No More EMH Wristbands

[aaronmckie]

We're planning to be in the MK on 9/7 - for EMH night. figures

Us too
I guess we'll be the guinea pigs for the rest of the Dis'ers, I hope it isn't too chaotic

 

[WaltD4Me]

Here's another kink in the plan. Are they going to periodically change the look of the KTTW cards because I happen to have kept every KTTW card I have ever received. So, could I possibly stay at a DTD resort or the Holiday Inn Express and bring an old KTTW card flash it at the really busy ride operator as I walk by and still ride the rides for EMH? I tend to think "sneaky" like that...

I thought of this too, we are both sneaky thinkers but again, I think the percentage of people who would do this would be small and Disney wouldn't worry about it. How many people are going to say "Hey, I'll keep my card, so I can stay off property next trip and still get on rides during EMH?"

 

[karibritt01]

I'm fine with the non-resort staying guest staying in the park during EMH. But, in reality, it doesn't really give the resort-staying guest any real benefit, except getting on rides a little easier. The crowd in the park won't be thinner, but the ride lines may be shorter?

Do you really think that will be that much of an issue? After a long day at the parks, how many non-resort guests are going to hang out endlessly at the park. It may take some time for them to filter through the gift shops and such, but they will move on. But non-resort guests have never been asked to leave the park during EMH... just not allowed to ride the rides. Hard ticket events and EMH are very different in that respect.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I haven't read through this entire thread, but still wanted to respond. I hate the idea of having non-resort guests in EMH. This program is for those who paid the price to stay on property. It is one of the "perks" on-site guests receive. Allowing others to infringe on this is just wrong.

I like the idea of not having to get a wristband. I always found that to be a pain in the butt. However, I do not like the fact that I'll have to pull out my card for every ride. I remember they were testing this in April when we were there. Even though they were giving out wristbands, they had scanners and would just scan your card. I am assuming this is what will happen once the wristbands are no more.

 

[WaltD4Me]

I haven't read through this entire thread, but still wanted to respond. I hate the idea of having non-resort guests in EMH. This program is for those who paid the price to stay on property. It is one of the "perks" on-site guests receive. Allowing others to infringe on this is just wrong.

I like the idea of not having to get a wristband. I always found that to be a pain in the butt. However, I do not like the fact that I'll have to pull out my card for every ride. I remember they were testing this in April when we were there. Even though they were giving out wristbands, they had scanners and would just scan your card. I am assuming this is what will happen once the wristbands are no more.

So they were actually scanning your card at attractions???? I can see that slowing up the lines, someone's card won't scan or they will have to wait while people dig out their cards, ect...Dumb. The wristbands were easier. Why can't they still issue the wristbands
and just enforce those for people going on rides?

I understand what you are saying about the perk for resort guests, but I really prefer this over other cuts I think they could make. Like, I would rather have them do this than cut back on shows. KWIM?

 

[disneyholic family]

We're planning to be in the MK on 9/7 - for EMH night. figures
When I read this thread this morning, I pulled out the lanyards I have at home and will be packing them to make things easier. Glad I saw this. I guess I'll just have the CM punch one of those cute mickey head holes in each card so they can clip onto the lanyard. They did that on a prior trip to differentiate the cards for our 2 rooms. Hopefully they'll still do that.

Thank heavens for the DIS so I can keep up on things.

Us too
I guess we'll be the guinea pigs for the rest of the Dis'ers, I hope it isn't too chaotic

DD will be there on 9/7 too (she arrives at WDW on 9/3)..
i set up a suggested schedule for her and 9/7 EMH at the MK is part of it....
i told her about the change last night and suggested she buy lanyards when she gets to WDW....
i have 2 surprise welcome baskets scheduled to be in their rooms when they arrive...
had i known about this last month when i ordered them, i would have had them include a lanyard in each basket..... argh....so annoying...

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Just a personal note - I hate wearing lanyards almost as much as I hate crocs

 

[FireDancer]

Another option is to use Passive RFID technology in the KTTW cards. Disney already uses RFID in the parks so they own the technology. You could just pass the card in front of a panel which could have a small green light indicating that the card is current. It would take about 3 seconds to reach into your pocket, pass your card over the pad and continue. If they are in lanyards it would be even easier since you could just pass the whole lanyard over the pad. Everyone will just have to keep their own cards in their pockets and if they don’t have pockets get lanyards. I imagine, as I said earlier, that young kids would not have to have their cards since they would be accompanied by adults.

 

[SamIAm21]

Do you really think that will be that much of an issue? After a long day at the parks, how many non-resort guests are going to hang out endlessly at the park. It may take some time for them to filter through the gift shops and such, but they will move on. But non-resort guests have never been asked to leave the park during EMH... just not allowed to ride the rides. Hard ticket events and EMH are very different in that respect.

I remember castmembers being stationed in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland and they were checking wristbands as you entered or exited each land. If you did not have a wristband, you were asked to make your way to the exit. Saw it happen several times. This was at about 11:30 to the midnight hour, most recently this past June.

 

[karibritt01]

I remember castmembers being stationed in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland and they were checking wristbands as you entered or exited each land. If you did not have a wristband, you were asked to make your way to the exit. Saw it happen several times. This was at about 11:30 to the midnight hour, most recently this past June.

That must be a recent change, then. We were last there in June 2007 and they only cared about resort guests for riding the rides. Shopping, dining, Fantasmic they didn't care who stayed. I still think that would only be a very small percentage that would stay during EMH, knowing they couldn't ride.

