Time Magazine Finds Out About MagicBands...

[larryz]

And I don't think they like them...

http://entertainment.time.com/2014/01/02/disney-nsa-style-magic-bands-theme-park/

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

One of the comments on the bottom say "only an idiot would go to Disney World to begin with...".

 

[Micca]

"NSA style wristbands"????? Seriously?

 

[surferdave]

"NSA style wristbands"????? Seriously?

 

[morethananyonex]

Track my every move all you want Disney, just give me more than 3 FP in the MK!

 

[LilyWDW]

Seems SO well researched and reported...

</sarcasm>

 

[redsbe]

Even in the old system with a KTTW card, park ticket (and using FP-), plus using any CC for any purchases while at WDW, WDW could already easily track most park visitors. MB may make it more efficient but does not add much to this data gathering and is no different that CC, store reward cards or programs, and other such systems currently in place all over the US.

 

[bcrook]

Even in the old system with a KTTW card, park ticket (and using FP-), plus using any CC for any purchases while at WDW, WDW could already easily track most park visitors. MB may make it more efficient but does not add much to this data gathering and is no different that CC, store reward cards or programs, and other such systems currently in place all over the US.

Except for the sensors all over the parks and resorts. The magicband emits a continuous signal.

 

[Merrill29]

To me the author had a bone to pick, and "lucky" for us, a platform to use to share it.

I am looking forward to giving our Magic Bands a try next month. To me, it is a smart move by Disney. When it comes to managing that may people in that small a space, it is a very savvy idea. I would like to know if a MB has been used to reunite a lost child with their family yet? And concerns regarding hacking into your hotel room, well key cards are not that much different from credit cards, and we have all heard examples of those being compromised in the media recently. Personally, I put my trust in the updated technology.

 

[Laketravis]

I would like to know if a MB has been used to reunite a lost child with their family yet?

You know, I wondered the same thing last month when we saw a little girl in AK who was lost from her parents. She was wearing a MB, but the CM's never scanned it or seemed to utilize it in anyway, just used conventional methods and response protocols.

But I had the exact same thought as you at the time - I wondered if the MB could have been useful somehow.

 

[dawnhaze]

Disney knowing that I rode Space Mountain at 11:31AM, used the bathroom by CoP at 11:43AM, and then moved to Fantasyland at 11:57AM is obviously exactly the same as a government institution violating the constitutional rights of citizens.

Exactly.
The.
Same.

 

[dayvewc]

To me the author had a bone to pick, and "lucky" for us, a platform to use to share it.

I am looking forward to giving our Magic Bands a try next month. To me, it is a smart move by Disney. When it comes to managing that may people in that small a space, it is a very savvy idea. I would like to know if a MB has been used to reunite a lost child with their family yet? And concerns regarding hacking into your hotel room, well key cards are not that much different from credit cards, and we have all heard examples of those being compromised in the media recently. Personally, I put my trust in the updated technology.

You know, I wondered the same thing last month when we saw a little girl in AK who was lost from her parents. She was wearing a MB, but the CM's never scanned it or seemed to utilize it in anyway, just used conventional methods and response protocols.

But I had the exact same thought as you at the time - I wondered if the MB could have been useful somehow.

I would guess that this is could be a side-effect of the bands, not one intentionally designed. Utilizing it could be an entirely different story, though, and I would not think that they have explored how to do so extensively, yet. IMHO.

 

[morethananyonex]

I would guess that this is could be a side-effect of the bands, not one intentionally designed. Utilizing it could be an entirely different story, though, and I would not think that they have explored how to do so extensively, yet. IMHO.

Theoretically, it should be fairly easy to do. The information is there.

When scanned my fairly non verbal 2 year olds band should reveal his parents, where we're staying, our schedule, even our contact information. That's huge. If nothing else, his name can be revealed and that should be a big help in tracking down "lost parents".

 

[supergoofy]

"NSA style wristbands"????? Seriously?

I wonder whats on the bands and how it is stored/accessed and more importantly secured.

If it can be built it can be hacked.

 

[dayvewc]

Theoretically, it should be fairly easy to do. The information is there.

When scanned my fairly non verbal 2 year olds band should reveal his parents, where we're staying, our schedule, even our contact information. That's huge. If nothing else, his name can be revealed and that should be a big help in tracking down "lost parents".

I didn't even think about it in terms of a "found child" with "lost parents"

I was thinking about it from the aspect of parents looking for a lost child. The ability of the MB's to pinpoint a location (within the range of the scanners) is obviously there, but I (and I have absolutely no knowledge of this) do not think it is something that has been explored.

Knowing that the scanners will passively detect when a band is in range, it should, theoretically, be possible for a CM to say "oh, we have Johnny within 10 ft of the entrance to Jungle Cruise". But getting that functionality would, I think, require a lot more tweaking to the system than they've admitted to yet.

 

[AliceandAriel]

And I'm done.

 

[Robo]

I wonder whats on the bands and how it is stored/accessed and more importantly secured.

If it can be built it can be hacked.

There is nothing stored on the bands.
The bands just emit a unique serial number.
That number then accesses guests' info stored on Disney's central computer.

Hacking the band yields nothing of value.

 

[Jennasis]

While I am NOT a fan of FP+, the MAGICBANDS are the one thing I actually do like.

 

[wrighter]

Track my every move all you want Disney, just give me more than 3 FP in the MK!

My sentiments exactly!

 

[suemom2kay]

There is nothing stored on the bands.
The bands just emit a unique serial number.
That number then accesses guests' info stored on Disney's central computer.

Hacking the band yields nothing of value.

That's what I was thinking. As for CC information, it is a room charge that you are doing when you purchase an item with the MB, no?

Some top reporting from a top magazine.