A glimpse of an RFID magic-banded future

I used the KTTW for touch to pay once and it worked fine...but I do not have big hands, and the touchpad to insert your PIN number is TINY. I pressed the wrong buttons twice.
I have small hands and had to really be careful when inputing our pin. Major design mistake there.
 
JR864 said:
Aside from the many valid concerns raised in earlier posts, I think the lack of a viable, readily available backup to the magicbands will prove to be the most distressing, and could prove to be their undoing. When a point of sale keypad goes down at Target, the cashier can always swipe your credit card themselves, or if that fails, just key in the card number. Neither of those backup steps is available once you put all your eggs in the magicband basket. And remember -- [insert Paul Frees here] -- there's no turning back now....

So, when the RFID readers go down (and they will -- that's natural), what does that do to the unlucky souls who dutifully made their FP+ reservations months in advance?
Your entire post seems to be built on a misconception of how the system works. The only information on your card is a reference number to allow them to identify your profile. You fear that there is no backup if the RFID card or scanner dies when in fact, there is. The CMs can look up your profile to verify your information. A dead band or scanner doesn't change that, at all.
 
I have read reports that using the RFID cards gets you into the parks faster than using non-RFID turnstyles, and I have been wondering if we should get our Undercover Tourist tickets added to our RFID resort room key cards, when we go next week.

But this report (and others) are convincing me that we are better off to just use our park tickets in their non-RFID state.

Thanks for the report!
 
This entire weekend was SO frustrating for us from a tech point of view. The ENTIRE MDE site and app was down fro almost the whole weekend. COuldn't make any ADR's on Saturday, even over the phone. The MDE app wasn't showing me ride times or FP times all day Sunday and part of Monday.

The new card readers at counter service spots never worked when I swiped my credit card. Always had to have the CM key it in themselves.

NEVER got the text from BWV telling me what our room number was. We had done online check-in and picked up our packet at the desk and were told they would text me the room number. NEVER HAPPENED. When we got back to the resort late that night I bee lined to the desk where they seemed confused but apologetic. They kept saying that I was supposed to get one. Whatever...

Get all the way to our room at nearly midnight and THE ROOM KEYS DO NOT WORK. Had to hoof it back to the desk and have them make us new keys.

I am a Disney apologist but I have NO confidence in this system at all. It will likely collapse under the weight of its own hubris...and I am very bummed out about that.
 

I have read reports that using the RFID cards gets you into the parks faster than using non-RFID turnstyles, and I have been wondering if we should get our Undercover Tourist tickets added to our RFID resort room key cards, when we go next week.

But this report (and others) are convincing me that we are better off to just use our park tickets in their non-RFID state.

Thanks for the report!
Last week we put our AAA tickets on our KTTW, and were glad we did. Even though our friends' cards wouldn't work at the readers, the hand held scanners were fast enough the we usually just waltzed right in through mostly empty lines.
 
When fastpass first came out at Disneyland there were some attractions that had FastPass available. I believe it was POC and HM. What they quickly learned was FP was actually slowing down the lines and they removed it from those attractions.

Fast forward to today and now they are adding fastpass for every attraction. I saw the screens up and it appears there will need to be information added whenever anybody uses the FP+. I can see this adding to the lines.

For example, why the heck is Spaceship Earth getting FP+? There has to be a far sinister reason why every attraction is going to be tied into the system.
 
Your entire post seems to be built on a misconception of how the system works. The only information on your card is a reference number to allow them to identify your profile. You fear that there is no backup if the RFID card or scanner dies when in fact, there is. The CMs can look up your profile to verify your information. A dead band or scanner doesn't change that, at all.
No, I get that --- everything about me, including my dining plan allotments and (when applicable) ticket info is in the computer and can be looked up/verified/reactivated, etc.

My point is that with a keycard or credit card scenario, this is easily and quickly remedied (as the young lady did at the Caribbean) by either swiping the card or entering the number.

Maybe as some have suggested there's a barcode or some other identifying number that will be printed on the super-magical wristband that will allow the CM to react quickly to a reader failure. If so, that will certainly ease things. But if the resolution involves moving to a working terminal so that my info can be looked up and verified, then there's a definite impact on the queue time (most definitely in the FP+ scenario). The queues on many rides are very susceptible to even slight hiccups.

I did notice tablet-sized screens on many of the rides at the FP/FP+ verification point that seemed to show choices to "Add 1" or something akin to that), so maybe that's how the CM will be able to look up your info. I tried to get a quick phone pic, but it's blurry because I was shooed along by a stern-faced CM on Peter Pan (which is why I used that as the example).

What I found most notable though was how worked up the frontline managers got for such a minor snafu when no one in line was really inconvenienced and crowds were nonexistent. Everyone seems very tense about this whole thing. My friend and I engaged several cast members in conversation this past weekend (mainly because it was so freaking cold we looked for opportunities to tarry inside). The general consensus among those we spoke to seemed to be guarded and worried about guests being upset and taking out their frustrations on them.
 
/
I have worked a few places where they have RFID type tags for security entrances. I have never seen one that didnt have a code nuber printed or embossed on it somewhere and I imagine it's the same for the Magic Bracelets. I'm sure there will be a means to enter that code number to override the sensor in case of problems, just as a cashier can type in your credit card number if the magnetic strip doesn't work.
 
When fastpass first came out at Disneyland there were some attractions that had FastPass available. I believe it was POC and HM. What they quickly learned was FP was actually slowing down the lines and they removed it from those attractions.

