Disney CM Text

[Travis B]

I was in Animal Kingdom pin trading, and chatting with the CM at the desk. Another CM came up behind her and merrily addressed me by name - I wish I could remember specifically what she said. I instinctively glanced down at my chest - as I wear a name tag while waiting tables. The CM told me something about how Mickey had let her know I would be there, and to say 'Hi'. I think she had an iPad or something that could read my Magic Band. It was actually kind of cool, a little touch of pixie dust. I can see how the tracking could be considered creepy, but in the context of a private resort (as opposed to governmental tracking in public spaces or something like that) it strikes me as less so. We love the convenience of not worrying about room keys, park tickets, etc. It's also neat to have ride videos from 7DMT automatically linked to our account. The ultimate drive is obviously money, but if it makes things easier, more convenient, and more magical for me I don't have a problem with it.

 

[lovethattink]

Same way BOG can get your food to your table. The wristbands are long range rfid. The card type rfid are short range and why guests without magic bands are given roses to find their table.

You do have the option for short range cards instead of mb. Or at least that use to be an option.

I remember those old threads.

We use our mb. It's too much of a hassle to keep taking an AP out of our pocket/bag.

We've had cm say hi to us by name, but never any text besides the room being ready.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

Creepy.

I honestly don't see anything creepy about any of these situations, especially in this day and age. It's great customer service.

You book FP+ and dining online, you have a phone number associated with the account. It's not that surprising that they would use this as an opportunity to share some pixie dust or make things right if there's an issue with a line, etc.

Now if you were off the grid without a magic band, FP+, or a phone number in the system, then I would find it creepy. They're using the data that guests willingly share. What's so bad about that?

 

[EEPETEZ]

Same thing happened to us. Had some trouble with our tickets the first day. About 30 minutes later I got a text saying they were sorry about the delay and gave us an anytime fastpass. They asked what day we would like it to applied and at which park. They even said that if we had any more trouble during our stay, just to text and they would try to help. It was excellent, not creepy at all. They have our information, I'm glad they are doing something helpful with it.

 

[pens4821]

I never used to like the thought of being tracked by anyone(disney/government/etc), but I've just accepted it now. We are being tracked more than we know I'm sure. I'm not one of those crazy people feeling conspiracies, but it's so easy to be tracked anymore. It's the price we have to pay for the convenience of technology, and I'm OK with that trade off.

 

[metzgardesign]

I honestly don't see anything creepy about any of these situations, especially in this day and age. It's great customer service.

You book FP+ and dining online, you have a phone number associated with the account. It's not that surprising that they would use this as an opportunity to share some pixie dust or make things right if there's an issue with a line, etc.

Now if you were off the grid without a magic band, FP+, or a phone number in the system, then I would find it creepy. They're using the data that guests willingly share. What's so bad about that?

I just think it's creepy in that every move you make on property is openly observed and accounted for (probably not as new as I would like to think it is....but at least they aren't hiding it anymore, I suppose).

That level of 'Big Brother" is, to me, creepy.

I was in Animal Kingdom pin trading, and chatting with the CM at the desk. Another CM came up behind her and merrily addressed me by name - I wish I could remember specifically what she said. I instinctively glanced down at my chest - as I wear a name tag while waiting tables. The CM told me something about how Mickey had let her know I would be there, and to say 'Hi'. I think she had an iPad or something that could read my Magic Band.....

See....that is creepy, to me.

 

[metzgardesign]

All I can say, is that if I am one day in a restroom on property and a restroom attendant comes in and says something like.....

"Mr. Metzgar.....Mickey told me you were headed in here. And the sensor in the stall said it was low on paper. So, here ya go. And have a Magical Day®!"

.....while unceremoniously sliding a spare roll of paper under the door, I will hit the ceiling.

(I kid, I kid....or do I? )

 

[SparklePixie]

Haven't gotten a phone call, but on our checkout day, our Mousekeeper just sort of came into the room where we were packing up and apologized profusely. Her supervisor had informed her that we would be gone by then since we had a 10 AM FP+ for Space Mountain. We did, but by day nine, my neck was not in the mood for Space Mountain so we delayed our exit.

