Time Magazine Finds Out About MagicBands...

[pilferk]

Wouldn't it be easier just to borrow the Tardis to get into the parks? I mean...there's areas it wouldn't even be noticed (especially at Epoct)? Then, no MB needed....

 

[surferdave]

I'm not worried about privacy issues; in fact, I'm dreading the opposite reaction of most people. If Disney ever gets this system working for long enough, I'm afraid they'll develop an app that'll let the foursquare generation automatically send updates from their bands to social media all day and night while they're at the parks and blow up my Twitter.

Suzi-kewt: I just experienced THE MAD TEA PARTY at Walt Disney World Resorts!!!!!
Suzi-kewt: I just dined at TOMORROWLAND TERRACE at Walt Disney World Resorts!!!!!
Suzi-kewt: I just bought GLOW WITH THE SHOW EARS at Walt Disney World Resorts!!!!!

 

[Robo]

Or you could use the duct tape and foil to make yourself a hat to wear in the parks. Everybody knows that Disney can't track you if you wear a tinfoil hat.

My cousin Ezra.

 

[dayvewc]

My cousin Ezra.

Not sure if he's wearing aluminum Mickey ears,


Or trying to pick up 2 satellite stations at once.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

I'm not worried about privacy issues; in fact, I'm dreading the opposite reaction of most people. If Disney ever gets this system working for long enough, I'm afraid they'll develop an app that'll let the foursquare generation automatically send updates from their bands to social media all day and night while they're at the parks and blow up my Twitter.

Suzi-kewt: I just experienced THE MAD TEA PARTY at Walt Disney World Resorts!!!!!
Suzi-kewt: I just dined at TOMORROWLAND TERRACE at Walt Disney World Resorts!!!!!
Suzi-kewt: I just bought GLOW WITH THE SHOW EARS at Walt Disney World Resorts!!!!!

Oh dear lord. This would be every dear relation I have under 35.

 

[Huff]

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.

Although people can change at last minute, Disney now knows in advance where people are going each day. Supposedly this allows them to plan for attendance levels at each park. For me as a visitor I see little gain and much taken away from our trips.

 

[wordwitt]

The internet has destroyed journalism. First, it has made print newspapers nearly a thing of the past. From an environmental standpoint, that's great, but web-based news is driven by clicks, and unfortunately, sensationalism "sells." As a former web editor for a newspaper, I can tell you that this is the absolute truth. Journalistic integrity is nearly dead because media outlets care more about clicks than accuracy in reporting. This article is a perfect example of the destruction of journalism; it is blatantly sensationalistic and slanted (NSA-style bands? Big Brother?), and it omits critical pieces of information about the bands.

 

[bcrook]

The internet has destroyed journalism. First, it has made print newspapers nearly a thing of the past. From an environmental standpoint, that's great, but web-based news is driven by clicks, and unfortunately, sensationalism "sells." As a former web editor for a newspaper, I can tell you that this is the absolute truth. Journalistic integrity is nearly dead because media outlets care more about clicks than accuracy in reporting. This article is a perfect example of the destruction of journalism; it is blatantly sensationalistic and slanted (NSA-style bands? Big Brother?), and it omits critical pieces of information about the bands.

I don't know about sensationalistic. I think the article brings up an important issue. What road are we heading down? Is this a harbinger for the future? Are we going to allow every corporation to band us, or just loveable corporations like the one Mickey Mouse works for?

It is a bit surprising to see how quick we are to hand over our privacy to Disney.

Although, I am not really worried about magicbands, I am concerned about the direction we are heading. I am glad that Time even took the 'time' to file even a brief story.

The links are great. There should be more discussion on this topic.

All of Disney's privacy statements can be found here.

 

[ammag]

This year at nyc comic con we had RIFD badges for the first time, and all was well except they did end up tweeting using peoples info and without prior consent as far as I know....angered a lot foo people. but it's a relatively minor thing easily fixed by declining them permission. I am sure disney would have to ask for permission, of course doesn't mean they have to make it easy to find or understand. Really thgh these reports are garbage! I tight the system was great overall and felt it was secure.

If people think disney wasn't already tracking every possible bit of info. Or that their local wal mart, mall and grocery store does not track every one of your purchases and shopping habits they are oblivious. Like it or not that's how commerce works now. Really always did, it's just easier for them now.

 

[pilferk]

I don't know about sensationalistic. I think the article brings up an important issue. What road are we heading down? Is this a harbinger for the future? Are we going to allow every corporation to band us, or just loveable corporations like the one Mickey Mouse works for?

It is a bit surprising to see how quick we are to hand over our privacy to Disney.

