RFID Scanners installed around MK

[DRDISNEYMD]

And the covers have been removed, behold! The red one is splash, the blue is philharmagic.


http://twitpic.com/9frpze

http://twitpic.com/9frzkx

~Thanks for the update! They're too cute, I love the different colors! Okay, these are the scanners that were tested in Epcot back in November. You just hold your card or bracelet in front of it.

~The other machine must be a touch screen computer for off site guests and for guests who don't have access to a computer! Again, my guess is that FP+ will remain "free" available to ALL Disney guests who purchase their tickets DIRECTLY from Disney. To me, this is just a system overhaul, similar to resort online check in!
@DisneyProjects

 

[Squidgyness]

~Thanks for the update! They're too cute, I love the different colors! Okay, these are the scanners that were tested in Epcot back in November. You just hold your card or bracelet in front of it.

~The other machine must be a touch screen computer for off site guests and for guests who don't have access to a computer! Again, my guess is that FP+ will remain "free" available to ALL Disney guests who purchase their tickets DIRECTLY from Disney. To me, this is just a system overhaul, similar to resort online check in!

If it is just an overhaul, and simply replaces paper FP's with Bracelets for all guests (including offsite day trippers etc) with Fastpass+ running ALONGSIDE normal fastpass with minimal interruption then that would be fantastic.

I'm not bothered if they introduce a minority system for those willing to pay. My problem would only be if this affects off-site and non-planning on-site visitors. By the sounds of it it is only certain rides, to a limited amount of fastpasses at certain times and only free at certain resorts. That sounds ok to me, as long as only a minority take this up we should all be fine.

It does seem stupid to me that from the information currently out there, certain rides would be excluded from this system. Seems like Disney could be facing massive complaints from people who have either paid extra to upgrade or deliberately chosen a more expensive resort to get this included, and not realised it is only in effect a benefit for parades and the occasional ride. No skin off my nose though. The less this system impacts the rest of us the better imo.

 

[DisneyDee27]

If it's a bracelet, i hope that it is removable.
I can't sleep with something on my wrist.
Dee

 

[jjsdad]

I'm sure it will be removable. Probably have some sort of magnet to hold it in place so that it easilly removes.

I still wonder how they will handle access to the system. There has to be a way to ensure someone is going to be in the parks on those specific dates to allow them access to the reservation system for those said dates. I question how they will handle Annual Pass Holders and locals who don't need to reserve anything to take a trip.

 

[angelmav]

Well there goes the theory (paging DrDisney et al) who thought the FP enforcement had nothing to do with Next Gen.

Any enhancement is likely to have a price tag attached in some form. Universal charges for it for everyone but onsite guests, so Disney wouldn't be at a disadvantage in regards to the competition.

I think it is a pricey feature at Universal, will be curious to see what Disney thinks theirs is worth.

 

[DisneyFive]

Maybe this has been said already, but I hope this doesn't cause CM's to lose jobs. Will there still be a need to have a CM at the FP entrance if you are only allowed to enter with your bracelet/card? Will there be a turnstyle that lets you pass once you've been o.k.'d to go on?

Plus, letting guests choose their FP time will be a great thing if it happens, but man I can't imagine how long some of the lines will get at the RFID FP distribution spots because it will take a while for guests at each machine if they are given options like that.

Just some thoughts I have.

Dan

 

[jjsdad]

Maybe this has been said already, but I hope this doesn't cause CM's to lose jobs. Will there still be a need to have a CM at the FP entrance if you are only allowed to enter with your bracelet/card? Will there be a turnstyle that lets you pass once you've been o.k.'d to go on?

Plus, letting guests choose their FP time will be a great thing if it happens, but man I can't imagine how long some of the lines will get at the RFID FP distribution spots because it will take a while for guests at each machine if they are given options like that.

Just some thoughts I have.

Dan

If anything I think it will create more jobs as there will be a need to assist guests with this process. The regular fast passes are not going away so they will still need to be there for that. According to the disneyconstruction tweets last night they were running training sessions last night at the haunted mansion and apparently when the guest checks in at the scanner it either lights blue or green, and their information pops up on an ipad that a CM will be holding at the scanner. I'm sure we will find out more this week as testing begins but it definitely won't eliminate jobs.

 

[Belle0101]

~Thanks for the update! They're too cute, I love the different colors! Okay, these are the scanners that were tested in Epcot back in November. You just hold your card or bracelet in front of it.

