Fastpass Enforcement coming?

[KellyNY]

Don't you think, that would be odd? Disney suddenly enforcing the FP window, after 13 years...for no reason? I think, Disney always has a motive, regarding changes or "enhancements" and ...it's always financial.

don't you think that just like you finally had enough, so did they. We sort of starting round # 100 here now, so I will just say this, nobody knows anything.

 

[mom2rtk]

don't you think that just like you finally had enough, so did they. We sort of starting round # 100 here now, so I will just say this, nobody knows anything.

You got something better to do while we're waiting for 3/7 to get here?

 

[KellyNY]

You got something better to do while we're waiting for 3/7 to get here?

Something tells me by 3/7 we all here may have as many posts as Robo.

 

[summermac]

You mean we will all HAVE to wear a !@#$^!@#%@# bracelet all week to get in our rooms, on rides, etc.?!?!?!?!?

That will be incredibly annoying!!!!

We have to wear wristbands for a 4-day concert event we attend every year and also a campground band for the campground we stay in (duh) and honestly after the first day, you don't even feel the band any longer. And I have never ever had a tan line marking from the band and this is 4 days in the SUN by the way. It won't be that bad. Honestly.

And funny enough for at least the first 2 days or so after you take the band off, you start feeling it on your wrist. LOL!

 

[TLSnell1981]

I doubt, 3/7 will be the magic date. Rather, the announcement, regarding..."enhancement" and cost. Hey, it might be enough to bring DH back to the parks. He US "no line" pass and has no problem "paying to play". I won't go back to 2 hr lines. The dining has lost it's appeal and so has Disney merchandise. So, I need a reason to visit WDW...Fantasyland and Avatarland, just won't cut it for us. GenX needs to be SPECTACULAR. IMO

 

[KellyNY]

I doubt, 3/7 will be the magic date. Rather, the announcement, regarding..."enhancement" and cost. Hey, it might be enough to bring DH back to the parks. He US "no line" pass and has no problem "paying to play". I won't go back to 2 hr lines. The dining has lost it's appeal and so has Disney merchandise. So, I need a reason to visit WDW...Fantasyland and Avatarland, just won't cut it for us. GenX needs to be SPECTACULAR. IMO

Look at the bright side, you may finally go to Paris.

 

[doconeill]

The wristbands certainly appear to be removable. In some of the pictures they even looked like those "snap bands" that are straight but then snap into a curved shape around your arm, but others show something more like a watchband.

I'm more concerned about the security of the system being NFC/RFID based, and RFID skimmers possibly being able to get info, especially if they add (as expected) room charge capability. I'd hope a second authentication factor is used then.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Look at the bright side, you may finally go to Paris.

We already vacation in Europe and were in Paris two months ago. Way cheaper than Disney...fantastic food and incredible merchandise too!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You mean we will all HAVE to wear a !@#$^!@#%@# bracelet all week to get in our rooms, on rides, etc.?!?!?!?!?

That will be incredibly annoying!!!!

They will not be using wristbands. It will start with Resort Guests. There are plans to implant a microchip in the left shoulder of all Guests which will replace the KTTW. This will only be done once per person; if a Guest returns the RFID will be reused.

And there will be one extra advantage, they will do a measurement of all children at Resort check-in and that will be tied to the child to determine automatically if they meet height requirements. When the child returns on a subsequent trip they will re-measure.

Remember, you heard it here first.

 

[doconeill]

They will not be using wristbands. It will start with Resort Guests. There are plans to implant a microchip in the left shoulder of all Guests which will replace the KTTW. This will only be done once per person; if a Guest returns the RFID will be reused.

And there will be one extra advantage, they will do a measurement of all children at Resort check-in and that will be tied to the child to determine automatically if they meet height requirements. When the child returns on a subsequent trip they will re-measure.

Remember, you heard it here first.

And we have to believe everything Cheshire Figment says, so...

 

[KellyNY]

We already vacation in Europe and were in Paris two months ago. Way cheaper than Disney...fantastic food and incredible merchandise too!

No doubts here!

 

[nytimez]

I've obtained a photo of the testing of the new RFID system. It's not a wristband and it's not a chip in the shoulder.

 

[KellyNY]

They will not be using wristbands. It will start with Resort Guests. There are plans to implant a microchip in the left shoulder of all Guests which will replace the KTTW. This will only be done once per person; if a Guest returns the RFID will be reused.

