No more room keys or park tickets to keep up with - enter Magicband

[TDC Nala]

Now they will not only know what park you're in but everywhere you visit and for how long. It seems to take very little incentive from companies to get us to give up our privacy! A rewards card, a convenient wrist band, etc

they already know this, especially if you have been using your KTTW card to pay for everything.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

they already know this, especially if you have been using your KTTW card to pay for everything.

I dont use KTTW to pay and even if you do they can't track you to the level that they can with RFID

 

[dawnhaze]

I dont use KTTW to pay and even if you do they can't track you to the level that they can with RFID

The current KTTW cards have RFID in them though...

 

[4disneygenerations]

Okay, I have just started reading up on this new systerm I am not tech savvy, and it does sound complicated. What I am trying to figure out and I am sorry if this has been addressed somewhere, 1)Do you have to plan all your activities for each day before you arrive? 2)Do you need to have a computer or smart phone on vacation if you want to make changes? What about the Water Parks? I know there isn't enough info out yet for me to not feel insecure of this, but I am traveling in August with 6 others, 4 of which are children, 3 of whom have never been to WDW. I am nervous to say the least Also I don't have a smart phone, nor does my daughter......

 

[lstylr]

Okay, I have just started reading up on this new systerm I am not tech savvy, and it does sound complicated. What I am trying to figure out and I am sorry if this has been addressed somewhere, 1)Do you have to plan all your activities for each day before you arrive? 2)Do you need to have a computer or smart phone on vacation if you want to make changes? What about the Water Parks? I know there isn't enough info out yet for me to not feel insecure of this, but I am traveling in August with 6 others, 4 of which are children, 3 of whom have never been to WDW. I am nervous to say the least Also I don't have a smart phone, nor does my daughter......

I wouldn't even worry about it if you don't want to use it. From an article in a Tampa newspaper:

"Guests will not be forced to use the MagicBand system, and people who try it will decide how much information to share."

ETA: I would post the link but I don't have 10 posts on this forum yet

 

[dis-happy]

Now they will not only know what park you're in but everywhere you visit and for how long. It seems to take very little incentive from companies to get us to give up our privacy! A rewards card, a convenient wrist band, etc

A voice of reason. The lack of privacy bothers me too.

Also, if they hand over your AP wristband when you purchase it, how will you know the CM made a mistake in your expiration date? Has happened to me a couple of times.

I think it will soon get to the point that Disney will have the name and address of every guest in the park. Even now if you buy a ticket at the main gate you don't get to just hand over cash and get a ticket...they ask your name, etc. I bet those with other outside media (like an UT ticket) will have to trade it in for the wristband, giving up your name etc to the data bank. Who wants to bet they are cross referencing with the homeland databases for unobtrusive security?

 

[mom2rtk]

I think it will soon get to the point that Disney will have the name and address of every guest in the park. Even now if you buy a ticket at the main gate you don't get to just hand over cash and get a ticket...they ask your name, etc. I bet those with other outside media (like an UT ticket) will have to trade it in for the wristband, giving up your name etc to the data bank. Who wants to bet they are cross referencing with the homeland databases for unobtrusive security?

Over on the DL forum, they are reporting this week that there are huge lines backed up getting into the parks....... as they stop and photograph every guest entering the park today. Guests reported using their entire Magic Morning benefit....... standing in line.

 

[tecdavidt]

After what we experienced from 12/28 - 1/5 Disney has a lot of kinks in the system to work on. Our room key was the new RFID key with charging being a touch to the new readers. The key worked getting into our room but charging, forget it. It worked once for me and once for my husband the entire trip. A cast member finally said to me, it is not your card but the readers, they just don't work well. Typical Disney, grand ideas but the system has problems.

Now they are adding the wristbands, which I will not wear but will have tucked away just as I do my room key which is easier to tuck away, and I have no doubt the readers will have also have problems reading the bands. I watched people enter at EPCOT using the touch readers and the cast members kept touching the cards because they were having problems with the readers not reading the room keys. If it is a flat plastic room card or a thick wrist band, the chip is the same and if the readers are having problems reading the chip it just doesn't matter what the guest uses, card or wristband.

My opinion on this subject: Disney tells us they are doing this to improve the guest experience: I don't buy it. It is a way Disney can gather information so they can learn how to market better to the guest or simple put how to improve sales. If they gather info in this manner they no longer will do the post stay surveys which means they can drop all of the people who work for Disney doing the surveys which saves Disney money. For business purposes, it makes sense.

This project is expensive, I watched the video posted in the thread. I still remember the wonderful new Stitch stage added to Tommorland. It was open what, 6 weeks or so and soon the stage show stopped. Who wants to stand in the blazing hot Florida sun and from what I read here on the DIS, the show was not that great. The only time I know the stage is used is for the extra night parties. That was a project that didn't work out.

Time will tell how all of this will play out. Maybe I will end up getting the RFID containers that block readers that travel companies sell so your RFID items are protected, not really but it is a thought. Kathy

 

[Missyrose]

Maybe I will end up getting the RFID containers that block readers that travel companies sell so your RFID items are protected, not really but it is a thought. Kathy

Save your money, those "RFID protection" containers have proven to be completely ineffective.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

The current KTTW cards have RFID in them though...