~The other machine must be a touch screen computer for off site guests and for guests who don't have access to a computer! Again, my guess is that FP+ will remain "free" available to ALL Disney guests who purchase their tickets DIRECTLY from Disney. To me, this is just a system overhaul, similar to resort online check in!
@DisneyProjects

Well bummer, we purchase our tickets through the Y.E.S. program. We used to purchase them through UT so even those would, most likely, not count.

Be interesting to see this all play out.

 

[jjsdad]

Well bummer, we purchase our tickets through the Y.E.S. program. We used to purchase them through UT so even those would, most likely, not count.

Be interesting to see this all play out.

I honestly think they there is a better chance they do this based off of hotel reservation and not tickets (pure speculation on my part). This is for 2 reasons, 1. the rumors that have been floating around since the beginning of this nexgen talk about it being either a perk for deluxe guests, a tiered perk system based off of resort class, or a perk for all disney resort guests.

2. Annual pass holders would fall into the same trap you would purchasing tickets through YES/UT.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Well there goes the theory (paging DrDisney et al) who thought the FP enforcement had nothing to do with Next Gen.

Any enhancement is likely to have a price tag attached in some form. Universal charges for it for everyone but onsite guests, so Disney wouldn't be at a disadvantage in regards to the competition.

I think it is a pricey feature at Universal, will be curious to see what Disney thinks theirs is worth.

~Ewww, this post is so weird! I said that a very long time ago! But, you are on your job to save the day and make sure the world knows what I thought way back then, lol. I honestly forgot about it, but thanks for hanging on to my every word, I'm truly flattered! It's quite interesting that I've never noticed you here a single day in my life, but yet, here you are, informing the world that my "opinion" was wrong, because you somehow know for a fact that the late fp enforcement is entirely because of xPass. You are such a genius and it shows! Plus, before today I never knew opinion and theory were the same, lol.

~I said this way back then and I'll say it again, I didn't change my opinion! Disney wanted to stop this practice and it was easy to for everyone to blame it all on xPass, imo. I was a late fast pass user and there was a lot of speculation out there, I wasn't sure what to believe but I was prepared to admit if I had in some way contributed to what may have later "become" an abuse. There is no reason why Disney couldn't wait to enforce late fp with implementation of the new program, IMO!

~Am I not free to think, speculate and debate like every other poster on this board?!? I wasn't the only one to hold that opinion, yet I don't see any other poster mentioned here! That speaks volumes about you.

~This thread is about the new FP+ test, and out of 130 posts, you are the only poster in this thread, who found it necessary to go off topic and dredge up something I said months ago, out of context. Well, you keep taking notes because I've got an opinion today and I'm going to have one tomorrow, and so forth! And if FP+, ends up being free, we'll see if you're around to mention my thoughts, lol. Have a magical day!

 

[Squidgyness]

~Ewww, this post is so weird! I said that a very long time ago! But, you are on your job to save the day and make sure the world knows what I thought way back then, lol. I honestly forgot about it, but thanks for hanging on to my every word, I'm truly flattered! It's quite interesting that I've never noticed you here a single day in my life, but yet, here you are, informing the world that my "opinion" was wrong, because you somehow know for a fact that the late fp enforcement is entirely because of xPass. You are such a genius and it shows! Plus, before today I never knew opinion and theory were the same, lol.

~I said this way back then and I'll say it again, I didn't change my opinion! Disney wanted to stop this practice and it was easy to for everyone to blame it all on xPass, imo. I was a late fast pass user and there was a lot of speculation out there, I wasn't sure what to believe but I was prepared to admit if I had in some way contributed to what may have late "become" an abuse. There is no reason why Disney couldn't wait to enforce late fp with implementation of the new program, IMO!

~Am I not free to think, speculate and debate like every other poster on this board?!? I wasn't the only one to hold that opinion, yet I don't see any other poster mentioned here! That speaks volumes about you.

~This thread is about the new FP+ test, and out of 130 posts, you are the only poster in this thread, who found it necessary to go off topic and dredge up something I said months ago, out of context. Well, you keep taking notes because I've got an opinion today and I'm going to have one tomorrow, and so forth! And if FP+, ends up being free, we'll see if you're around to mention my thoughts, lol. Have a magical day!

