You have been warned.
I'm not expecting anyone that reads this will believe in the details given. I'm not trying to persuade anyone about NGE. These are my opinions of NGE based on my known information.



Let's say that Next Gen Experience (NGE) is still on budget at 1.1 billion, does Disney really see this new experience as the golden bullet that will make an impact on Universal?

I would say no. So why would Disney spend so much money on this development? I first thought that it would be easier for people to make purchases at shops and to pay at restaurants easier. Well, people who have been testing the system have said that the difference in time between the band and a credit card is extremely little to nothing.

Then I thought that the bands would entice guests to buy more merchandise and other items at the parks. Heck Disney has said that there was an increase in spending with the bands. What Disney didn't really tell many people is that Disney is encouraging testers to buy merchandise with the bands. Even some CMs who were testing the bands were given a small stipend to spend in the parks and to charge it on the band.

So I go back to the original question: Why has Disney decided to spend so much money on NGE even when I am assuming that it is still within the original budget?

People who have read internal documents about NGE have stated that terminology within the documents consists of data mining, machine learning, and advanced applications for embedded systems. They have also said that there are specific references of the need to "overcome" line of sight deficiencies and the challenges of geolocation capture within large structures. They have stated that there are entire coding 'departments' that appear to be focused on pulling stunningly specific data points from individuals. This can tell Disney how long an individual person has been in an attraction, shop, restaurant, etc.

Understand, there is no knowing exactly what TWDC will be able to deliver. Was this the whole premise of NGE? For a for-profit company this seems out of place. The only option I see from this is the selling of information.

I'm not expecting anyone that reads this will believe in the details given. I'm not trying to persuade anyone about NGE. From the information I know, these are the major concerns I personally have. Will I still go to Disney, yes. his doesn't detract me from going to Disney, but it will give me new thoughts while staying at Disney. I really just needed to get that off of my chest.










********YOU ARE NOW CLEAR FROM RANT*********

[Wizzard419]

And DCA cost a little over a billion, so yeah...

So I am guessing you are saying you don't have anything to support those figures that improved room key, POS, and UX stuff cost anywhere near a billion? I am doubting for the simple reason that if you even tried to go to an investor and say "I want to improve the room keys, give me a billion" they would probably throw the leadership off the board.