Fast forward to today and now they are adding fastpass for every attraction. I saw the screens up and it appears there will need to be information added whenever anybody uses the FP+. I can see this adding to the lines.

For example, why the heck is Spaceship Earth getting FP+? There has to be a far sinister reason why every attraction is going to be tied into the system.

I assume it is to greatly increase the supply of FPs, even though many people excited to get them won't realize how useless some FPs may be. Kinda like offering free water with your favorite drink at a restaurant.
 
I have read reports that using the RFID cards gets you into the parks faster than using non-RFID turnstyles, and I have been wondering if we should get our Undercover Tourist tickets added to our RFID resort room key cards, when we go next week.

But this report (and others) are convincing me that we are better off to just use our park tickets in their non-RFID state.

Thanks for the report!

We are keeping ours separate on our upcoming trip.
 
When fastpass first came out at Disneyland there were some attractions that had FastPass available. I believe it was POC and HM. What they quickly learned was FP was actually slowing down the lines and they removed it from those attractions.

Fast forward to today and now they are adding fastpass for every attraction. I saw the screens up and it appears there will need to be information added whenever anybody uses the FP+. I can see this adding to the lines.

For example, why the heck is Spaceship Earth getting FP+? There has to be a far sinister reason why every attraction is going to be tied into the system.

Sinister, in what way would this be sinister. That implies some kind of evil afoot. Even if they want to keep track of who rides what when, how is that evil? or does anyone really think this whole thing is going to be used as a mass ripoff for guests, i.e. claiming they have used dining credits that they've already paid for when they really haven't?
 
I have small hands and had to really be careful when inputing our pin. Major design mistake there.

I agree about pad size especially when the design would have allowed for a larger pad ... they must think everyone is used to tiny cell phone keyboards ...

Also, I found the phrase "tap" to be misleading ... tapping never worked. I had to hold the card still on or near the sensor ... to me "tap" implies movement and striking the sensor.
 
Sinister, in what way would this be sinister. That implies some kind of evil afoot. Even if they want to keep track of who rides what when, how is that evil? or does anyone really think this whole thing is going to be used as a mass ripoff for guests, i.e. claiming they have used dining credits that they've already paid for when they really haven't?
I'm being over-dramatic in my word choice. However, I do believe this whole thing is leading to something they are not disclosing at this point. I see NO good reason to put every attraction under FP+, but there has to be a reason.

Like I said, they tried FP on certain rides before and it lead to increased wait times. Why they doing it again? pirate:
 
I understand it's because they want to channel guests using FP to the less popular rides to ease congestion on the popular ones. We'll see if that works.
 
TDC Nala said:
I understand it's because they want to channel guests using FP to the less popular rides to ease congestion on the popular ones. We'll see if that works.

That's kinda what I said. ;)
 
I understand it's because they want to channel guests using FP to the less popular rides to ease congestion on the popular ones. We'll see if that works.

And yet they are going to create longer lines at those rides because FP+ is there.

Wouldn't it just be cheaper to have a good app that tell people there is little to no wait at a particular ride?
 
lugnut33 said:
And yet they are going to create longer lines at those rides because FP+ is there.

Wouldn't it just be cheaper to have a good app that tell people there is little to no wait at a particular ride?

A complex puzzle to be sure. It will be very interesting to watch it unfold.
 
A complex puzzle to be sure. It will be very interesting to watch it unfold.

Yes it will.

I was just down there a few weeks ago and contemplated the whole new system and I didn't have a good feeling . I sat there looking at the new machines and the information that was on the screens that had to be entered and I can't imagine this working well.

Maybe it's just me be a grumpy 44 year old?
 
While the OP had challenges during the trial/beta period and there will be challenges and glitches during the actual rollout and production implementation I do think that overall the experience will be a positive one for the majority of guests. There will be a few who can't deal with any imperfection and will complain but those people will find something bad about just about anything so it's to be expected.

For the most part anything that I've seen that has the Disney name on it has been of pretty high quality. There have been stumbles for sure, but by and large I think most of the stuff they do is good. I had a technology and human glitch on my last trip where some of my PP pictures went missing and another family's pictures were on my PP. Took a few minutes but we got it straightened out.

With the Magicband my guess is that you will also have a KTTW card as a backup method in case there is a problem. You'll keep that in your wallet, pocket or purse as a backup way to swipe against your account if the RFID system goes down. Since they will be offering the KTTW cards to people who don't want to use Magicband they will still have them so I don't see any reason why this wouldn't happen.

The Magicbands have the potential to improve the Disney Experience. I doubt they will roll out something this big without doing a lot of testing first. We may not see it actually go live until next year.
 
I'm being over-dramatic in my word choice. However, I do believe this whole thing is leading to something they are not disclosing at this point. I see NO good reason to put every attraction under FP+, but there has to be a reason.

Like I said, they tried FP on certain rides before and it lead to increased wait times. Why they doing it again? pirate:

One word: Marketing.

"Welcome to Disney's Grand Floridian Hotel, Mr. Lugnut33! I see from our records that last time you were here, you rode the Tomorrowland Transit Authority five times. You must really like that attraction! While I'm checking you in, perhaps you'd like to peruse this electronic catalog of TTA and Peoplemover related merchandise that we have for sale? I also see that you like eating Dole Whips. They ARE delicious! Did you know that if you go one resort over to the Polynesian, they have a Dole Whip soft serve machine that you can use 24/7? You should try it out!"
 












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