I wouldnt be overly bothered tbh. Every time I post on these boards I get ripped to shreds it seems (sometimes justified, admittedly.) You have to develop a thick skin here nowadays. Seemed a lot less point-scoring etc when I joined. But thats a debate for another thread.

If they do decide to charge, I still don't think it will be free to onsite guests at least at values. Call it a hunch, could be wrong. Saying that, I'd welcome being proved wrong on this one.

 

[recmouse]

If people are reserving their fastpasses ahead of time, does that mean there will be less fastpasses available to the general public coming into the parks? Whether they are staying on site or not?

I'm not a fan of running to Toy Story for a FP but I don't want to plan that far ahead either. Things change in an instant when you're in Disney... someone gets sick, you decide on a different park for that day, you eat something midday and then want to change your dinner reservation to a later time... I could go on and on...

So what if you plan Fastpasses and then don't go in that day? Will the RFID's realize you didn't enter the park and void your Fastpasses? Or will that just waste someone else's chance for a FP?

Does anyone else feel like this is really a "big brother's watching" thing?

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

If it is just an overhaul, and simply replaces paper FP's with Bracelets for all guests (including offsite day trippers etc) with Fastpass+ running ALONGSIDE normal fastpass with minimal interruption then that would be fantastic.

I really believe that Fastpass+, is a system upgrade. We have ADR's online & Resort check in online, both of which were introduced not too long ago. Why not Fastpass? This is just speculation on my behalf but the bracelets will be optional and offered to guests at a premium, they will not be free. You will still be able to use your room key, which will also have the RFID chip, if you want.

I'm not bothered if they introduce a minority system for those willing to pay. My problem would only be if this affects off-site and non-planning on-site visitors. By the sounds of it it is only certain rides, to a limited amount of fastpasses at certain times and only free at certain resorts. That sounds ok to me, as long as only a minority take this up we should all be fine.

~I don't get this concept, at all. I don't have any numbers but out of 16 million+ visitors to MK, how many can stay on site, let alone stay deluxe? I don't see Disney alienating such a large demographic. What would Disney charge for this? "Everyone" can afford to upgrade for $50 to $300 dollars, it's not that big a deal (for the most part) when you're spending thousands for a vacation. I think Disney would have to make this very expensive (similar to a Platinum plan) if they intend to offer this to resorts only, for it to be "profitable", I still don't think it would be. So I don't see this happening.

It does seem stupid to me that from the information currently out there, certain rides would be excluded from this system. Seems like Disney could be facing massive complaints from people who have either paid extra to upgrade or deliberately chosen a more expensive resort to get this included, and not realised it is only in effect a benefit for parades and the occasional ride. No skin off my nose though. The less this system impacts the rest of us the better imo.

~Disney is currently adding rides and attractions to the FP system, so I don't think there will be any ride exclusions, but I could see a limit as to how many times you can reserve an FP for certain attractions. We'll see!

If it's a bracelet, i hope that it is removable.
I can't sleep with something on my wrist.
Dee

~Base on the pictures that I've seen, the bracelets are optional and removable. They are super cute, you can customize them and they come in a different array of colors, themes, and options.

I'm sure it will be removable. Probably have some sort of magnet to hold it in place so that it easilly removes.

~Exactly, this is what I saw in the pictures!

I still wonder how they will handle access to the system. There has to be a way to ensure someone is going to be in the parks on those specific dates to allow them access to the reservation system for those said dates. I question how they will handle Annual Pass Holders and locals who don't need to reserve anything to take a trip.

~I think this is why Disney created a FP scanner with a touch screen computer. It would allow for those non planners, off site guests, AP holders or anyone who wants to reserve a ride whenever they want. If this were only to be offered to resort guests, why place it in the parks?

Well bummer, we purchase our tickets through the Y.E.S. program. We used to purchase them through UT so even those would, most likely, not count.

Be interesting to see this all play out.

~The Y.E.S. program is booked directly from Disney's website so I would consider the park tickets purchased in the program to be a direct purchase from Disney. I can't imagine Disney not including Y.E.S., it's a great program! That's my guess!

I honestly think they there is a better chance they do this based off of hotel reservation and not tickets (pure speculation on my part). This is for 2 reasons, 1. the rumors that have been floating around since the beginning of this nexgen talk about it being either a perk for deluxe guests, a tiered perk system based off of resort class, or a perk for all disney resort guests.

