Disney 'Magic Band' RFID bracelet revealed!!

[mom2rtk]

Those moments are great, but I personally have never had a moment as you described, of someone remembering me from years before. (In fact, I've more often experienced meeting a CM later in a trip and NOT being remembered.) Now, I've had some pretty great magical moments over the years, including Jasmine and Aladdin getting out of there M&G area to go get our daughter who was being shy, but I could easily see how these magical moments could happen more often with a bit of technological magic.

So, I'm gonna argue that it may mean nothing to YOU, but for a kid to have Cinderella or Aladdin call him/her by name can be a pretty amazing and memorable thing. And if it makes a magical memory for my child, I have a hard time saying that has zero meaning.

I read lots of stories (and have experienced) characters remembering someone from day to day. Like the time Ariel at Akershus asked us if we enjoyed our meal in the castle the day before. She said she was good friends with Cinderella. Even though I know how this works, it just far more awe-inspiring in my book than something being triggered by a microhip.

Sorry, but I'm just not excited about any of this.

 

[tjkraz]

I read lots of stories (and have experienced) characters remembering someone from day to day. Like the time Ariel at Akershus asked us if we enjoyed our meal in the castle the day before. She said she was good friends with Cinderella. Even though I know how this works, it just far more awe-inspiring in my book than something being triggered by a microhip.

Sorry, but I'm just not excited about any of this.

To each their own.

As skier_pete said, for every guest who was recognized by a character there are thousands...tens-of-thousands...perhaps hundreds-of-thousands more who are not remembered. It's not about removing the human element...it's about augmenting it. Technology has always had a strong role in creating "Disney magic."

Just because an adult recognizes how things work doesn't lessen the experience for others who remain blissfully ignorant.

 

[MurphyJoe]

They must have plans on using these for some type of profit generating just not sure how at this time.

What comes to my mind is making purchasing easier by a layer of abstraction from the method of payment. Most people in this day-and-age associate swiping a card with spending money and thus the average tourist's fiscal discipline remains high when charging with a KTTW card. Disney swaps out the cards for a band, and suddenly spending money doesn't seem like spending money anymore. Casinos use the same trick with having customers wager with chips instead of paper money.

 

[kmarie99]

I LOVE this idea!!!!!
I understand that people are not happy about this because they don't want to wear a wristband during their trip. Nowhere does it say that you will be required to wear it at all times. I am sure you can put it in your bag or in a purse. What I am really hoping for is that they will put names on them. I am tired of getting stuck behind a family who waits until they get in line to hand out the tickets for each member of their family and then they don't give them the right ones so it does not match their finger print. It would be great that they can read the names and hand them to the correct people.

I understand that it will not be as easy for fast passes if one person runs for the whole family, but you could clip them all together on a carabineer and keep them together.

I think what the real issue here is that people don't like change. Change can be scary at first but can turn out to be great!

 

[wfjny]

I think what the real issue here is that people don't like change. Change can be scary at first but can turn out to be great!

Actually, I think the real issue here is that we simply do not know.

Well, we are in the "Rumor" section, but there are many unanswered questions.

Will the bracelet be mandatory? Will it be free?

Some people have compared the bracelet to Great Wolf Lodge, but GWL is a different type of vacation. You may be there for a day or two (or three). People could be in Orlando for a couple of weeks, and Disney may not be the only stop on their trip (I have heard rumors that there are other attractions in the area).

If the bracelets were “mandatory”, I could see some people having a variety of issues with them, including:
Children who have a problem with wearing a bracelet
Adults who I would put in the tin-hat club
Adults that are in Orlando for a convention, but have family with them going to Disney. Yes, I have a Disney Visa, but I do use my AMEX when out on business. I probably do not want to show up at a business meeting with a big purple bracelet with Mickey on it.

Then there are the families that are perhaps bookending their vacation with a Disney visit.

Until we know more…

 

[JeanfromBNA]

Why would you have to wear it? Couldn't you slip it on a lanyard or carry it in your pocket as you do the KTTW now? Pull it out to pay or get a FP, the same way.

