Room Keys Demagnetized?

[mdhkitten]

Are the room keys at WDW not made as well now or something? I've gone to WDW 29 times now, and the last several years (since whenever they've been able to put your park ticket onto your room key) I've never had a problem with my key being demagnetized until this trip. I always carry it in my fanny pack each year in the same place away from everything else and have never had a problem. All of a sudden this year everything was fine for the first day and a half, and then the second day I went to AK (the card worked fine to get into the park), went to get a FP for Expedition Everest, and just like that my key no longer worked. They gave me a "ticket" to use for FP at AK for the remainder of the day, but it was a pain to get a new key reissued. They told me that it was because my card was near a c/c or cell phone, but I was extra careful to make sure that it wasn't because I've heard of this happening lately, yet it still happened. Does this happen often to people, and does it seem to happen more lately than in years past? Just curious!

 

[BIGGESTDISFAN]

never happend to us. i don't know why it did that i just hope it doesn't happen to us in august sorry it happend hopefully it won't happen again

 

[christianweecare]

I am thinking the same thing. On our last trip this past Feb. everyone in our party of 12 had problems at one time or another with their KTTW card. DH, DS, I were at Vero this past Feb. and we each had to get a new KTTW card every day!

 

[Chuck S]

It isn't just the room keys that are getting demagnetized. We were down with some friends earlier this month and her park ticket (plastic type, but not a room key) would not work in the Fastpass machines. They replaced with a tyvek-type ticket (like an AP) and it worked OK the rest of the trip. She did have her original pass near a cell phone, though.

 

[LadyZolt]

When we went (June 1 - 4), my daughter's key got demagnitized twice! The first time, she wasn't sure if it had been near her cell phone, but the second time, she's sure it wasn't. She also had a friend's KTTW with her (not right next to each other, but in the same purse) and the friend's never demagnitized. I think it's more the keys themselves than anything us guests are doing. It is frustrating, too, to have it suddenly not work.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[joll43]

Happened to us last week! We had already had a sort of drama with it on Sunday, while at Chefs de France. We were there when the skies OPENED, and tons of people rushed inside. We'd already been sitting at the window, and water just poured down -- it happened so fast. Not sure what the rain has to do with anything, just illuminating it for you...

Anyway, we paid w/my husband's room key and signed the receipt when we noticed the key wasn't in the check wallet w/the bill. My DH is extremely thorough when it comes to putting his money/keys back where they're supposed to be, and we had no room key. Our waitress was sure she'd brought it, and started looking on the floor and everywhere. We were starting to freak out a bit (sure, after going back to the WL and straightening everything out, we'd get another one, but someone could possibly charge things to it, you know? After what seemed like ages, the server at the next station over happened to have our key. WHEW!!!

As luck would have it, we didn't use it the rest of the day. We didn't need any more fast passes, and I used my key to open our door. The next morning at MK, his was demagnetized, so I don't know if it happened at Epcot or (yes, more likely) because he had his MAGNETIC money clip in the same pocket. When the CM's at the gate saw his money clip, they all cracked up.

It does feel like an eternity when the turnstile keeps saying, "Card not readable". Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!

 

[Maxie86]

We had that problem for the first time in May also. After everyone had to get new cards the cm gave us a little envelope thingy to put it in. No problems after that. Why don't they just give them to you when you first get them so it won't happen? Three out of four cards demagnetized about an hour after getting them.

 

[tmt martins]

I work with paper and such every day.

Most times when things like this happen the vendor makes a small change or the materials run has a problem that puts it in the lower specs range but still passes.

Disney orders so many at a time when it hits it takes a while to burn through the bad.

They still pass Qualitiy test just on the lower end.It could also be on the other end that that they are easily charged so it's not that it's getting wiped it's that it's picking up more info causeing it to not to be able to read.

Cellphones have Magnets in their speakers( some are sheilded so no problems ) the new Mp3 player models have a better (*bigger) magnet . The static from it just rubbing in your pocket can wipe it or if you have static from walking on a rug and then touch the strip as you put it in the machine it completes the circut and discharges the info.

Some things that can help .Keep card lined in the same direction face to back ( so strips don't touch each other.Keep from anything with a speaker.When you touch anything metal use your elbow first it will discharge your static and not as sencitive as a fingertip

.And remember when all else fails to ask for a fastpass at Guest relations when your getting it replaced


And if you lose it have a store or resturant CM call and cancel it at you front desk for charging Privilages That way you can still use the cards you have and take care of it when you return But no one can use the card for charging.

 

[KarenCPA]

we just returned 6/18 after a week. 2 of the 11 in our party had trouble with our ticket/room key. they were both teenage girls, and I know for a fact they both have cell phones (imagine that)! coincidence? k

 

[JibberJabberer]

If I hadn't read about this on these boards, I never would have had any idea there could be a problem with this. I guess I'm pretty clueless!