I get my tickets from UCT, but I suppose they could track me by my room key as I walk through the park but they wouldn't be able to track other things I do (purchases, dining, FP, etc) quite as easily.

I'm sure in addition to enhancing the guest's experience Disney will mine the data that they collect to better understand purchasing habits and then use text or email prompts to get you to either buy something while you are on site or order something after you are back home or perhaps they will structure special offers specific to your buying/eating/resort habits. Maybe, "if you go back to MouseGear in the next 20 minutes you can buy that Mickey shirt you picked up and didin't buy for 10% off" or " The line at Casey's is shorter now, you can go back and order something since you left without making a purchase". Smart business, but it makes me feel like I have an unwated shadow following me around.

 

[mousermerf]

You have to opt into emails or texts or any sort of contact from Disney.

And if you don't link your UCT tickets to your room key, your room key wont work for admission and you don't get FP+.

 

[WLSILVERCREEKSPRINGS]

You have to opt into emails or texts or any sort of contact from Disney.

And if you don't link your UCT tickets to your room key, your room key wont work for admission and you don't get FP+.

Okay, I'm not there today so I was speaking about previous trips, that they couldn't track me with UCT tickets versus having the tickets on the KTTW.

Perhaps you have to opt in today; but I'm not so naive to think that Disney is not going to utilize all of the information that they collect with this system and the best way to do that is with prompts while your in the park and if they do in a way that makes you feel like you're getting better service (restaraunt lines info) or a discount people will be accepting of being electronically followed. As a shareholder I applaud the idea. But as a guest I don't like it, yes I'm a hypocrite! All of these type of things are dual purpose, enhance the buying experience and gather data to increase sales.

 

[js]

I can't remember which one it was either. But I remember reading that. I think they said that option is gone on the WDW website.

I think if that's what I wanted, I'd be calling UT to see if they have any left. Because pretty soon it looks like they won't.

OMG, I L O V E my 10 day non expiring.

Is there any guess on how Disney will honor these. I have 10 day that I am using in March and again in August. Also I have plusses on an old ticket.

I think I better stock up OMG, really, REALLY wish I had the extra cash. Hoping to get 1 or 2 tickets for my family of 4.

 

[ilovecoasters]

I live locally and love the fact that my pass is always in my wallet and I can visit the parks whenever I want without much of a second thought. I'm cringing at the thought of having to keep track of my family's bracelets. I wonder when passholders will hear more?

 

[NYDisneyKid]

Will it be tied to your finger print? so let see,,,,gotta scan (as in the photo) then again gotta put your finger on the scanner,,,hmmmm equals more time

 

[fla4fun]

Over on the DL forum, they are reporting this week that there are huge lines backed up getting into the parks....... as they stop and photograph every guest entering the park today. Guests reported using their entire Magic Morning benefit....... standing in line.

That's a totally different issue though - they are taking photos to help reduce the resale of tickets, since it's not against the law in California like it is in Florida. From what I understand, there are companies out there who buy the large multi day tickets and then rent them to people to use for a day or two. I remember back when they used to put guest photos on all the admission media here at WDW as well, and it wasn't a big deal. However, they weren't trying to play catch up like they are at DL.

The jury is still out as far as I am concerned with the new FP+. I like the idea of the AP being held in the cloud, so to speak, and the wristband just reading the cloud. The only issue I have is allergies and my wrists swelling in hot weather. So long as the band was expandable or removable, and didn't make my arm break out, I would wear it. But I'm allergic to so many thngs like that so I just have to wait and see.

I am here now, and I've seen a lot of confused and frustrated guests with the tap to purchase system. The CM's seem to be very relieved when I'm paying cash!

 

[rcraw45425]

After what we experienced from 12/28 - 1/5 Disney has a lot of kinks in the system to work on. Our room key was the new RFID key with charging being a touch to the new readers. The key worked getting into our room but charging, forget it. It worked once for me and once for my husband the entire trip. A cast member finally said to me, it is not your card but the readers, they just don't work well. Typical Disney, grand ideas but the system has problems.

Now they are adding the wristbands, which I will not wear but will have tucked away just as I do my room key which is easier to tuck away, and I have no doubt the readers will have also have problems reading the bands. I watched people enter at EPCOT using the touch readers and the cast members kept touching the cards because they were having problems with the readers not reading the room keys. If it is a flat plastic room card or a thick wrist band, the chip is the same and if the readers are having problems reading the chip it just doesn't matter what the guest uses, card or wristband.

My opinion on this subject: Disney tells us they are doing this to improve the guest experience: I don't buy it. It is a way Disney can gather information so they can learn how to market better to the guest or simple put how to improve sales. If they gather info in this manner they no longer will do the post stay surveys which means they can drop all of the people who work for Disney doing the surveys which saves Disney money. For business purposes, it makes sense.