OTOH, being made in China is not desirable, nor is adding exponentially to the battery/electronic waste problem.

 

[JeanfromBNA]

If the bracelets were “mandatory”, I could see some people having a variety of issues with them, including:
Adults who I would put in the tin-hat club
Adults that are in Orlando for a convention, but have family with them going to Disney. Yes, I have a Disney Visa, but I do use my AMEX when out on business. I probably do not want to show up at a business meeting with a big purple bracelet with Mickey on it.

Until we know more…

I wore my ears to our convention without my tinfoil hat!

Own your Disneyness!

 

[Disneymooner07]

I am starting to understand what the RFID technology will enable us to do, but can someone explain what NextGen is all about - is RFID just part of the overall NextGen initiative or does NextGen encompass a different set of technologies (eg. iPhone/iPad use in the parks)? Is the recent installation of WiFi in all the parks for purposes of NextGen only or is that somehow related to what we'll be able to do with RFID also?

I'm kind of confused about how RFID and NextGen stuff fits together, particularly as it pertains to Fastpasses...

 

[tjkraz]

I am starting to understand what the RFID technology will enable us to do, but can someone explain what NextGen is all about - is RFID just part of the overall NextGen initiative or does NextGen encompass a different set of technologies (eg. iPhone/iPad use in the parks)? Is the recent installation of WiFi in all the parks for purposes of NextGen only or is that somehow related to what we'll be able to do with RFID also?

I'm kind of confused about how RFID and NextGen stuff fits together, particularly as it pertains to Fastpasses...

To the best of my knowledge, "NextGen" is the blanket name for all of these different technology enhancements. Terms keep changing and many of the projects overlap. But among the components are:

- RFID (including room locks, charging, park admission and other features)
- Resort and theme park wifi
- FASTPASS+
- Interactive attraction queues
- Disney parks mobile app(s)

All of that (and more) is part of the NextGen technology initiative.

 

[Mom2six]

Choking hazard for younger kids...

Luckily, under 3 doesn't need a ticket! So, I would guess they wouldn't have to have a bracelet.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

The look of the armband is not what concerns me.

1) Yep.
2) The main purpose, as we are told, is marketing.
3) WDW can now track you
. . . at every ride
. . . at every eatery
. . . at every place they want to
4) Yes, they can "tailor" your experience.
5) But, it is for their own profitability.
6) BIG BROTHER.

 

[Disneymooner07]

To the best of my knowledge, "NextGen" is the blanket name for all of these different technology enhancements. Terms keep changing and many of the projects overlap. But among the components are:

- RFID (including room locks, charging, park admission and other features)
- Resort and theme park wifi
- FASTPASS+
- Interactive attraction queues
- Disney parks mobile app(s)

All of that (and more) is part of the NextGen technology initiative.

Thanks, Tim! That helps a lot!

One more question: What is Fastpass+ exactly then? Is it just being able to book your Fastpasses online ahead of time and then have the Fastpass information accessible through the RFID wristband? Or am I missing something with Fastpass+?

 

[tjkraz]

2) The main purpose, as we are told, is marketing.

Who told you that?

5) But, it is for their own profitability.
6) BIG BROTHER.

Sounds salacious but where exactly is the harm?

Disney can already gather a tremendous amount of information regarding its guests. Between KTTW cards, ADRs, park tickets (particularly APs) and credit cards they can track your vacation history, comings and goings at the resort (KTTW), park entry dates and times, where you shop, where you dine, when you get Fastpasses and much more.

They can use in-park cameras to monitor crowd sizes and movements in every corner of the parks.

Personally I doubt that they will be installing the sensors necessary to read tens-of-thousands of RFID chip movements throughout the parks. But even if they did, how are guests harmed by that? How would data on my exact touring patterns allow them to extort more money from me???

 

[tjkraz]

One more question: What is Fastpass+ exactly then? Is it just being able to book your Fastpasses online ahead of time and then have the Fastpass information accessible through the RFID wristband? Or am I missing something with Fastpass+?