When I was at WDW in June during Star Wars weekends I got a phone call on my phone asking if my 9 yo DNiece would like to be in the Star Wars Motorcade parade. The man on the phone knew that we were going to be at HS the next day which was a Saturday. He later texted to see how she enjoyed the experience. The only connection I could think of was that I had gone to the desk to get tickets for the Pirates Cruise and the CM there was great and asked if he could look at my fast passes and changed several around to better times and for a better flow around the parks. I think he may have been behind the Star Wars experience as the CMs at HS had no idea how her name got on the list just that it was.

Those are both creepy as hell.

 

[pens4821]

All I can say, is that if I am one day in a restroom on property and a restroom attendant comes in and says something like.....

"Mr. Metzgar.....Mickey told me you were headed in here. And the sensor in the stall said it was low on paper. So, here ya go. And have a Magical Day®!"

.....I will hit the ceiling.

(I kid, I kid....or do I? )

But what if you didn't check first and you really needed that paper?

 

[metzgardesign]

But what if you didn't check first and you really needed that paper?

Well, see...there's the rub. While I may be absolutely freaked out, I suppose I would also be somewhat appreciative. However, the attendant would not be privy to that appreciation.

I would, in turn, stroll over to the sink to wash my hands....eyeballing him like James Bond eyeballs a known Russian spy.

 

[jesse8931]

Maybe its just me but I don't want Disney to text me or call me.

I know I'm being tracked around Disney property but to contact me is just to much.

 

[wilkeliza]

Technically Disney only has access to the information we give them. You don't have to provide your phone number, or even your real name for MDE. We give it to them willingly.

They do track people but not as close as say Google tracking. They can know you were in the general area of Pirates or the general area of Space and they know what FP you had scheduled etc. It isn't as "big brother" to me because they can only track you while you play in their sandbox which is nothing new. Big brother to me is when Starbucks can track me through my phone, know that I'm by a location and push a coupon to it, or how google keeps a log of your history if you have it on your phone and knows where you frequent. That level of tracking scares me much more then Disney knowing what I'm doing while I'm at their establishment.

 

[leebee]

Soooo....when FP+ and magic bands and all of that first came about, there were pages and pages on here about this exact thing. People were going on and on about big brother and how it would be weird (and a violation!) to be tracked around the park. Others acted like these people were idiots and told them the technology didn't (couldn't?) work that way. Anyone else remember that? Because it seems like that's exactly what they are doing. Of COURSE they are. They didn't spend that much money on this system to not be able to use it in a variety of ways to make more money. I have no opinion about it, I just find it...interesting...that some were ridiculed so vehemently about this very thing.

I remember, because I was one of those people. This is EXACTLY why Disney invested 2 billion dollars in their technology; so that they can track you and "entice" you to spend more money. "Purchase your WDW vacation photos NOW" when you aren't signed up for PP or MM (this is already happening). People aren't complaining because they feel it gives them a "special" experience or advantage, but what if it doesn't? DH is convinced that Disney will end up selling individuals' data to a variety of outlets, and then it might not be so wonderful. What if your car insurance company doesn't like how many alcoholic drinks you choose to buy? Insurance premiums are based on pooled risk, so you might not even realize you are in this pool when offered a rate, but it'll be a higher rate because Disney told the insurance industry that you purchase X number of alcoholic drinks on a given day. OK, it seems far-fetched, but we are already seeing Disney tracking people in a "creepy" way. How far will it go, when will it stop? As long as people think they are getting pixie dust and magic, they'll let Disney do this... but will it someday go too far, but be too late?

For the record, I think it's totally creepy, and it happens at WDW all the time. We usually carry our MBs in a shielded pocket, but on the one day we didn't, there are the pictures of DD riding Splash Mountain. We didn't purchase PP/MM, didn't ask for these pictures, didn't order pictures... but there's the email from WDW, telling me it's the last chance to purchase our vacation photos, with everything linked through my MDE account.

