new EMH practices

[Ms_Butterfly]

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)

You've never stayed at one of the spread-out resorts like CBR have you? It would be very unreasonable to expect ppl to take the internal bus to the front bldg. every morning just for some wrist bands. And it certainly wouldn't take less time!

Not only that, but it would not solve the problem of ppl giving or selling their wristbands to others.

 

[Daydreamer64]

When we stay at Universal resorts, the front desk people have hole punches, if you ask, they turn the cards vertical and punch a hole in the plastic card avoiding any important words or magnetic strips, then we use a key chain type of hook and connect the cards to the lanyard.

For the Uni. guests that get front of the line, like fast pass, a perk for staying on property, they have to show their card at every ride to go in the fast lane. It's really not a big deal and our cards have never been lost if they are attached to the lanyard.

One thing that comes to mind is that WDW often sells paper tickets- this would not work in that situation.

 

[KPeveler]

I was thinking the people would put the wrist bands on that morning.

I just can see the nightmare when people realize that cards are not going to be checked at alternative entrances (if they are not checked there, which is unknown)... all of a sudden everyone will be going to that line...

i wonder if they are going to make EMH a hard close event or something...

 

[Talking Hands]

Whatever method they use someone will complain. I normally carry my id, keycard and credit card in a pouch around my neck. For me that would be ideal but it might bother others.

 

[SueM in MN]

IWhile 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.

We've been to a couple of concerts where our tickets were scanned by handheld scanners and they use bar code scanners to scan airline tickets, so the technology is there. Bar codes also don't have to be precisely places to be read.
There are scanners that are wireless and portable, some are modified PDAs. They would be an investment, but maybe not that expensive and once they were bought, they might save money. Because of Pal Mickey, we know they already have wireless in place.
They already had CMs at the ride entrances to look for wristbands, so having those CMs use a scanner to get a simple 'yes - no' would probably not take any more CMs for attraction access. They would save on the CMs who hand out wristbands and if word got out that they were actually verifying in a more 'scam-proof' way, there would probably be less people trying to scam (at least until they could figure a way around it).

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I was thinking the people would put the wrist bands on that morning.

People still would remove the wristband from their wrists by sliding it off and give or sell them to others.

I just can see the nightmare when people realize that cards are not going to be checked at alternative entrances (if they are not checked there, which is unknown)... all of a sudden everyone will be going to that line...

Only ppl in wheelchairs/ECVs or with GACs can use alternate entrances, not just anybody for the want of it. But I'm sure the CMs there will also be checking cards.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

We've been to a couple of concerts where our tickets were scanned by handheld scanners and they use bar code scanners to scan airline tickets, so the technology is there. Bar codes also don't have to be precisely places to be read.
There are scanners that are wireless and portable, some are modified PDAs. They would be an investment, but maybe not that expensive and once they were bought, they might save money.

Very true. Lots of places use these. Some places also use portable handheld scanners they swipe credit cards with.

Because of Pal Mickey, we know they already have wireless in place.

Isn't Pal Mickey done via infrared?

 

[mrmagicmph]

Isn't Pal Mickey done via infrared?

You're right. Pal Mickey's all handled via infrared. That's why, whenever they have to "reset" him, they stick his nose inside a gizmo... his nose is the receiver.

Enjoy the Magic!

 

[SueM in MN]

You're right. Pal Mickey's all handled via infrared. That's why, whenever they have to "reset" him, they stick his nose inside a gizmo... his nose is the receiver.

Enjoy the Magic!

Yes, forgot that.
What I was thinking of was the trials they had done with Nintendo DS, which does have wi-fi. I got that mixed up with Pal Mickey.

They could transfer information from hand held scanners either way though. When I synch my palm PDA device with my computer at work, I use a cable. But, when I synch at home, I use infrared.
All they would need was an infrared receiver and a handheld scanner or a scanner that communicates to a wi-fi receiver.

 

[cmwade77]

They could put in RFID chips in the cards. This would allow the scaning of the cards without swiping or barcodes. It could also be used to locate lost cards or children

 

[Cheshire Figment]

They could put in RFID chips in the cards. This would allow the scanning of the cards without swiping or barcodes. It could also be used to locate lost cards or children

Actually, my proposal is that they implant a RFID chip it the left shoulder of all Guests. This will then do away with need for tickets or anything else. It would keep track of your admissions, fastpasses, eligibility for EMH, charge card, dining, locating lost children (or parents) and who knows what else. And the chip could be re-used on subsequent trips.