And there will be one extra advantage, they will do a measurement of all children at Resort check-in and that will be tied to the child to determine automatically if they meet height requirements. When the child returns on a subsequent trip they will re-measure.

Remember, you heard it here first.

And if guest will leave property to eat offsite or the unthinkable, go to universal, they will send a shock, I mean "return now" signal to the chip, so... eventually guests will learn rules of invisible fence.

 

[larryz]

And we have to believe everything Cheshire Figment says, so...

Why, is he a bus driver?

 

[TwiddleDeeTwiddleDum]

I've obtained a photo of the testing of the new RFID system. It's not a wristband and it's not a chip in the shoulder.

 

[DeaverTex]

X-pass gently reminds you of your scheduled ride times.

 

[magicbob]

X-pass gently reminds you of your scheduled ride times.

 

[Wadecool]

X-pass gently reminds you of your scheduled ride times.

Winning.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm more concerned about the security of the system being NFC/RFID based, and RFID skimmers possibly being able to get info, especially if they add (as expected) room charge capability. I'd hope a second authentication factor is used then.

That would be my primary concern too, but it is possible that they would add a second layer of authentication. Perhaps they'd require ID for RFID purchases, though that would defeat the card-less aspect. Or perhaps they'd have guests select a PIN when checking in that would be required in authorizing room charge transactions. That would be simple enough to code into POS systems and the physical equipment is already in place.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

That was a very early prototype of things, from last summer. It could have changed radically since then...but it is the basis from which all rumors have spawned. And having prototyped and tested some aspects of it back then, I'd expect it earlier than JH's 2013, unless there has been some setbacks.

I'm not sure how it would necessarily enhance FP, other than providing another way for those with wristbands to get FPs instead of using their tickets, but I think both systems are likely to co-exist for a while. A cold-turkey switch would be hard on many guests. "Basic Xpass" as you put it is basically Fastpass.

Exactly. When I wrote that I was actually thinking about the "FASTPASS PLUS" mock up circulating on the other thread. Xpass could easily be incorporated as an enhanced version of Fastpass. I cannot see two systems co-existing, it does not make sense to me. We will have to agree to disagree.

I think we will start seeing aspects of it sooner than later, but perhaps more widespread use by 2013. They don't need to include every aspect of it right away - like room access - until they've swapped out all the necessary equipment, but they can begin offering the new features - and therefore getting money back on the investment - sooner, where they can concentrate the changes in to smaller focused areas. Then they can replace the KTTW cards, add more interactive features, etc. The latter things are stuff that can't be monetized as easily as they don't necessarily translate to more deluxe bookings or outright cash income.

I agree with you, that Disney can add more features later, but that's where it ends. I do not believe that this will be offered to only deluxe guest(s). I respect your opinion but I hate this idea. I don't buy that Disney will risk alienating the value & mod guests and we only stay at deluxe resorts and love CL, we'll be back again this summer. Also, I'm betting on much later than sooner, this has got to be right, not perfect but right.

I'm still convinced it is, even if it will be a while to see Phase 1. Rumors of enforcement started to heat up this past summer, and pretty much each time, it was accompanied by something on the order of "this is because of something bigger coming". A lot of us pooh-pooh'd the reports early on since we've heard it all before, but by Fall I was convinced it had a decent likelyhood it could happen so I wasn't really surprised.

In the grand scheme of things, MK had over 16 million visitors last year. I cannot envision Disney taking away a convenience, that has always been free and available to everyone for over a decade and offer it to a select few for a premium. It simply doesn't make sense (to me) to have "two" systems. That's never been their strategy, look at the free dining model, they offered it to "everyone" and they've tweaked the plan for those who wanted to pay more for wine or deluxe dining. I think only certain exclusive elements of XPass will be pay for play and of course, there will be a ridiculous mark up on the bracelets.

You mean we will all HAVE to wear a !@#$^!@#%@# bracelet all week to get in our rooms, on rides, etc.?!?!?!?!?

That will be incredibly annoying!!!!

You're funny. Of course, I'm pretty sure the bracelets are optional, they're super cute, I know you'll buy one, lol. The bracelets may be called "Magic Bands", this makes me wonder if XPass will be named "Magic Pass".