RFID - passive or active?

[bcrook]

As I said I'm not a technology person so I have no idea about that side of it. Obviously there will be people who opt out, don't have the app etc., but I don't see that being the majority and I don't think it will remain "optional" forever, especially if there are benefits (or penalities) that will apply to opting in or out.

I would imagine given the price tag that a lot of money has been spent on the software side of things that could automate much of the process.

I think it would be incredibly effective. For seasoned visitors who stick with a plan, a free ice-cream or fast pass may not be enough to divert them, but there are an awful lot of people who don't go with a plan, don't access sites like this and could be easily diverted. It wouldn't need to divert everyone, a percentage would do the trick. This year will be my 15th or so visit and I'm much more clued up now, but for many of my visits in the early years, I had no plan at all and I went with the flow and I really don't think I'm alone.

The bottom line with this whole system is we really don't know the answers yet, but having listened to the conference call for Q2 and thinking about how the system can pay for itself, there has to be more to it than we know right now. When you consider the objectives that Disney had with this system, it seems obvious to me that the aim here is the control of guests.

They have been very clear on this objective.

 

[MrRomance]

They have been very clear on this objective.

Absolutely, but I think the way the control will be undertaken will be wide and varied. I think the possibilities are endless and I think they will be a positive change in the end.

I know not everyone is excited by it, but personally, I am. I don't think my trip this year will be a full experience of where this project is going, but I'm confident that my trip next year will be a better experience than in previous years.

As a shareholder, listening to the Q2 conference call, I felt that 2013 is going to be Disney cutting it's teeth with it and figuring it all out but they expect to be recovering the cost of it in Q1 2014 which tells me that by the end of the year, we'll be seeing it doing exactly what it was designed to do.

 

[bcrook]

Absolutely, but I think the way the control will be undertaken will be wide and varied. I think the possibilities are endless and I think they will be a positive change in the end.

I know not everyone is excited by it, but personally, I am. I don't think my trip this year will be a full experience of where this project is going, but I'm confident that my trip next year will be a better experience than in previous years.

As a shareholder, listening to the Q2 conference call, I felt that 2013 is going to be Disney cutting it's teeth with it and figuring it all out but they expect to be recovering the cost of it in Q1 2014 which tells me that by the end of the year, we'll be seeing it doing exactly what it was designed to do.

I have about 43 years left on DVC contract. So I am going to ride it out.

I am sure it will be good for most people. I don't see how any of it will improve the Wiley veterans experience. It may not hurt my experience, but it won't really help either. I already know when to go the parks, when to ride rides, where to get my snacks, what shows to go to, how to hop to my advantage, how to use FP to my advantage, when to eat, where to eat with limited wait.

What I see with mymagic+ is leveling the playing field. And that is fine, good business. But it won't help everyone. And like I said, it doesn't bother me that much, I will go and have a good time with friends.

I have said it before, if they can have more stuff like mr. Potato in the TSMM ride queue interact with people directly - being insulted by don Rickles would worth the price of attendance. So if the interactive queues get that cool, I will be thrilled. But having my name show on its a small world goodbye screen, isn't going to do it for me.

 

[beer dave]

I have about 43 years left on DVC contract. So I am going to ride it out.

I am sure it will be good for most people. I don't see how any of it will improve the Wiley veterans experience. It may not hurt my experience, but it won't really help either. I already know when to go the parks, when to ride rides, where to get my snacks, what shows to go to, how to hop to my advantage, how to use FP to my advantage, when to eat, where to eat with limited wait.

What I see with mymagic+ is leveling the playing field. And that is fine, good business. But it won't help everyone. And like I said, it doesn't bother me that much, I will go and have a good time with friends.

I have said it before, if they can have more stuff like mr. Potato in the TSMM ride queue interact with people directly - being insulted by don Rickles would worth the price of attendance. So if the interactive queues get that cool, I will be thrilled. But having my name show on its a small world goodbye screen, isn't going to do it for me.

Yup 43 years. I'm with you!

I think as someone has said in the past that there will be a time during and just after the full roll out of mm+ that the people who keep themselves prepared, as we are, will have the advantage again. IMO right now most people have caught up to all the current "ins and outs" making our experience levels almost moot.