 

[hematite153]

I read the changes as meaning that they are going to do even less checking that only resort guests were using the evening EMH. Every time I've used an evening EMH, I found that except at the most popular attractions there were lots of guests riding without wristbands. Granted, I tend to travel in less popular times so these extra people were turning 10 minute waits into 20 minute waits, but, I was there at the less popular time in order to get the 10 minute waits.

I'll look forward to hearing from people who are there in the first few days of the changed system to find out if they are enforcing the resort guests only rule and if so, how.

 

[SueM in MN]

The times we've been at EMH, they have been very careful at checking for wristbands at all the attractions.
So, it might be variable depending on the park and on how busy it is.

 

[hematite153]

The times we've been at EMH, they have been very careful at checking for wristbands at all the attractions.
So, it might be variable depending on the park and on how busy it is.

Hmmn...it's good to know they were paying attention some of the time...it gives me confidence to try it again.

 

[disneyandme]

I feel for the parents with young kids. I know my DH and I take ours kids onto different rides and each time we exchanged kids we would have to make sure to have the right tickets with us.

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

I feel for the parents with young kids. I know my DH and I take ours kids onto different rides and each time we exchanged kids we would have to make sure to have the right tickets with us.

That's where lanyards and baggage tags are useful. Put each kids' KTTW card in their own lanyard around their neck or a baggage tag attached to their backpack/fannypack/belt/belt loop and then you won't have to exchange anything but the kids, since their KTTW card comes with them.

 

[disneyandme]

I love the baggage tag idea. I never liked the idea of putting it around my youngest ones neck because of the possible chocking issue, but a luggage tag would work great.

 

[zumbergc]

We were at disney in may and they did a test drive of the show your resort card at the emh locations. It was amazingly slow, getting into the ride lines. Everyone was pulling there tickets in and out of the pockets, people hunting for their cards to show.

It was a super pain in the rear. I can't believe they are actually going to do this. At that time they didn't swipe the cards, they just looked at them, you had to flash them, and I doubt the cm's actually looked at the dates on all of the ones, it was show your card at the time.

Disney is just asking for more lost room keys, possible lost keys with room charging activated. So, when you get back to your room, you and the other buddies who lost their keys will have to get replacements that night or first thing in the morning.

If you do a search way back into may 08, we were there the may 27th - june 1. Thats when they did a trial of the show your KTTWC. No one liked it, all the guests complained, and yet they still roll this plan out?

I think it would be easier to stamp the wristbands with the date, and show that to the CM going into lines, this way, no putting away the room keys, and hunting around for them.

Connie

 

[Ms_Butterfly]

Remember that trial periods of things usually DO go wrong and have many faults. That's the point of them - to get the problems worked out before the thing goes full time. So, just because you experienced problems during a trial of something (this EMH thing, a new/rehabbed attraction, etc.) doesn't mean the final thing will be like that. New things always have growing pains.

Did they announce the trial well to resort guests (ones who are NOT on this board, I mean - it doesn't count if you read about it on this board ahead of time)? If not, ppl would not have been prepared to keep their cards out, hence the slow-down. Once the process is fully implemented, Disney hopefully will explain the process to guests so that their cards will be kept in easy reach - and eventually everybody will be used to the process.

 

[SueM in MN]

Remember that trial periods of things usually DO go wrong and have many faults. That's the point of them - to get the problems worked out before the thing goes full time. So, just because you experienced problems during a trial of something (this EMH thing, a new/rehabbed attraction, etc.) doesn't mean the final thing will be like that. New things always have growing pains.

Did they announce the trial well to resort guests (ones who are NOT on this board, I mean - it doesn't count if you read about it on this board ahead of time)? If not, ppl would not have been prepared to keep their cards out, hence the slow-down. Once the process is fully implemented, Disney hopefully will explain the process to guests so that their cards will be kept in easy reach - and eventually everybody will be used to the process.

The same thing happened when they started using the finger check for admission. At first people were not ready for it and lines getting into the park would get held up as people got the explanation of what they needed to do. That's pretty much a non-issue now.