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

[ses1230]

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.

Nice, thanks for the info!

 

[Cinderumbrella]

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!

Great post!!!!

ETA: The Wi-Fi transmitter.... is it sending a signal to my smart phone so I can actually use it (only for My Disney Experience of course) rather than constantly getting "poor" signal strength?

 

[linzbear]

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

Well, hopefully when this starts someone will post the text online for us to read first.

 

[SaraJayne]

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!

Thanks for all that info.

 

[linzbear]

Great post!!!!

ETA: The Wi-Fi transmitter.... is it sending a signal to my smart phone so I can actually use it (only for My Disney Experience of course) rather than constantly getting "poor" signal strength?

No, it's not an access point. It stands alone and broadcasts unchanging information to someone with a receiver (likely a CM with a tablet)

 

[Cinderumbrella]

No, it's not an access point. It stands alone and broadcasts unchanging information to someone with a receiver (likely a CM with a tablet)

Thanks! I kind of thought my thinking was WAY too good to be true!

 

[dadddio]

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?

Given that same dayers will have access to FP+, it appears that your planning needs only to change if you want it to.

2)Do you need to have a computer or smart phone on vacation if you want to make changes?

No. They'll be kiosks available.

What about the Water Parks?

The magic bands are waterproof.

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 get too stressed. Also, does anyone have an ipod touch? You can use that, or a kiosk.

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.

It's tied to your profile that you can access online or via your phone. They likely will also be able to print it out for you.

Who wants to bet they are cross referencing with the homeland databases for unobtrusive security?

I bet they aren't, but I kind of wish they would (could?).

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.

Can't both be true? If they market better to me, doesn't it improve my experience?

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

Why would it be tied to your fingerprint?

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.

Since the bracelet only contains a number that is tied to your guest profile, replacement of lost ones becomes super easy. They would pull up your profile and delete the old bracelet's number (or otherwise decouple it from your profile). Then they would merely enter the number of the replacement bracelet into your profile. It would be as simple as replacing a lost swipe key at a hotel.

You would not need a picture of it or otherwise need any ticket/reservation number because all of that data exists in your profile.

 

[TDC Nala]

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.

Sounds as though this will work the way the Disney cruise ships do...when you scan your card/bracelet at the gate, the CM will see your photo on a screen and know you are the person to whom that account is assigned. The cruise line doesn't use the fingerprint scanners.

 

[stindall]

I haven't read through this entire thread but I'm assuming having a bracelet doesn't necessarily mean you have to use FP+? I'd really hope so because I have no intention of using it. ever. I am annoyed at the bracelet idea in general. I don't wear a watch because I can't stand the feeling, I don't wear bangles or bracelets for the same reason.

 

[Jennasis]

Don't forget these!

I suggest hanging your Magic band from your lanyard, beltloop etc.

 

[Stitch1231]

More Disney merchandise for people to buy like designer wristbands, character wristbands etc.

Still, it's a great idea not to have to carry a wallet on park LOL

 

[rcraw45425]

More Disney merchandise for people to buy like designer wristbands, character wristbands etc.

Still, it's a great idea not to have to carry a wallet on park LOL

Hubby has large wrists and hands, it's difficult for him to find a usable watchband. He's not going to wear a rubber band on his arm, I can tell you that!

 

[mom2rtk]

Don't forget these!

I suggest hanging your Magic band from your lanyard, beltloop etc.

LOL, where do you come up with stuff like this? (Also loved the cat earlier).

Do you just google "tan line" or something?

 

[linzbear]

More Disney merchandise for people to buy like designer wristbands, character wristbands etc.

Still, it's a great idea not to have to carry a wallet on park LOL

Oh, you reminded me of one point I forgot. How disposable are the bands. Because the band has an inaccessable battery, people are assuming these are use once then trash bands. The thing is, it is a lot like the toll transponders in the cars. Now I've had those for a long time, since they came out in MA in around 2000. I've had to replace it only twice (and the last time I replaced it was probably 8 years ago)! So the designer bands should work for multiple trips, though it's impossible to know how long.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Oh, you reminded me of one point I forgot. How disposable are the bands. Because the band has an inaccessable battery, people are assuming these are use once then trash bands. The thing is, it is a lot like the toll transponders in the cars. Now I've had those for a long time, since they came out in MA in around 2000. I've had to replace it only twice (and the last time I replaced it was probably 8 years ago)! So the designer bands should work for multiple trips, though it's impossible to know how long.

Although I am sure they won't advertise that little gem too much since they will want people to buy new customized ones EVERY trip

 

[W.E.D.]

I'm very excited about this!!! Can't wait to hear more.

 

[tjlamphere]

We have a relative that is a CM, and they get us in the parks, as that is a perk of being a CM. How will this writsband thing affect that? Any CMs out there that can weigh in on how this will be a plus or minus for my family????

 

[Jennasis]

LOL, where do you come up with stuff like this? (Also loved the cat earlier).

Do you just google "tan line" or something?

My "Google-fu" is strong.

 

[mom2rtk]

My "Google-fu" is strong.

Why, yes it is!

 

[catherines_mama]

Now I have to worry about large tan lines on my wrist......TDBIASWS....

I am sure my pre-teen daughter will have the same thoughts if she has to wear one in August. LOL "but mom, tan lines" (insert eye-roll)

I like cards because I pass them out at the gate then collect them back as we go through. DH and I will run ahead for FPs so it's great to have them all together. Granted with FP+ we won't need to do this, we'll only need to go on the APP and make our plans and GO.

I always have to see something in real life to "get it". Hopefully optimistic.