MyMagic MagicBand testing currently underway at Disney's Animal Kingdom

Rumors Rocks

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 29, 2013
http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/mymag...g-begins-today-at-disney's-animal-kingdom.htm

photo_1_4_.JPG


MyMagic+ MagicBand testing is set to begin today at Disney's Animal Kingdom.
The two day test will use the full range of MyMagic+ services, including the MagicBands, FASTPASS+, Touch-to-Pay, and Touch-to-Enter. Pre-selected guests staying at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge will be taking part in the test.

Disney has not yet announced when MagicBands and FASTPASS+ will be introduced to all guests, but testing is ongoing with plans to introduce the full MyMagic+ service later this year.

Click link for more details.
 
I thought testing stopped indefinitely due to ongoing problems???:confused3

They just did testing at the boardwalk and they are switching pass holder tickets now in Epcot to RFID cards which act like magic band but are just cards like today's tickets.
 
I would love to hear from someone that did the testing. Let us know how it worked.
 


Basically with Fastpass+ you can pre-book your fastpass. Let's say you know you are going to Magic Kingdom on August 7th and a must do attraction for your family is Storytime with Belle. Now you can log on to the My Disney Experience website and basically search open times for that attraction and book your Fastpass. So now when you are there, your Fastpass will be connected to your MagicBand which is connected to your account on the My Disney Experience website. It's great for us Passholders who live locally and love Toy Story Mania but can NEVER get a Fastpass b/c they are gone after 10am, lol. I am very excited about this by the way, will make our lives much easier. I just hope the Disney website gets it's act together b/c it is not very reliable at all most of the time.
 
I never saw any confirmation that testing ever started at Boardwalk. I haven't seen anyone post about it. But it was always rumored to start at Boardwalk. But it was never sure if it was just a test of MagicBands in place of KTTW cards, etc. The AK test mentions testing everything...would REALLY like to hear how testers think of FP+ and what restrictions they had.

The RFID cards will lack a feature that MagicBands have to enable certain custom experiences.
 


Why is this such a hard thing to roll-out? I understand that Fastpass+ is/can be a difficult thing to roll-out, but why are the magic bands hard to figure out? Couldn't they just unleash the Magicband with everything but Fastpass+ and then integrate that later (what they have done with My Disney Experience). Isn't the band the same thing as the RFID card you get when checking into the resort right? I am seriously considering hot-gluing a band to my ticket/room key when I get there and then I will have my own DIY Magicband.:scratchin
 
From what I understand Magicbands are active RFID tags, they have a battery and can broadcast your info without having to be near a reader.

The current RFID tickets are passive, they require the reader to power the chip to enable broadcasting your info.

I am guessing they are still trying to get the whole broadcasting anywhere aspect under control.
 
From what I understand Magicbands are active RFID tags, they have a battery and can broadcast your info without having to be near a reader.

The current RFID tickets are passive, they require the reader to power the chip to enable broadcasting your info.

I am guessing they are still trying to get the whole broadcasting anywhere aspect under control.

MagicBands have both passive (two, actually) and active RFID chips. The active unit is supposedly only for triggering things from a distance and is not required for most of the features.
 
Why is this such a hard thing to roll-out? I understand that Fastpass+ is/can be a difficult thing to roll-out, but why are the magic bands hard to figure out? Couldn't they just unleash the Magicband with everything but Fastpass+ and then integrate that later (what they have done with My Disney Experience). Isn't the band the same thing as the RFID card you get when checking into the resort right? I am seriously considering hot-gluing a band to my ticket/room key when I get there and then I will have my own DIY Magicband.:scratchin

I don't think there is anything stopping them from rolling out the magicband portion of the MDE other then the fact that I'm sure they wan't to roll it out all at once. I don't believe the delays are due to the bands.
 
The reason why they aren't going to roll it out all at once is simple...

It isn't working properly.

Simple enough?

This system has been a train wreck from the beginning.

Disney's strong-suit isn't technology - their reservations systems are full of more bugs than the tree of life! It is an antiquated system that has been updated and upgraded more times than anything should be - and every time they have an upgrade.... the whole system goes down, which then triggers unscheduled maintenance, and then the system comes back a few pieces at a time - until finally everything is working.... for the whole sequence to happen again.

Their technology abilities are far below the tech-know needed for this system to be functional and forward thinking.

For crying out loud - for the parades to at DHS and DAK to send this system of the fritz is a clear example that they have no solid grasp on how RFID systems function, what signals can interfere, and how to manage the system to keep things functioning properly.

Can you imagine spending DAYS of time planning your vacation, down to what time you will ride Splash Mountain - to then show up and the system be DOWN? OR all of those hard to make reservations LOST with no hope of them being found?

I really appreciate their desire to get with the times and make the Disney Park Experience more relevant, technological, and coordinated - however, this whole mess is going to be at least a year in honing, changes, and challenges.

I love Disney, and I love all things Disney - but this era of Disney is one that we will all want to forget about in 5 years.....when we are all fighting online to make reservations for Space Mountain.... Awful!
 
MagicBands have both passive (two, actually) and active RFID chips. The active unit is supposedly only for triggering things from a distance and is not required for most of the features.

I think my MagicBand will be Silver color. As in wrapped in Aluminum foil! And a tinfoil hat to protect me from all the Magic being beamed at me!
 
I agree had the spent all the money building a few more rides per park they would have probabbly been better off in making people happy.
 
I never saw any confirmation that testing ever started at Boardwalk. I haven't seen anyone post about it. But it was always rumored to start at Boardwalk. But it was never sure if it was just a test of MagicBands in place of KTTW cards, etc. The AK test mentions testing everything...would REALLY like to hear how testers think of FP+ and what restrictions they had.

.

Perhaps the CM AK testing is just a rumor?:confused3
 
This has to save them money somehow or they would not be doing it

Not necessarily save, as much as generate additional revenue. They forecast 10-20% additional spending by guests - apparently just because it's easier to spend money that way (at least, before the PIN restrictions - haven't heard much on that lately)
 
Could also be about collecting data, which they intend to mine in order to figure out how to get us to spend more money. At least that is what I would do :)
 
I agree had the spent all the money building a few more rides per park they would have probabbly been better off in making people happy.

They do not need to make people happy. The numbers are three the roof and they are not going to just shell out all this crazy amounts of money to make more rides per parks when the parks are maxing at capacity as it is with the rides and things they already have.

This will absolutely boost their revenue. Disney is smarter then we all think and they are usually a step ahead of us on how exactly to make money.
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Latest posts

Top