RFID and GAC ?'s

[connie254]

Does anyone know if and how this will affect GACs?

 

[deegack]

Why would it?

 

[Piper]

Sorry--I have no idea to what you want those letters to mean. If they are supposed to stand for a diagnosis, GAC is issued based on need not diagnosis.

 

[deegack]

RFID is radio frequency something. Disney is changing over locks on hotel rooms and other areas to these. There are rumors it will also be used for te new fastpass system.

 

[utterrandomness]

Sorry--I have no idea to what you want those letters to mean. If they are supposed to stand for a diagnosis, GAC is issued based on need not diagnosis.

RFID stands for radio-frequency identification. Generally, it's a card with a chip inside that is read by a special machine. Disney is currently in the test phase of switching their fast-pass technology to an RFID system in which your fast pass information will be held on a card, which you tap on the machine, rather than on multiple slips of paper that you give to a CM. Here's an article that gives more information about the program: http://www.**************.net/2012/...enabled-ride-access-and-advance-reservations/

 

[clanmcculloch]

Since a technology for room keys has nothing to do with GACs or even how parks, attractions, queues, waiting areas, stairs, brightness, sound or anything else that can impact anybody's ability to tour, GAC will not in any way be impacted by RFID technology.

Until we hear anything official about changes to the FP system or ride queues or anything else that's pure speculation right now, I don't see how anybody can speculate what affect it may have on GACs. Frankly, if a FP takes care of your needs today then it'll continue to take care of your needs. If it doesn't then I don't see how this will make a difference. What I'm reading about the speculation for the new technology, it'll allow those of us who rely heavily on detailed touring plans for the majority of our needs to do an even better job of that but we don't use a GAC for those needs anyway.

There are no reliable reports that this will replace FPs. At this point the first trial was only allowing people to select a few prechosen FPs and then they still had to collect regular ones. Isn't inside the magic often making all sorts of guesses about what's to come with only maybe a small percentage coming to fruition? Or am I confusing that site with another?

 

[ttintagel]

Since a technology for room keys has nothing to do with GACs or even how parks, attractions, queues, waiting areas, stairs, brightness, sound or anything else that can impact anybody's ability to tour, GAC will not in any way be impacted by RFID technology.

I can't speak for the OP, but *I* have been wondering if they would be able to load your information onto your RFID bracelet, eliminating the need to carry a physical card. As you say, we don't yet know all the details of how the RFID system will work, but I don't see anything wrong with wondering.

 

[Schmeck]

I can't speak for the OP, but *I* have been wondering if they would be able to load your information onto your RFID bracelet, eliminating the need to carry a physical card. As you say, we don't yet know all the details of how the RFID system will work, but I don't see anything wrong with wondering.

You'd still have to 'show' it to the CM though, or how else would you get the accommodation needed? The CM would have to have an RFID reader/device of some sort to then translate the RFID code to a display, read it, and then try for the accommodation. Wouldn't that take even more time?

It's not like WDW has a bunch of RFID robots scooting about reading bands and escorting guests... hey, now that's an idea!

 

[ttintagel]

You'd still have to 'show' it to the CM though, or how else would you get the accommodation needed? The CM would have to have an RFID reader/device of some sort to then translate the RFID code to a display, read it, and then try for the accommodation. Wouldn't that take even more time?

It's not like WDW has a bunch of RFID robots scooting about reading bands and escorting guests... hey, now that's an idea!

It was my understanding that most, if not all, rides were going to be outfitted with the RFID readers. When someone with a GAC loaded on their bracelet went through the scanner, it would send an alert to the CM to look at a screen.

Like I said, it's all conjecture at this point, but it's been something I've wondered about.

 

[CaliKT]

It was a good question from the OP. In a beta test of this system in May, there were CMs with iPads stationed at the entrances. When a guest waved their card in front of the receiver, information about the guest flashed onto the CMs iPad, such as their name or any special occasion they were celebrating, which let me personalize their welcome.

