new EMH practices

[KPeveler]

I am interested in seeing how this new EMH practice works... i count on evening EMH to do a LOT of my MK and Epcot touring, since i have problems in sun and heat, and with this new way, I admit to being worried that things will be more crowded, even if they are not in line.

Also, i hope disney will handle the alternative entrances, if they ARE swiping cards... otherwise we are going to have to find people at the entrances of things like BTMRR, and then go to the other line...

I hope this doesnt make things more complicated for us. I am looking forward to reports from people in the future!

 

[mechurchlady]

Don't make sense to me. Can you imagine the added time if every person in line had to have a valid card and that is was swiped in a machine. If they do not swipe the cards then the CM would have to look at the card. How would a CM guarantee that real guests were actually riding without swiping the car?

I wonder how many lost cards will be reported. The plans of mice and men are best left to the women.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Somehow missed this announcement - what is the new EMH set up?

Thanks!

 

[mechurchlady]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/earlyentry.htm
They will do away with the wrist band and make guests show they room card thing. Keys to the Kingdom maybe the name. So every ride you go on would require a CM to look at or scan your room card. I loose tickets and keys in a second so an uproar because of the hassle to be pulling our your room card to prove you are allowed there after hours.

When you go to Disboards there is a scrolling window listing new changes to the board.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disupdates.htm

some of the latest updates:
====================
Extra Magic Hour wristbands being eliminated
Beijing Olympics merchandise on sale at China Pavilion
NEW!! Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure coming to Epcot
Epcot Food and Wine Festival updated, including booking information
Disneyland Update Section : Miley Cyrus Sweet 16 party October 5
February Calendar added
Disney Dining Plan exchange options from August 24 - September 27 for Table Service Entitlements
Mickeys Not So Scary Halloween Party October 4 added
DISUnplugged Podcast 8/20/08 In this weeks show we'll discuss our recent visit to DisneyQuest at Downtown Disney. Kevin Klose reviews Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge, as well as Captains Grille at the Yacht Club on this weeks edition of the DIS Unplugged
August 21 Disney Wonder departing from Ft. Lauderdale
Disney Cruise Line discounts for FL Residents and Military
T-Rex restaurant in Downtown Disney opening date
Disney Hurricane Policy

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Thanks!

What a pain that would be!! Sounds like a truly dumb idea - there will be so many lost key cards having to take it out for every attraction. Not only dumb, plain annoying!

I should check out that page more often...never wander over there

Thanks again!

 

[mechurchlady]

A lot of major changes like for a while you can exchange a table service meal for a counter service meal and get two snacks or a certificate for a mesh bag. Landry's T-Rex is coming to WDW but only a few people in Kansas City would have heard of them. It is a lot like Landry's RainForest Cafe. And there is a merger of reservations, eek. I check that section each day for new stuff.

 

[dclfun]

They've had the "exchange your TS for a CS plus either the two snacks or "gift" for the past few years during FD. Some people don't know to make ADR's and thus are shut out of the restaurants/times they prefer and some really like CS meals. For the new EMH policy I don't think it will be a hassle. Most guests, including myself, will likely wear the cards around their neck on a lanyard which I'm sure they'll be showing more prominently in the gift shops and selling. Of course someone can bring an old card and I doubt anyone would actually read the dates, but this has also been the case with wristbands when the CM's job is to get the wristbands handed out quickly vs. actually checking the validity of room cards/dates. Since they hire CM's to pass out the wrist bands, this will be one less expenditure and since some guests have complained about having to wear a wristband or not being able to get it off after the EMH, then there's one less complaint. Somehow I don't see CM's policing resort guests- just seeing a room card will be all that's needed- they don't have the technology to swipe at each attraction and it would hold up the lines. So far, so good on this one, IMO.---Kathy

 

[KPeveler]

Why don't they give out the wrist bands at the resorts for that day? If you want to stay for EMH, you have to get your wristband and have them put it on you (so you cant give it away or sell it) at the resort. since only resort guests can stay, i dunno why this wouldnt work... that way there wouldnt need to be CMs trying to read room cards in the dark at the parks.

at the resort a CM can look up how many bracelets you get and give you only that many, and that is it for the day!

 

[SueM in MN]

Somehow I don't see CM's policing resort guests- just seeing a room card will be all that's needed- they don't have the technology to swipe at each attraction and it would hold up the lines. So far, so good on this one, IMO.---Kathy

They could have the technology to read the cards easily. I don't know if all the keycards have a bar code in addition to the magnetic strip, but bar codes can be read easily just by aiming at them with a handheld wireless reader. So, they could do the technology part pretty easily. The program would just have to verify that the barcode on that keycard was valid and either give a 'yes' or 'no' to the CM.
Unlike magnetic strips, bar codes don't need to be swiped to read and they can be read right thru plastic (another good way to sell lanyards with little plastic bag holders.)