 

[WaltD4Me]

Another option is to use Passive RFID technology in the KTTW cards. Disney already uses RFID in the parks so they own the technology. You could just pass the card in front of a panel which could have a small green light indicating that the card is current. It would take about 3 seconds to reach into your pocket, pass your card over the pad and continue. If they are in lanyards it would be even easier since you could just pass the whole lanyard over the pad. Everyone will just have to keep their own cards in their pockets and if they don’t have pockets get lanyards. I imagine, as I said earlier, that young kids would not have to have their cards since they would be accompanied by adults.

I'm sure they could absolutely do this and it would probably work ok with actual rides, but what about shows like Fantasmic, FOTLK or Nemo where they are letting a large amount of people in, you don't enter Fantasmic in a single line. Can you imagine all those people lining up to go by a card reader?

 

[FireDancer]

I'm sure they could absolutely do this and it would probably work ok with actual rides, but what about shows like Fantasmic, FOTLK or Nemo where they are letting a large amount of people in, you don't enter Fantasmic in a single line. Can you imagine all those people lining up to go by a card reader?

I don't know how well it will work for those rides but at the same time it is hard to check wrist bands when than many people are entering an attraction also. Especially on a colder day when people are wearing long sleeves.

I don't think Disney is worried about the 1% of guests who will find a way past their technology as much as the 99% who will follow the rules.

In any scenario, whether they use wrist bands or KTTW cards or hand stamps, some people will break the rules. It is like a speed limit. People break that rule all the time, and this is a law, not a rule, but they are still posted and when you are caught there are consequences.

 

[Jacklynn]

Wrist bands would be ok if they were distributed at resort check-in.

I think that is a good idea actually.

I think that if Disney is worried about paying for all of those wristbands, like if that is part of the reason, they will be spending just as much money if not more, replacing all of the lost cards...

 

[MM32830]

I think that is a good idea actually.

I think that if Disney is worried about paying for all of those wristbands, like if that is part of the reason, they will be spending just as much money if not more, replacing all of the lost cards...

I've seen lots of posts about "losing cards" but how often have any of us lost any card that we have (credit cards, debit cards, drivers license, IDs, etc)?

Seriously, would we lose a card if we have to show it a few times an evening?


__________
Armand

 

[karibritt01]

If wrist bands were handed out at resort check-in, there would be a much greater problem of non-resort guest using them. What would happen to the armbands of people who hate EMH, and don't use it. And there are quite a few haters out there! Those armbands could then be given away to off property friends and relatives, or sold. And would it be 1 arm band, or a different arm band for each day. Just not the right solution IMO.

 

[SamIAm21]

If wrist bands were handed out at resort check-in, there would be a much greater problem of non-resort guest using them. What would happen to the armbands of people who hate EMH, and don't use it. And there are quite a few haters out there! Those armbands could then be given away to off property friends and relatives, or sold. And would it be 1 arm band, or a different arm band for each day. Just not the right solution IMO.

True!! Heck they now sell fast passes on eBay not to mention the Dream Fast Passes. Can you imagine the market for the wristbands.

 

[Disney8704]

Maybe they could have it where in all parks, they have a ropped off section for people to gather in that are staying for EMH. And everyone else would have to leave. If I remember reading correctly, they do the same thing for like MNSSHP and MVMCP. That way the only people are allowed in the parks are people staying on site.

 

[Disney8704]

What do you mean by swipping the cards? I was there 2 -3 weeks ago and they just looked at the card and gave us a wristband. I remember one time we went to Soarin during EMH 1 night and this family in front of us, just showed their KTW card and the guy let them through.

If I am not mistaken the system that Universal uses is like fast passes with a separate line. That system is not used for a special event like EMH for resort guests. Universal doesn't have the kind of attendance that WDW gets and no where near the amount of resort guests Disney has. The number of people using the express lines each day would probably pale in comparison to the number of people going to the EMH nights that would need to present their room card. The point of EMH is to reduce the wait times, but in my opinion this is going to make it worse bc people are going to be holding up the lines trying to get their cards out and get them back in wherever they are holding them. You would like to think that everyone would have their cards out and ready but I feel that that is going to be far from what happens. I liked the fact that I could get my card swiped the one time and then go on with the wristband. I personally do think it is an inconvenience to pull out your card every time and I think their is going to be a huge problem with people losing their cards and such. On another note, the swiping of the cards ensured that the card was valid. If they are not going to be swiping the cards I think that is going to create more issues with the off site guests trying to get cards to use to get on the rides. I know there are always going to be ways around things like that, but I see much more of an issue with the change they are making.

 

[LeesyUD]

What do you mean by swipping the cards? I was there 2 -3 weeks ago and they just looked at the card and gave us a wristband. I remember one time we went to Soarin during EMH 1 night and this family in front of us, just showed their KTW card and the guy let them through.

Sorry I meant when they were giving the bracelets out they would swipe the card to make sure it was valid and then you get your bracelet.

 

[Disney8704]

Thats what I meant. They didnt swipe our cards. They just looked at them, handed it back to us, and gave us EMH wristbands. Only time we swipped our cards was to get into the park. Or did they use to have a different wristband along time ago where they swiped the card? I always thought its always been the wristbands.

Sorry I meant when they were giving the bracelets out they would swipe the card to make sure it was valid and then you get your bracelet.