It's certainly feasible that information regarding a GAC could be included on a guest's RFID ticket. When they arrived at the attraction, the CM could automatically move them to an alternate entrance, or whatever their GAC provided for. Of course, this is pure speculation, an we don't know for sure what the new FastPass+/RFID ticket experience will look like when it's officially rolled out.

 

[Schmeck]

It was my understanding that most, if not all, rides were going to be outfitted with the RFID readers. When someone with a GAC loaded on their bracelet went through the scanner, it would send an alert to the CM to look at a screen.

Like I said, it's all conjecture at this point, but it's been something I've wondered about.

So, they are in the queue, they have to get to the RFID reader, it beeps, then they have to go to the CM? Still seems to be complicating the system - first off, I would assume the person with the GAC must wear the bracelet, which may cause issues with sensitive people. Then, they have to get in line to get to the RFID, then get out to go to the CM, etc. Just seems like you've added an extra step. Why not just go right to the CM?

 

[disney david]

So, they are in the queue, they have to get to the RFID reader, it beeps, then they have to go to the CM? Still seems to be complicating the system - first off, I would assume the person with the GAC must wear the bracelet, which may cause issues with sensitive people. Then, they have to get in line to get to the RFID, then get out to go to the CM, etc. Just seems like you've added an extra step. Why not just go right to the CM?

Never mind sorry

 

[SueM in MN]

There are a lot of possibilities, but since no one really knows anything about how they are planning on doing, we don’t know what possibilities they might pursue.

The current passes to get into the parks, don’t contain any files, but they have number which links to the computer, which does have information specific to that passholder.
It appears that the RFID cards/bracelets/whatever are linked to the holder’s file in a similar way from what people mentioned.
If it also linked some way to a person’s GAC, it would be a way to get information specific to that person and to that attraction to the CMs. For example, if the person needs front row seating because of a vision related disability, that information would pop up so the CM could deal with it. But, it would only show up or be needed on things like shows and would not appear for rides.
Or, if the person needs to avoid stairs, that message would pop up for the CM for only those attractions.
The part that could be difficult is that if it is read by the CM greeting at the entrance, it may need to be read again by each CM along the line.

I have NO idea how ambitious they will be with the RFID technology. They may just use them for resort door entry, park tickets, and Fastpasses - period -

Even that is pretty ambitious to start. I would not expect them to add a lot of other things right away.

 

[Schmeck]

There are a lot of possibilities, but since no one really knows anything about how they are planning on doing, we don’t know what possibilities they might pursue.

The current passes to get into the parks, don’t contain any files, but they have number which links to the computer, which does have information specific to that passholder.
It appears that the RFID cards/bracelets/whatever are linked to the holder’s file in a similar way from what people mentioned.
If it also linked some way to a person’s GAC, it would be a way to get information specific to that person and to that attraction to the CMs. For example, if the person needs front row seating because of a vision related disability, that information would pop up so the CM could deal with it. But, it would only show up or be needed on things like shows and would not appear for rides.
Or, if the person needs to avoid stairs, that message would pop up for the CM for only those attractions.
The part that could be difficult is that if it is read by the CM greeting at the entrance, it may need to be read again by each CM along the line.

I have NO idea how ambitious they will be with the RFID technology. They may just use them for resort door entry, park tickets, and Fastpasses - period -

Even that is pretty ambitious to start. I would not expect them to add a lot of other things right away.

And what happens when (not if, when) the system goes down? If you only have your GAC by RFID, you can't use it until the system comes back on.

 

[SueM in MN]

And what happens when (not if, when) the system goes down? If you only have your GAC by RFID, you can't use it until the system comes back on.

Yes
There are some definite advantages to good old card stock.

 

[cmwade77]

I think a physical card should be needed (perhaps it could be reduced to a stamp on your ticket though), but the RFID chip in it could be used to store a photo of the person who has the GAC card that would be pulled up when the card is used to make sure that person in physically there.

It could also be used to avoid the misuses of the pass that some people do, such as getting off and right back on again on attractions where the GAC does bypass the line that some people do.