Could somebody provide some more details? I'll have my work cell phone with me, but plan to keep it off except occasionally to check it for messages. I have a slew of questions:

1. Can the problem occur even if the cell phone is turned off?
2. How far away from the cell phone should the card be?
3. I think somebody in a previous message mentioned that a credit card could have the same effect on the key? And magnets too, obviously. Anything else?
4. Is it just the room keys that have this problem, or could it happen with the park pass as well?
5. If I use an old sleeve that I got with my park hoppers from my last trip 7 years ago to keep my room key in, would that prevent this problem?

I realize from reading the other posts that the key can be replaced if this happens, but I'd rather not go through the hassle if I could do something simple to avoid it.

Thanks!

 

[tmt martins]

If I hadn't read about this on these boards, I never would have had any idea there could be a problem with this. I guess I'm pretty clueless!

Could somebody provide some more details? I'll have my work cell phone with me, but plan to keep it off except occasionally to check it for messages. I have a slew of questions:

1. Can the problem occur even if the cell phone is turned off?
2. How far away from the cell phone should the card be?
3. I think somebody in a previous message mentioned that a credit card could have the same effect on the key? And magnets too, obviously. Anything else?
4. Is it just the room keys that have this problem, or could it happen with the park pass as well?
5. If I use an old sleeve that I got with my park hoppers from my last trip 7 years ago to keep my room key in, would that prevent this problem?

I realize from reading the other posts that the key can be replaced if this happens, but I'd rather not go through the hassle if I could do something simple to avoid it.

Thanks!

1.yes the magnet is a magnet either on or off

2. Depends on what type of speaker (internal /external) but just not right up next to.

3.Static ( it's a magnetic strip electonically charged)

4.Any thing with a Mag strip (even credit/ debit but they are held to higher tolerences)

5 Yes it has a sheild built in ( Just make sure if you put in more then 1 card you keep them all facing the same way as the mag strips don't touch.)


Everyone remember there are Thousands of people that have no problems at all these are just steps to help but most of you will never have a problem.

 

[BriansPyxie042]

The cards that are used for the room keys are also heat sensitive. If they're exposed to extreme heat for long periods of time, or a large amount of light it messes them up. For example if this happens while the cards are being shipped to WDW, they could very well encode the cards & then it wouldn't take much for those cards to become demagnetized. It can also cause errors like wiping out only part of what was encoded on it. ( Letting you use it as a room key, but not as your ticket, or removing just the charging privilages off of the encoding.) Unfortunately, your card could become demagnetized even if you follow all the "rules". But it's easily fixed so don't fret about it too much.

 

[Perdygirl]

On our trip we had several problems with our "Keys to the World". I found out that some of the cast members know what to do, and some definately don't. We had trouble on day one with our DS5's card. The card went into the ticket machine, but never came out. The cast members took the whole thing apart, but couldn't find it. The cast member told us not to worry about it, just to fix it when we got back to our resort. Of course we were in such a hurry to get going, that it didn't occur to us that we wouldn't be able to get fastpasses. Later in the trip my DH's card became demagnetized twice, and he had been keeping it in it's paper sleeve. It seemed like every other time we went to get a fastpass, one of the tickets wouldn't work. BUT, even with all that said, I like the system. When it works, it's quick and convenient.

 

[SithBladeborn]

It happened to me and my friends about 2 times in 3 days and our cc's and cell's were in a seperate pocket it really got on our nerves having to wait in line then having to step out of line because of unhelpful cm's!

 

[indigoxtreme]

We had that problem for the first time in May also. After everyone had to get new cards the cm gave us a little envelope thingy to put it in. No problems after that. Why don't they just give them to you when you first get them so it won't happen? Three out of four cards demagnetized about an hour after getting them.

Yes the envelope thing helps, I also place our cards in an envelope. Even change can pick up magnatism and demagnatize the cards. SO the envelope is a great idea.

 

[tmt martins]

Thats one thing I forgot


The readers Be it Entrance gate , Fastpass or Door system can wipe the info as well when it reads it .Most have a system of small wheels that Buckle the card a bit to get a smooth reading .When it buckles it it can crack the strip. Thats also why the Tyrex (paper ) cards are less a problem.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) There are huge problems with keys not working.
2) We blame it on cell phones or guest errors.
3) Fact is, the new keys are thinner and cheaper.
4) They are trying to address the problem.
5) If they try to say it is a cell phone, just smile and get the key reissued.
6) It is easier to blame the guest than to say it is our fault.

 

[Robo]

Even change can pick up magnatism and demagnatize the cards.

While all coins can conduct electricity, US coins have no magnetic materials in them, and so can't become magnetized.

But certain Canadian coins do have some magnetic properties.

 

[flyball]

We stayed at the BW concierge last August, and all four of us had to have our keys issued multiple times during our visit. Not only were we having trouble entering the parks and getting fast passes, but we often couldn't get into our section of the hotel! We knew about the sensitivity to magnets, etc. but nothing we did seemed to prevent the keys from demagnetizing.

 

[Poohbear123]

Room key card/Seasonal Pass seperate from the following items: Phone/credit cards/money.....so far its worked, but I couldn't use my SP to get ANY fastpasses in Epcot, but I could go in and out of the any park with no problem. Needless to say, I got a NEW SP at Epcot Guest Services with no problem.