Also with you on the big potato.

 

[DanBoris]

My instinct tells me that the bands are both active and passive because I genuinely believe that the longer term goals for this technology will be crowd control which I've mentioned in other threads.

I think what we will see going forward is Disney using the tracking data to divert people using the App. Let me try to explain what I mean in practical terms (because I'm not an expert in the technology by any stretch of the imagination)

Space Mountain reaches 100 min wait in standby and is out of FPs. As the guest approaches the data activates a coupon or voucher for free ice-cream valid for the next 30 minutes, to one of the party that can only be redeemed on the other side of the park. All guests in the party head over to get said free ice-cream (and probably buy one for the rest of the party!) and that diverts them away from the overcrowded ride. Make sense?

No instinct needed, the FCC application clearly states that they are both passive and active.

 

[MonorailLime]

MagicBands have BOTH active and passive technologies inside of them operating on 2.4GHz. The passive and active have different identifiers.

 

[doconeill]

I don't think MrRomance was saying his instinct was that they were active/passive - but rather why.

 

[blondietink]

What about people pacemakers, who are supposed to stay out of a magnetic field? Yes, they can opt out and get a card instead that is passive, but when they are in the proximity of all of those readers, which are supposed to be almost everywhere, they would be exposed to a magnetic field.

 

[doconeill]

What about people pacemakers, who are supposed to stay out of a magnetic field? Yes, they can opt out and get a card instead that is passive, but when they are in the proximity of all of those readers, which are supposed to be almost everywhere, they would be exposed to a magnetic field.

Are they warned to stay away from the readers at McDonalds and various other retail locations?

The magnetic fields given off are extremely small, which is why you practically need to contact them to work.

The FDA has done studies, and although the potential for interaction with pacemakers and other implantable devices does exist, there is no immediate concern nor have there been any reports of issues.

 

[Dopey420]

If you are concerned about the privacy of your movements, spending habits, dining habits, etc. don't go to Disney!

LOL. It is simple as that.

I could care less if they know that I "lingered in front of a display" or something like that!

 

[daveyk]

A couple of additional observations, if I may...

(a) the original concept of fastpass was to take people out of line, in an effort to tweak spending. The thinking was generally if you're not in line, you might shop or eat. It didn't quite work out that way, as guests essentially outsmarted it and "wait" in 2 lines at the same time (get a FP to space mountain, and go over to buzz while you wait for that window)...

Management reportedly hates this. But they won't get rid of it because its wildly popular, and its a good guest experience. But if there's an opportunity to enhance it, then there's an upside. So perhaps you will see a different FP experience - like FP+ where you pre-select, or kiosks that let you select where the FP will be (and makes recommendations), or maybe even that gives you some other options other than FP, like the ice cream idea.

and then (b) Disney has large amounts of data on what happens in the parks - but they don't have much on actual guest behavior, and while they count how many come and go through the gates, they don't know how long people spend in the parks (because there's no swipe to get out; only in), nor can they tie it to other things (even simple things like where you are staying).

Now they can aggregate that data. I would argue they don't care what individuals do (unless you're breaking "the rules"), and really just want to know what guest behavior looks like.

DVC guests are more likely to spend x hours, while AS guests are more likely to spend Y and park hop. ETC....

 

[Figment632]

Who cares RFID is nothing special I have RFID lights in my house. Also the people worried about being tracked you are already tracked. There are cameras everywhere. All your purchases are already tracked as well.

 

[ParrotBill]

As an IT Executive, what bothers me is the new level this could go to. It's not about just know where you went and for how long, or which rides you went on, or what you bought in the hat shop. This will allow them to aggregate data to a highly precise level. I don't mind if they collect and aggregate it anonymously to understand their business. I would object to analyzing my family's specific habits, and storing that, and using it in future interactions. It's like when I get ad insertion on web pages relative to my recent activity... I would find that much more intrusive if it becomes apparent to me that they are using data collected about me in future interactions. And, most important, if they do anaylsis about my and store it, that data can be mis-used. Make no mistake about it, all data systems are full of way to mis-use their content.