Nobody knows for sure at this point. The things that you mention--pre-booking FASTPASS returns and storing them electronically via RFID--have already been demoed at the parks. But beyond that, specifics are unknown.

Don't know how many FPs guests will be able to pre-book.
Don't know how far out they'll be able to / required to do it.
Don't know if it will be a replacement for, or work in conjunction with the current FP paper ticket system.
Don't know if there will be an extra charge.
Don't know if FP+ benefits will vary based upon hotel cost (Deluxe / Mod / Value) or onsite / offsite status.

I'm guessing we are still 6 months away from any full-blown FP+ rollout. They've demoed it at Magic Kingdom but not any of the other parks. Some websites follow Disney's construction permits and there has been a parade of filings (seemingly) to add RFID tech to the FP return queues. Other installs are occurring at resorts (all guest room doors), shops (RFID payment system) and eventually the theme park gates (RFID ticketing.)

I think the absolute earliest we will hear any firm details is the December 6 press event for Fantasyland and Test Track opening. Perhaps Disney will release some details to that audience. But Christmas and Easter would seem to be the wrong times to debut something on this scale. Maybe late-Jan / Feb. Maybe late-April / May.

 

[chartle]

Personally I doubt that they will be installing the sensors necessary to read tens-of-thousands of RFID chip movements throughout the parks. But even if they did, how are guests harmed by that? How would data on my exact touring patterns allow them to extort more money from me???

Put on your tinfoil hat and try to keep up.

• I heard they will have microphones in them and if your kid screams "I want a balloon" (where normally you tell the kid "We'll get one later" yea right) a balloon seller will pop out of a secret door and you will have no choice. They will also have your kids favorite color (you entered it when you filled out your park touring profile).
  
• They will have scent generators (just like Soaring) and hunger sensors that will generate the scent of whatever your body wants (reads brain waves too). Some one then says "I Smell Cinnamon Rolls" and you say "I do too, lets buy some" of course since they are tracking your every movement this will happen within sight of the Main Street Bakery.
  
• Rides can be customized for the exact thrill you want. Sensors read your cortisol (stress hormone) and adrenaline levels and it amps up the ride if they are not high enough. Check your cholesterol levels too (part of the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act).

I could go on and on.

 

[granmanh603]

Just for a little side information....I am at BWV now and am having a terrible time connecting to the Disney wifi on computer(laptop) took 30 min to the ipad never got on and another tablet... Oh and I do not own a smart phone and do not want one and do not take phone to park...do not want anyone finding me... and definately do not want Disney knowing where I am either, Oh and had a FP this am for SM for 10:30 and never used it...went on ride when got to MK and went over to TM and never went back to the other side to use it... got there at 9 AM rode SM 2X Buzz 1 walked over to TM side and never went back... do not see the good in this new wristband thing...

 

[lylone]

The only sure fire way that they can track a bracelet on a person would be to have a huge reliable wifi or cell signal. The wifi in the resorts is proving to be unreliable... do you think in the parks will be more reliable?
If you have a smartphone it has GPS and the cell companies can track you, but do they use it to market new goods and services?
Does everyone know how to turn off the GPS on their cell phones?

You can already be tracked...do you think someone actually pays to see where you are?

 

[chartle]

The only sure fire way that they can track a bracelet on a person would be to have a huge reliable wifi or cell signal. The wifi in the resorts is proving to be unreliable... do you think in the parks will be more reliable?

Anything that would track a bracelet wouldn't use the same guest wi fi that Disney provides for free. In fact its probably not "wi fi" ie 802.11 a/b/g/n but some other wireless signal.

These bracelets would only have to transmit a serial number not try to down load a web page.

 

[Ryandb2]

Since it is based on RFID they don't need to track the bracelets by transmitting anything as complex as wi-fi, they just need short range scanners at various points of entry (rides, shops, easily hidden). I'm guess they are using an em based RFID that is powered by the short range scanners that read them, but I haven't had a bracelet to play around with yet. That would be the cheapest, easiest implementation.

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I heard that they are going to hav little hole in them so hen you take them off at teh end of your vaccation, there is going to be A walt disney logo tan line image.