This project is expensive, I watched the video posted in the thread. I still remember the wonderful new Stitch stage added to Tommorland. It was open what, 6 weeks or so and soon the stage show stopped. Who wants to stand in the blazing hot Florida sun and from what I read here on the DIS, the show was not that great. The only time I know the stage is used is for the extra night parties. That was a project that didn't work out.

Time will tell how all of this will play out. Maybe I will end up getting the RFID containers that block readers that travel companies sell so your RFID items are protected, not really but it is a thought. Kathy

Kathy, were you at AKL by any chance? We arrived onsite 1/1 and stayed at the Dolphin since I was booking two rooms and the WDW rates were ridiculous. I purchased our tickets at the IG (back entrance to EPCOT) that night so our girls could go straight to a park the next morning while hubby and I checked in at AKL. I had read about people having trouble having their tickets pulled off of their package so I was glad I didn't try. I had done online check and attached a CC. We were given our room keys and told the rooms were connecting and ready now. Off we went only to discover they each connected to the room on the other side. I called down and the room assigner sent us to two others that were also ready. She then switched our keys over before we could get our luggage out but the maid let us get it luckliy. Dragged everything to the other side of the hotel to discover that (1) the keys did not work for those rooms either and (2) one room has bunk beds and is not clean (hubby saw in when the maid went in). Down I go to have the keys fixed. Armed with new keys that opened the doors for two hours then stopped. New keys again, off to Mara. Oops, these say that we can't charge. New keys again. ARGH! Have never in all our stays had that many problems. Made me decide to not try to have the tickets attached to the cards.

 

[linzbear]

So, I was a little bored, and I'm a geek, so I went ahead and figured out exactly how the Magic Bands work, and what information Disney can actually get from them.

The bands have 3 RFID chips. 2 of them are passive (this means that they are powered by surrounding radio bands, and one is active (uses the battery to power a transmitter).

Chip A - HF band, passive. This is the standard touch-to-pay RFID chip found in credit cards and the like. In practice you must be touching the transmitter for this RFID chip to charge and disperse the information. Information on this chip is an ID code. This Chip is the same as the magnetic strip on the back of your KTTW card, just newer technology. If someone wanted to buy a reader for this, they would have to touch it to your bracelet and hold it there while the chip charged up and gave up the data. At this point the best the thief could do is to print out a new chip, embed it in a similar looking card, and spend up to $50.

Chip B - UHF band, passive. This is the creepy tracking RFID chip. The max range on this is 15ft, and the benefits for this particular chip is that you can read a large number of them at the same time, they are generally used for asset tags. This is to replace turnstile counting and otherwise measures the flow of people in the park (Unfortunately I have no idea if the cards will have this too, so in the future you may not be able to opt out of being counted as an 'asset'.). Because the read distance is so great, it is highly unlikely that this has any personally identifying information on it due to the fact that any shmoe can go onto ebay and buy a reader for it.

The other thing this chip could do is like Pal Mickey used to, trigger offers in your 'My Disney Experience.' "Hey, it looks like you're wandering around Fantasyland, why not check out Mickey's Philharmagic? Here's a free Fast Pass+ so you can get in on the next show!"

Chip C - WiFi band, active. This is the little transmitter. It transmits up to 6ft, and likely provides opt-in personalized experiences (Cinderella says, "Hi Victoria, Happy Birthday!" for example). This particular chip is almost identical to the toll transponders you put in your car. Extremely likely that this is all encrypted data because it is personally identifiable (but in general, useless to a thief).


Thievery: Unlikely. It is far easier, cheaper, and more lucrative to install Credit Card skimmers. Thieves are not likely to zap your RFID chips and reprint them for use when they can instead take a Credit Card number and order a $2000 computer online without blinking.

Big Brother: Feels a little creepy. Well, what does Disney already have on me? My KTTW has park access, a number for biometrics, FP use, purchases, along with names, ages, address of my party. With the Magic Band they can also store the RFID check in points as I walk through the park, creepy, but what can they do with this information? Well, first of all, if I'm walking into a CS restaurant, I'm probably buying lunch and that will show up on my KTTW card, so that's not new information. What is new information is walking into a gift shop and not buying anything. So maybe they give you an incentive to buy something? A 10% discount if you go back today. It's 2pm and you haven't eaten lunch but are still in the park? Order now and your food will be ready for you at Pecos Bill.


Conclusions:
Really creepy to be an asset, realistically they already do track us, this gives them more accurate data. Offers and Personalized experiences are likely opt-in. I really hope Disney has a way to opt out of personalized tracking. And I better get a piece of paper at check-in that explains what they're using my information for!

 

[mom2rtk]

Conclusions:
Really creepy to be an asset, realistically they already do track us, this gives them more accurate data. Offers and Personalized experiences are likely opt-in. I really hope Disney has a way to opt out of personalized tracking. And I better get a piece of paper at check-in that explains what they're using my information for!

NOTE TO SELF: Book an extra ticket for my attorney so they can review all paperwork at check-in.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Love this idea. So much easier wearing a band then carrying a card and more cards. My only question is what happens if it gets lost? Right now you can take a pic of your KTTW but can you do that with a band. I think it's great for kids to who want to carry their own cards. Parents won't have to worry about it getting lost as easily.