 

[wilkeliza]

I remember, because I was one of those people. This is EXACTLY why Disney invested 2 billion dollars in their technology; so that they can track you and "entice" you to spend more money. "Purchase your WDW vacation photos NOW" when you aren't signed up for PP or MM (this is already happening). People aren't complaining because they feel it gives them a "special" experience or advantage, but what if it doesn't? DH is convinced that Disney will end up selling individuals' data to a variety of outlets, and then it might not be so wonderful. What if your car insurance company doesn't like how many alcoholic drinks you choose to buy? Insurance premiums are based on pooled risk, so you might not even realize you are in this pool when offered a rate, but it'll be a higher rate because Disney told the insurance industry that you purchase X number of alcoholic drinks on a given day. OK, it seems far-fetched, but we are already seeing Disney tracking people in a "creepy" way. How far will it go, when will it stop? As long as people think they are getting pixie dust and magic, they'll let Disney do this... but will it someday go too far, but be too late?

For the record, I think it's totally creepy, and it happens at WDW all the time. We usually carry our MBs in a shielded pocket, but on the one day we didn't, there are the pictures of DD riding Splash Mountain. We didn't purchase PP/MM, didn't ask for these pictures, didn't order pictures... but there's the email from WDW, telling me it's the last chance to purchase our vacation photos, with everything linked through my MDE account.

If you are so concerned that you carry them in a pouch just ask for the cards and have them pitch the magicbands and unlink them from your account.

It says in the use of the long rang RFID that we all agree to by using the magicbands and accepting them that they long range can be used for things like PP/MM photos and other things. Just nobody reads the whole document since you have to go online to do that and of course Disney only puts the convenient things on the placard.

 

[HopperFan]

Soooo....when FP+ and magic bands and all of that first came about, there were pages and pages on here about this exact thing. People were going on and on about big brother and how it would be weird (and a violation!) to be tracked around the park. Others acted like these people were idiots and told them the technology didn't (couldn't?) work that way. Anyone else remember that? Because it seems like that's exactly what they are doing. Of COURSE they are. They didn't spend that much money on this system to not be able to use it in a variety of ways to make more money. I have no opinion about it, I just find it...interesting...that some were ridiculed so vehemently about this very thing.

- Yes there were plenty who did not do their homework, did not understand the active RFID capability.
- Yes there were plenty of us who did understand the active RFID and knew it would track us.
- Yes there were plenty upset about Big Brother. They have options: don't go or don't accept a MB.
- Yes there were plenty of us who could see all the advantages of the capability but knew it was a few years out.
- Yes this story is one example of how it can work as a positive.
- Yes I am okay with it and look forward to more capability.

PS Actually that Housekeeping story is the complete opposite of using the active RFID system. Had they used it they would have known the family was in the room, if the system is now built out resort wide - which it probably isn't, yet. With that story, the manager used MDE to know the guest's plans not RFID.

 

[GreatLakes]

This is exactly the kind of thing MM+ was implemented to be able to do, along with many others. It always astounds me when people say idiotic things like "Disney spent $2 billion on FP+", it really shows an inability to grasp the concept of what MM+ is and all of the capabilities on both an operational and analytic side.

Also, as mentioned above, Disney only has access to what you give them. If you don't want them to have your cell phone number don't give it to them. If you don't want the RFID technology to see where you are it isn't hard to place the MB in a pouch that would block that ability and only take it out when it is needed. Convenience and privacy/security are often at odds with each other but each person gets to decide whether or not to sacrifice the convenience for security for themselves and/or their families.

 

[Magpie]

Maybe its just me but I don't want Disney to text me or call me.

I know I'm being tracked around Disney property but to contact me is just to much.

Then don't give Disney your number.

 

[mom2rtk]

I can see giving Disney your number for things like communication when your room is ready or when a ride is down during your FP time and still not wanting to feel like they are tracking you. My guess is that it will continue to be all or nothing though.

 

[wilkeliza]

I can see giving Disney your number for things like communication when your room is ready or when a ride is down during your FP time and still not wanting to feel like they are tracking you. My guess is that it will continue to be all or nothing though.

If you don't want to be tracked then turn down the magicband and ask for a RFID enabled room card instead.

 

[mom2rtk]

If you don't want to be tracked then turn down the magicband and ask for a RFID enabled room card instead.

Or go to DL instead.

Actually, I don't feel strongly enough about this issue to change anything because of it. But I can understand those who do.