2. Annual pass holders would fall into the same trap you would purchasing tickets through YES/UT.

~I don't know, basing this off of hotel reservations is just too limited and too small of a demographic, imo. And that's assuming that "everyone who stays onsite will purchase" this. The FP's would have to be "Platinum" expensive to turn a profit and even that's a big maybe!

~In my opinion, this is no different than a hotel or a ride refurb. We're not speculating over who will be able to experience the new Fantasyland and how much Disney will charge? How is FP+ any different? That's how I look at it. We'll see.

I wouldnt be overly bothered tbh. Every time I post on these boards I get ripped to shreds it seems (sometimes justified, admittedly.) You have to develop a thick skin here nowadays. Seemed a lot less point-scoring etc when I joined. But thats a debate for another thread.

If they do decide to charge, I still don't think it will be free to onsite guests at least at values. Call it a hunch, could be wrong. Saying that, I'd welcome being proved wrong on this one.

~Okay, you are absolute right, I appreciate your comment & I promise to work on it. I'm just having fun speculating and trying to guess what will happen, I thought everyone else was too -- silly me, lol. But, I still think FP+ will remain free and available to all guests, with the exception of parades and some shows. We'll see.

 

[Buffalo2Disney]

Here is my ultimate wish for what the RFID bracelets should be:

- You receive the bracelets when you check into your Disney hotel, basically replacing your KTTW cards.

- You use the bracelets to unlock your room door.

- Your bracelets have your park tickets on them that you just wave by the scanners when you enter a park. Much like your KTTW cards now.

- Your bracelets have your ADR's attached to them, when you get to your restaurant near your reservation time you wave it by the front desk as your way of checking in and then wait to be seated.

- Your bracelets can be used to grab fastpasses. Instead of inserting your KTTW card like you do now into the FP machines, you just wave your bracelet by the sensor and the FP prints out.

- Your bracelets can also have your credit card encrypted on it just like your KTTW cards. You can charge items to your credit card just by waving your bracelet in front of a sensor.


Basically just have the bracelets replace the KTTW card, that way you dont have to dig into your pocket each time to grab it. I think it would make things way simpler. Off-site guests can just keep using the regular systems in place now. One can dream cant he!

 

[mbrittb00]

Here is my ultimate wish for what the RFID bracelets should be:

- You receive the bracelets when you check into your Disney hotel, basically replacing your KTTW cards.

- You use the bracelets to unlock your room door.

- Your bracelets have your park tickets on them that you just wave by the scanners when you enter a park. Much like your KTTW cards now.

- Your bracelets have your ADR's attached to them, when you get to your restaurant near your reservation time you wave it by the front desk as your way of checking in and then wait to be seated.

- Your bracelets can be used to grab fastpasses. Instead of inserting your KTTW card like you do now into the FP machines, you just wave your bracelet by the sensor and the FP prints out.

- Your bracelets can also have your credit card encrypted on it just like your KTTW cards. You can charge items to your credit card just by waving your bracelet in front of a sensor.


Basically just have the bracelets replace the KTTW card, that way you dont have to dig into your pocket each time to grab it. I think it would make things way simpler. Off-site guests can just keep using the regular systems in place now. One can dream cant he!

Let me add that the bracelets should be able to be locked on, so that your 3 year old (who is required a ticket) doesn't take it off and throw in to on the ground when it starts "bothering" them.

 

[WillAustin]

~I don't get this concept, at all. I don't have any numbers but out of 16 million+ visitors to MK, how many can stay on site, let alone stay deluxe? I don't see Disney alienating such a large demographic.

On the other side, I can't see how a system that would be free for all to use would be a positive experience for anyone that tried. Even if they allowed each person one advance FP per day, there simply are not enough ride slots available to do this without it being a disaster, either on the advance side or the in park side. The numbers just don't add up for a free for all system unless they limit it in some way, which would decrease any benefit one might hope to get in using the new system.

Maybe they hope the standby lines will get longer so more people will be pushed to use the FP+ system.

 

[jjsdad]

DR.

This is just a response to your responses to what I've been posting. I didn't want to quote that entire post because it woudl've been huge.

My point is referring stricly to people gaining access to the online system that would allow you to reserve ride times x amount of days in advance (the rumor is 180 days right now which i'm guessing is just speculation).

I believe the scanners with screens that you are talking about are maybe part of the same system, but they would be done the day of your park visit on the fly, and not 180 days or so in advance. So if I had to guess, I would think everyone would have access to those machines, but not everyone would have access to the online booking in advance system. Being a resort guest is the easiest way I think they could accomplish that because you have to list how many guests, their names and the exact dates of your stay.

