Does anyone else think this is a little creepy?

[opal]

We are FL residents and seasonal AP holders. We visited AK in mid-Nov. We have Magic Bands but never bother with Photo Pass cards unless we are touring with visiting family and friends.

This morning I received an e-mail from Disney Photo Pass telling my photos were about to expire. I open the link thinking somehow I have been sent the e-mail in error and I will be viewing someone else's photos. Instead there is a single picture of my dh and myself on Dinosaur.

We did not ride this on a FastPass or Fastpass+ so we did not scan our bands when entering this ride. EE was down during our FP time so we just wandered over and rode Dinosaur.

Anyone have a reasonable explanation for this or just I just continue to be creeped out?????????

 

[LindaBabe]

Face recognition from a previous photopass?

 

[Ametista]

Yes that is creepy. Maybe there is a sensor now to scan your band when photos are taken? I don't see how else it knew it was you.

 

[mulan1123]

I think it's creepy too. When I came back from WDW a few weeks ago, my friend said to check out the pictures from the Photopass+ and I noticed there were a couple of photos from Space Mountain that were taken from the MVMCP...and I don't remember scanning my MB for the photos or for FP+.

What I want to know, how about some of the other rides like Dinosaur, or Everest Expedition that have the photos and are not on the photopass??

 

[AmyB2006]

I think it's that the bracelets are read by RFID scanners, long and short range. So it's probably as simple as the band being read by the scanner while you're on the ride, and having the picture placed in your account. So if you had your bracelet on, that's probably all it is.

 

[chartle]

Magic bands have an active transmitter that's for the magical experience part of magic plus.

There must be a reader somewhere in the loading platform or the ride.

 

[Robbi]

The Magic Bands are read at attractions. Your photos are taken w/out your knowledge. It's supposed to be part of the magic but I agree that it is creepy. Kind of Big Brotherish

 

[ses1230]

Probably the Magic Band. Could be facial recognition, DCL uses it for their version of photopass. I'm not really bothered by it.

 

[DebbieB]

Oh my gosh! I was there Nov 10 to 15 and got a couple e-mails about my PP about to expire. I never used PP so I just assumed it was an e-mail sent to everyone. After I read this, I went to the site. I have 4 pictures! TT, RnR, EE (2, I rode twice). It lists the dates and times! It must read your magic band when the picture is taken! I don't know how I feel about this. It's nice that you have the photos but it's creepy that they could pull these up. They really are tracking you!

 

[chartle]

The Magic Bands are read at attractions. Your photos are taken w/out your knowledge. It's supposed to be part of the magic but I agree that it is creepy. Kind of Big Brotherish

Um every single person that rides gets their picture taken.

 

[Robbi]

Um every single person that rides gets their picture taken.

Duh, yes and we have also known there was a camera for that purpose. These new pictures are more or less taken unawares.

 

[Magpie]

Um every single person that rides gets their picture taken.

But it's SO much less creepy, when you can pretend you don't know that.

Pay no attention to the fact that you've got to walk past a bank of monitors showing everyone's pictures when you exit the ride...

 

[rmm7e]

With the magic band, Disney definitely knows where you are at all times. I realized this while having lunch at Be Our Guest. They didn't give me a rose to mark my table, they delivered my food based on the band. That did creep me out because I was assuming you had to be in close range (and tap the sensor) for it to really work. Instead it's like a Marauder's Map and they are tracking you. (Or will be soon, throughout the parks.)

 

[JillyBean1899]

Your photos are taken w/out your knowledge

Um, if you don't want pictures taken "without your knowledge", then check ride exits before you go on and see if there's a photo shop. If so, they're taking your picture on the ride. Like they have for years. It's just now they know that you're on the ride and can send you the pictures in case you didn't look at them in the park. They're simply fishing for more photo purchases.

 

[Robo]

They have been taking "attraction photos" of every single ride vehicle (on the attractions that offer them,) for years.

It's not just been since MB's have been introduced.
In many circumstances, your images have been sold to OTHER guests who happened to be riding in the same ride vehicle with you for years, too.

 

[Magpie]

They have been taking "attraction photos" of every single ride vehicle (on the attractions that offer them,) for years.

It's not just been since MB's have been introduced.
In many circumstances, your images have been sold to OTHER guests who happened to be riding in the same ride vehicle with you for years, too.

Yes, I remember being very puzzled by a Disser who opted not to treat her child (age 9!) to the Wild Africa Trek because they have a photographer take pictures of everyone on the trek, including a group photo, and afterwards send the CD to everyone who was in that group.

She was concerned about her child's image being sent to strangers, who might possibly have talked to him during the trek, and who would now have enough personal information to... I don't know, kidnap him or something.

She said she wasn't worried about ride photos, because her child wouldn't be talking to anyone on the ride.

I can only imagine her reaction if she'd been sent an e-mail like this!

 

[DebbieB]

Um every single person that rides gets their picture taken.

But before, your name was not attached to them. You were just an anonymous person.

 

[jepperson1]

What exactly are people so paranoid about happening these days? There are security cameras almost everywhere you go. Every time you use a credit/debit card you are linked to that location and the security camera footage can be brought up. Instead of an irrational fear of someone looking at me, I am comforted by the fact that I'm being protected by a security system and police, since I'm not a drug mule. Likewise, I'd probably see the ride photo and be surprised by the lovely memory of my vacation.

 

[doctornick]

But before, your name was not attached to them. You were just an anonymous person.

You've never been an anonymous person to Disney -- they have a ton of cameras with facial recognition software set up around the parks. The MB simply streamlines the process.

Anyhow, I think this seems like a positive change. Instead of wasting your precious park time looking at the ride photos and deciding whether or not to buy them on the spot, you can look at them later at your leisure without having to do anything.

 

[Magpie]

I just checked my account and was disappointed that there was no "surprise" photos on there.

On the plus side, our pics with Snow White are hilarious!