RFID turnstiles at EPCOT

[DisneyDreamerK]

Whoohoo! It's finally begun!

http://yfrog.com/13hxvz

More pictures here:
https://twitter.com/#!/DisKingdom

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Here's a pic!

More pics ---> HERE

 

[chrysano]

RFID tags are cool. At the last place I worked we wrote software that interacted with devices that read RFID tags, railcar tags, etc... yes, I'm a geek... that kind of stuff excites me

 

[budmonster]

They seem pretty cool. I'm not real familiar with technology but it seems the only difference is that you don't have to walk through the metal turnstyle bar anymore? Or am I missing something?

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Okay, I'm not a geek so I don't see a big deal...BUT I do think it's cool how Mickey's head lights up!!

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Those are so cool

 

[mickeyluv'r]

IT acutlaly doesn't look all that much fastert o me - at least as depicted inhe video - but I'm all for the idea of improved scanning. Certainly there is great room to improve this even further in the future.

I've long been thinkig FRID tags could be used all over WDW to improve several things.


Just two days ago, DH and I were eating at a restaurant which has one of the new video soda machines. They allow you to pick almost any soft drink and add in side flavors; like Diet Coke plus raspberry (or orange, grape, lemon). You can even pick non-carbonated options. (in theory, the choices are endless)

I said WDW should have them. DH intially thought they would slow things down at WDW and would be a bad idea - until we considered the potentital of RFID tags (which is already being tried with refillable mugs). With RFID - and the new soda machines (or custom ones for WDW)- each guest could create a 'custom' beverage or two, perhaps even naming it or tying into characters. Then when you refill your mug - your custom drink would come up as the first choice: "Princess Suzie's raspberry soda", or "Dad's custom coffee blast".

I think the RFID tags have SO much potential. Clearly they can be interactive all over the park.

 

[kaligal]

Doesn't look faster.

We'll see.

 

[FigNewton]

It sure LOOKS cool. But it also looks slow to me. Maybe overall it will be less confusing for people and therefore speed up the line over all? Let's hope.

 

[rock_doctor]

RFID is a good technology but (and i know i will get flamed for this) store your RFID enabled tickets in a metallic Mylar bag when they are not in use. This will protect them and make sure they are safe. Everybody knows a computer geek. Ask them for an extra metallic Mylar static bag (computer parts come in them). Technically, if your ticket can transmit for a couple feet you could just walk though the reader as you go into the park. You would not even have to take it out of your pocket.

 

[bear_mom]

I can see the advantage of not having to put your ticket in a certain direction. There are many times we are behind people who can't manage to feed them the right way.

Emily

 

[Sweet Melissa]

It does look cool, but a little slow. I know it doesn't take me ten seconds to get through a regular turnstile. Families with small children will probably be even slower.

 

[twooley2]

so what happens to those of us who have annual passes distributed before this was put in place

 

[aspen37]

I love this idea! They use this on the Dream. You can keep your KTTW card in the plastic sleeve on your lanyard and tap it. It will work through the plastic.
Here is the full article that the pictures and video came from.
Once you see the setup it will be clearer of what's going on. I really think this will make things faster. I have a hard time with my AP. It rarely scans correctly the first time. Most times I need to run it two or three times and then wait for the CM to manually scan it.


http://disneyprojects.com/2011/11/13/first-look-rfid-entry-at-epcot/

 

[tswfl08]

http://disneyprojects.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/20111113-115358.jpg
Overall it looks as though there are 8 entry points in the space that used to be occupied by 4, while the actual process of scanning your finger may take the roughly the same amount of time, more people can be processed meaning less lines and less wait.

Annual Passes may already have the RFID built into the card or they may put the mickey sticker on your card until you receive your new one. Who knows how long the Test and Adjust will last before this is rolled out.

 

[aspen37]

so what happens to those of us who have annual passes distributed before this was put in place

You can get a new AP or they can put a sticker on the old one. Most trips I need to get a new AP because it will get demagnetized. This past trip I kept it in it's own plastic sleeve on my lanyard and it didn't get demagnetized.

 

[MrBryan]

I can see the advantage of not having to put your ticket in a certain direction. There are many times we are behind people who can't manage to feed them the right way.

Emily

There is no right way to feed the ticket in. It can be read no matter what way you put it in

 

[heatherbabydoll1]

I see this being a real good thing for pooh sized people,strollers and scooters. No doors to open and go through,

 

[jlwhitney]

The only thing I don't get if when it is very very busy how are they going to make sure everyone scans in.....

 

[Robo]

There is no right way to feed the ticket in. It can be read no matter what way you put it in

That is correct.

The ticket will read any of the four different ways that it can be put into the gate reader.

Same goes for the FP machines.