What I see for right now is an increase in sales of 'souvenier' keycards on ebay. There were people selling used EMH wristbands (bet the people who bought them were not happy to find out the color was different for the night they went than the wristbands they bought). So, start looking for sales of keycards on an ebay near you.

 

[mgilmer]

There have been numerous reports of folks scamming their way into wrist bands or buying them from Ebay, etc. I think this is a way around the scammers. I just looked at our most recent KTTW and they had a barcode on the front and the dates of our stays. I would think the CM would merely look at the date of stay to see if the presenter is a valid onsite guest or not.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Although I'm not a fan of lanyards (can't stand the feeling around my neck - feels like lead even if empty), could wear one with the key card in the plastic holder just for EMH's.

Learn something new everyday - never would I have imagined the EMH wrist bands being sold on e-bay ...or key cards!!

Thought wristbands were a different color for each ngt, but maybe that's changed. The things people will do......

 

[honugirl]

I don't know how you could put your card on a lanyard. You would have to take it off the lanyard to get a fastpass and to enter the parks because don't the machines suck the cards into it to read them if I remember correctly? I know in some places that have machines that do that, you can't punch a hole in them. Like the Charlie Cards for the MBTA in Boston. Guess that I'm going to have to get a holder for it to wear. One more thing to haul around! Doh!

I'm not sure I like the idea of having to pull that card out for every ride since my credit card is attached to it, my room, etc.

I'll be going to the first night this goes into practice, so hopefully it'll be nice and easy!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

You can punch a hole in the KTTW. Just make sure that it is not into the magnetic stripe or the bar coade, and that you don't destroy any data on it.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Some Lanyards have a plastic holder with ziplock - we used this for Mousefest a couple of times. We kept our key and AP in the plastic and the ziplock kept it safe.

Would have to take it out each time - unless the CM had a thingy that could scan the bar code.

 

[honugirl]

Cool, good to know! Thanks. I just wish they weren't changing this up as I'm trying to get used to the ECV and everything. Our first day there is the first day they are doing this, 9/7 at MK and we were planning on staying for EMH. We've got an ADR at Tony's so we were hoping to easily enjoy the extra hours. Now I'm not so sure this isn't going to be a hassle... But hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Minnie&Nana]

Have a wonderful visit - I am sure it will go smoothly!!

 

[honugirl]

Thanks! I sure hope so!!!!

 

[Schmeck]

Why don't they give out the wrist bands at the resorts for that day? If you want to stay for EMH, you have to get your wristband and have them put it on you (so you cant give it away or sell it) at the resort. since only resort guests can stay, i dunno why this wouldnt work... that way there wouldnt need to be CMs trying to read room cards in the dark at the parks.

at the resort a CM can look up how many bracelets you get and give you only that many, and that is it for the day!

So, if you wanted to do EMH, and you were at the park already, you'd either have had to get the bands that morning before heading out, or head all the way back to the resort to get them? That would make for a lot of grouchy onsite guests, and WDW would not like to make their guests grouchy.

 

[KPeveler]

I dont think it is unreasonable for guests to have to stop by a front desk to get something... it may be less time for a guest to do that once a day (on their way out - if you dont go to EMH, then just dont go)... i am comparing that time to how long we are all going to have to wait at each attraction to get cards read, and someone's card will not work or htey lost it or they have the wrong one, etc...

I was just trying to come up with something to make things easier in the parks...

the other option that may come up in the future is to have it be a hard close event - people go out and come back in, but i think that would be even worse

 

[dclfun]

I wouldn't want to get wristbands at the resort. Can you imagine the lines and issues? How would they verify that each party only got one set...("oh,...we lost our wristbands and need to get another set" issue). They aren't going to deny someone a second set. I also wouldn't want to have to start my day getting the bands or return to my resort, and what if someone forgot in the am or decided later in the day that the wanted to do late EMH. Ugh. While I could see technology being present to read the cards it would be expensive to place them at all the EMH attractions and difficult for families to scan each card, again with a back-up in lines that could be moving more quickly. Someone without upper arm usage or poor coordination might not be able to scan their own card. On the other hand I still don't see CM's taking the time to read all the dates/names to see if the cards are valid but perhaps they'll be randomly checking like the airlines do random checks to "scare" scammers from trying to fake their way in with an old or someone else's card. As it is, I'm not too worried about it as I didn't like the wristbands, esp. in cooler weather when they disappeared up my arm under a sweatshirt and couldn't be easily seen. I guess we'll all have to watch ebay now for the lanyards, lol.---Kathy