Can Magic Bands be used to locate people?

[Vertical]

I've searched but couldn't find this information.

With two small children in our family, I like to take precautions in case of separation, and one of the things I've considered is ID bands or tattoos, or bracelets, or necklaces or whatever... some form of putting my contact information on them so that if they're found, it's easy to associate them with me and get in contact with me.

But now that I have magic bands for my next trip, I started wondering if they could serve that purpose. The bands have the kids' names printed on the interior, and are obviously 'linked' to mine in the system. Could CMs use the bands to find out who the kids belonged to, and retrieve my contact information? Or even better (or worse, depending on your perspective), use the long-scan functionality to physically locate either a parent or a child?

Anyone have any insight into that?

 

[Reddog1134]

I imagine they could scan the bands to get info about the child. However, I was under the assumption they have a short range. So they could only locate a child based on any Magic Band terminals he/she "touched".

 

[Vertical]

I imagine they could scan the bands to get info about the child. However, I was under the assumption they have a short range. So they could only locate a child based on any Magic Band terminals he/she "touched".

I thought I read somewhere (vague, I know) that they had long-range capability as well. Could be wrong on that one.

EDIT: yeah, it's right on the disney site in the FAQ:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/bands-cards/how-to-use-magic-band/


Q. How do I use my MagicBand?


A. Most of the time, all you need to do is touch your MagicBand against a sensor called a touch point. Its that easy!

MagicBands can also be read by long-range readers to deliver amazing personalized experiences, as well as provide information that helps us improve the overall experience in our parks. You dont have to do anything beyond being nearby to interact with long-range readers. They just worklike magic!

 

[Reddog1134]

I thought I read somewhere (vague, I know) that they had long-range capability as well. Could be wrong on that one.

EDIT: yeah, it's right on the disney site in the FAQ:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/bands-cards/how-to-use-magic-band/


Q. How do I use my MagicBand?


A. Most of the time, all you need to do is touch your MagicBand against a sensor called a touch point. Its that easy!

MagicBands can also be read by long-range readers to deliver amazing personalized experiences, as well as provide information that helps us improve the overall experience in our parks. You dont have to do anything beyond being nearby to interact with long-range readers. They just worklike magic!

So, yeah, if they pass a long range reader or activate a short range one, they could theoretically be located.

 

[chartle]

I guess they could using the short range wi fi but right now even if they have a cell phone number its not standard operating procedure to call the number right away.

 

[Vertical]

So, yeah, if they pass a long range reader or activate a short range one, they could theoretically be located.

Right, which I suppose leads me to the real question: would Disney do that? If there was a lost child, would they take advantage of the technology, and further, is there a mechanism in place to even do it? What I mean is, while long and short range scanners certainly could 'track' the person, is there a function of the software that is specifically coded to 'find' a person, or is it all reactionary and big-data-gathering in nature?

Would you feel that this violates some kind of privacy? Knowing that, should the need arise, Disney can pinpoint anyone wearing a magic band in the park?

 

[kay1864]

They'll also track when (and where, and for how long) you're in the restrooms. Whatever you do, don't go beyond your official allotted time, or they'll announce your name in the park you're in

 

[OKW Lover]

As currently configured the Magic Band technology won't help you. Right now they only have short range readers. Short range as in you practically have to touch the band to the reader. A lost child won't be doing that.

Long range scanners aren't yet in use at WDW. Even if they were, they would be targeted to specific, small areas and probably wouldn't cover the entire populace of the parks.

 

[Vertical]

As currently configured the Magic Band technology won't help you. Right now they only have short range readers. Short range as in you practically have to touch the band to the reader. A lost child won't be doing that.

Long range scanners aren't yet in use at WDW. Even if they were, they would be targeted to specific, small areas and probably wouldn't cover the entire populace of the parks.

Good info, thanks.

Assuming that this is accurate, though, couldn't a CM use a scanner to scan the child's band? This is also assuming the lost child approaches a CM and isn't just in a corner crying or something.

 

[chartle]

Good info, thanks.

Assuming that this is accurate, though, couldn't a CM use a scanner to scan the child's band? This is also assuming the lost child approaches a CM and isn't just in a corner crying or something.

Yes they could but highly unlikely they will ever issue scanners to front line cms. They have a procedure now that works and doesnt use any technology at all.

