Fangorn
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2016
...
The fact they are no longer offering them for free hopefully doesn't mean they are going to move away from them and push everything to smart phones. While we all pretty much have phones .. having an app open.
...
I cannot imagine any business case where Disney does away with Magic Bands for a very long time. Not only did they spend $2Billion on the underlying technologies and infrastructure that support the use of magic bands, but guests using magic bands is a money maker for them. It's so easy to purchase something by using your magic band and not even think about it - until you get the credit card bill.
Initially, the bands were given away to assure adoption of the system: mission accomplished! The fact that Disney is releasing multiple new MB designs every week, including tons of limited edition bands, tells me that Disney has figured out that they can make a lot of money on people collecting them. They've become another line of merch, just like pins, ears, and T-shirts. They're cheap to produce and sell well.
Disney no longer needs to give them away to assure adoption. The experiment last year with the "premium" bands that resort guests could get at a "reduced" rate instead of the basic colored ones, proved that beyond a doubt. The gobbling up of a limited supply of previously unwanted band styles at a "reduced" price was something of a feeding frenzy, and still is, btw. Change the price of the basic bands to $5 (cost to produce a band of any design is well under $1). Most folks will then opt for a $10-$15 "premium" band (hey, it's only another 5 bucks!). And a large percentage of people will just decide to purchase their favorite band from Shop Disney, and not be limited by just the options Disney chooses to give. Can you say "upcharge"? There's some serious cash to be made here.
Will they provide guests the option to use their phones? Sure. But as an additional option, not as a replacement for MB. And they'll figure a way to monetize it too.
Steve