I think there has to be some way to make sure that people don't multi book times under seperate names.

 

[mbrittb00]

On the other side, I can't see how a system that would be free for all to use would be a positive experience for anyone that tried. Even if they allowed each person one advance FP per day, there simply are not enough ride slots available to do this without it being a disaster, either on the advance side or the in park side. The numbers just don't add up for a free for all system unless they limit it in some way, which would decrease any benefit one might hope to get in using the new system.

Maybe they hope the standby lines will get longer so more people will be pushed to use the FP+ system.

Not exactly true. Here are some rough numbers. There are ~ 17 rides at WDW that are truly fastpassable. I know that there are others that you can get Fast Passes for, but you don't really need to. Those 17 are listed as follows.

Magic Kingdom (7) : Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Dumbo (assuming they add it)

Epcot (4) : Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track, Nemo (assuming they add it)

Hollywood Studios (4) : Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, Star Tours

Animal Kingdom (2) : Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari

Most rides at WDW have a Daily Ride Capacity of between 15,000 and 20,000. If use 17,500 (the average), the total number of people that can ride those 17 rides is 297,500.

From what I've been able to determine Fast Passes take up between 70% and 80% of the total ride capacity for the day. So that would mean that for those 17 attractions there are 223,125 Fast Passes available.

There are currently ~30,000 rooms available on Disney property. With an average occupancy of 3.5 people per room, that is a maximum of 105,000 patrons staying onsite. If they allowed only one fast pass per day for people staying onsite, that would still leave just under 120k FPs to be claimed in the parks.

 

[JDUCKY]

Not exactly true. Here are some rough numbers. There are ~ 17 rides at WDW that are truly fastpassable. I know that there are others that you can get Fast Passes for, but you don't really need to. Those 17 are listed as follows.

Magic Kingdom (7) : Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Dumbo (assuming they add it)

Epcot (4) : Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track, Nemo (assuming they add it)

Hollywood Studios (4) : Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, Star Tours

Animal Kingdom (2) : Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari

Most rides at WDW have a Daily Ride Capacity of between 15,000 and 20,000. If use 17,500 (the average), the total number of people that can ride those 17 rides is 297,500.

From what I've been able to determine Fast Passes take up between 70% and 80% of the total ride capacity for the day. So that would mean that for those 17 attractions there are 223,125 Fast Passes available.

There are currently ~30,000 rooms available on Disney property. With an average occupancy of 3.5 people per room, that is a maximum of 105,000 patrons staying onsite. If they allowed only one fast pass per day for people staying onsite, that would still leave just under 120k FPs to be claimed in the parks.

Epcot - You forgot Maelstrom.

As for Nemo...don't see the need. Only one time have I ever had to actually stand in a line (at the tail of the last spring break weekend). It's almost always a total walk-on (although that's still 5 min. since the line is SO long to get through! )

 

[White_Sox_Fan]

Not exactly true. Here are some rough numbers. There are ~ 17 rides at WDW that are truly fastpassable. I know that there are others that you can get Fast Passes for, but you don't really need to. Those 17 are listed as follows.

Magic Kingdom (7) : Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Dumbo (assuming they add it)

Epcot (4) : Soarin, Mission Space, Test Track, Nemo (assuming they add it)

Hollywood Studios (4) : Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story Mania, Star Tours

Animal Kingdom (2) : Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari

Most rides at WDW have a Daily Ride Capacity of between 15,000 and 20,000. If use 17,500 (the average), the total number of people that can ride those 17 rides is 297,500.

From what I've been able to determine Fast Passes take up between 70% and 80% of the total ride capacity for the day. So that would mean that for those 17 attractions there are 223,125 Fast Passes available.

There are currently ~30,000 rooms available on Disney property. With an average occupancy of 3.5 people per room, that is a maximum of 105,000 patrons staying onsite. If they allowed only one fast pass per day for people staying onsite, that would still leave just under 120k FPs to be claimed in the parks.

70-80%?? No way is it that high, if it were there would be a continual FP line and fastpasses for TSM would be available much later into the day. I believe with FP+ there will be a higher percentage dedicated to timed entries but your numbers do underscore that not everyone onsite would be able to take advantage of FP+. Hmmm. Time to re-boot the speculation machine.