 

[Reddog1134]

Would you feel that this violates some kind of privacy??

I would think not. You are on their private property so they probably have the right to know where you are at all times.

It does kind of give off a "Big Brother" vibe though.

 

[bwang123]

As currently configured the Magic Band technology won't help you. Right now they only have short range readers. Short range as in you practically have to touch the band to the reader. A lost child won't be doing that.

Long range scanners aren't yet in use at WDW. Even if they were, they would be targeted to specific, small areas and probably wouldn't cover the entire populace of the parks.

wireless access points like the ones they put in place to give free wifi to everyone can be used to track rfid. are they using it for this, who knows, but its absolutely possible to track rfid with that technology. i worked in our cities large medical center and many hospitals do this to track assets to the specific room this way.

 

[chartle]

wireless access points like the ones they put in place to give free wifi to everyone can be used to track rfid. are they using it for this, who knows, but its absolutely possible to track rfid with that technology. i worked in our cities large medical center and many hospitals do this to track assets to the specific room this way.

its already been posted by Disney that these bands have active Wi Fi transmitters in them. They will be used to trigger certain personalized events on attractions. So unless your kid gets on a ride they will not know where he is.

As I posted above Disney has a procedure that has worked for years and I doubt they will change.

The CM will walk around the area with your kid looking for you, if not found the same Cm will walk your child to the Child Care Center where they will try to get info out of the kid. Its assumed that by this time you have also contacted a CM and that they call in your info. The two pieces of info are matched and you pick up your kid at the Center.

 

[squirrel4569]

Last year we had the dog tags/luggage tags made up at the engraving machines that are around the property in various places. We put our children's name on it, what hotel we were at and a phone number. We told the kids that if they did get separated from us for whatever reason to find a CM with the nametag on and show them the necklace and they would find us. Thankfully we never needed to use it as we do employ a buddy system while we are at the parks but it's better to be safe than sorry.

As for the technology posed by the OP's question, they can do it, but I don't think they are actively using this yet.

 

[RooRach0906]

I was just talking to my family about this the other day and I really think they should use them in some way for lost children in the park. I hope maybe they will in the future when they are done working out the other kinks.

 

[kay1864]

As I posted above Disney has a procedure that has worked for years and I doubt they will change.

The CM will walk around the area with your kid looking for you, if not found the same Cm will walk your child to the Child Care Center where they will try to get info out of the kid. Its assumed that by this time you have also contacted a CM and that they call in your info. The two pieces of info are matched and you pick up your kid at the Center.

If WDW implements long-range, I could see this process speeding up considerably. If the equipment is in place (for guest experience, not for finding lost kids), then the only additional cost is a bit of software programming. Which would pay for itself quickly by not wasting a CM's time locating parents or taking Junior to the CCC.

 

[Maleficent Dragon]

I would be willing to be bet we are only being told what they want us to know. I am sure the bands have more capabilities than being announced. You can be tracked through your smartphone, your car, wristwatches, etc.... there is no reason that these do not have that capability as well.

 

[BebopBaloo]

I actually feel that the only perk to the long range scanners is that they could locate a lost child in this way. (My two cents...I don't want personalized rides, etc. I just want to enjoy an attraction w/out a cheesy personalized insert.)

In the future when it is all rolled out - if you don't want to be tracked by long range scanners, you can opt to have a card instead of a band. The cards are only read by the short range scanners (FP+, entrance, registers of shops, and the like.)

 

[Reddog1134]

I would be willing to be bet we are only being told what they want us to know. I am sure the bands have more capabilities than being announced. You can be tracked through your smartphone, your car, wristwatches, etc.... there is no reason that these do not have that capability as well.

True, they are going to only tell us what they want us to know, but you could easily find their true capabilities with a little research.

 

[RnbwSktles]

Not an answer to your question, but this discussion did get me thinking. Could Disney implement something similar to what hospitals do with newborn babies, where a child with a band could not leave the park without an adult who is linked to the same account? I guess a turnstile would have to lock to slow them down and some kind of warning would need to go off to attract a CM.

I can see a few scenarios where this could be potentially life saving...
1) Someone tries to kidnap a child
2) A lost child wanders off (potentially out of the park), or thinks the best way to find their family is to get back to the hotel or car
3) A defiant child angry about something or other runs off and tries to go somewhere else

I am sure these things rarely happen, but even so.