Although, I am not really worried about magicbands, I am concerned about the direction we are heading. I am glad that Time even took the 'time' to file even a brief story.

The links are great. There should be more discussion on this topic.

All of Disney's privacy statements can be found here.

For me, its all about how they ultimately use that data.

If they're using the aggregate data for operations and business planning....I have no objection on any level....even if part of that aggregate data is positioning and movement trends. And my suspicion is that's really their target, here. To improve efficiency in operations and inventory control based of algorithmic predictions of historical data.

What I really don't want...and it's a selfish objection over an ethical one...is targeted advertising of any kind. I don't want more spam in my inbox (from Disney or anyone else, "partner" or otherwise). I do NOT want targeted "hawkers" in the park (techno or human) calling out my name to get me to buy more stuff.

I wouldn't MIND the "magic" type stuff (characters reading the band info and being able to say "Hi" to me by name).

All three of the above seem to be "allowed" according to their privacy policy...with the only grey area in "partner" use of the information (I'm assuming an opt in/out ability would get around it).

 

[Bullseye]

Or you could use the duct tape and foil to make yourself a hat to wear in the parks. Everybody knows that Disney can't track you if you wear a tinfoil hat.

You got that right Blue! In addition, if you walk backwards for several yards retracing your original footsteps and then head another direction...this throws off the drones! It's an old Indian trick I saw on "Rawhide" over the holiday break

 

[pilferk]

If people think disney wasn't already tracking every possible bit of info. Or that their local wal mart, mall and grocery store does not track every one of your purchases and shopping habits they are oblivious. Like it or not that's how commerce works now. Really always did, it's just easier for them now.

For the most part, I agree. Though Disney is certainly taking it further than anyone else in the industry I can think of.

It would be like walmart handing you a card which you need in order to:
1) Enter the store
2) Enter the bathrooms
3) Purchase any merchandise
4) View certain merchandise
5) Buy anything
6) Leave the store
7) Leave the parking lot of the store to go home.

There are similarities to the "grocery store loyalty cards", which track your purchases. But MBs offer even more. They would allow, as an analogy, the grocery store to see how long after buying that coffee from their cafe that you then need to use the rest room. And then plan the cleaning of that rest room around , specifically, busy times at the cafe.

Its has it's roots in the same kind of data mining you are suggesting, for sure. But this takes the sheer amount of different kinds of data that can be combined to an exponential level.

It really is pretty cool, from an analytics point of view. And I can see how it could be scary for some folks from a privacy point of view.

 

[redsbe]

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.

There is also complete video camera coverage through out all the parks that can just as easily track your movements

 

[wordwitt]

I don't know about sensationalistic. I think the article brings up an important issue. What road are we heading down? Is this a harbinger for the future? Are we going to allow every corporation to band us, or just loveable corporations like the one Mickey Mouse works for?

It is a bit surprising to see how quick we are to hand over our privacy to Disney.

Although, I am not really worried about magicbands, I am concerned about the direction we are heading. I am glad that Time even took the 'time' to file even a brief story.

The links are great. There should be more discussion on this topic.

All of Disney's privacy statements can be found here.

With all due respect, I disagree. The article does not actually address these questions at all. In fact, it cites, without attribution (a big journalism "nope"), to "some people" and "other people." Additionally, it uses loaded phrases to infer nefarious intent on the part of Disney (with references to Big Brother and the NSA and Snowden). It does not educate. It does not analyze. If there is a larger issue regarding privacy and the direction companies are heading related to that issue (because, let's face it, Disney is not the only company seeking information about consumer habits), then that is probably a fine topic for an in-depth article. However, this particular article isn't at all in-depth. This particular article feeds ignorance and paranoia, and it does so by using hot button worlds and by omitting critical information.

I don't know. I'm a lawyer now, so maybe that's why I find this shoddy piece of "journalism" so offensive. (And no, I'm not Disney's lawyer.)

 

[bcrook]

With all due respect, I disagree. The article does not actually address these questions at all. In fact, it cites, without attribution (a big journalism "nope"), to "some people" and "other people." Additionally, it uses loaded phrases to infer nefarious intent on the part of Disney (with references to Big Brother and the NSA and Snowden). It does not educate. It does not analyze. If there is a larger issue regarding privacy and the direction companies are heading related to that issue (because, let's face it, Disney is not the only company seeking information about consumer habits), then that is probably a fine topic for an in-depth article. However, this particular article isn't at all in-depth. This particular article feeds ignorance and paranoia, and it does so by using hot button worlds and by omitting critical information.

I don't know. I'm a lawyer now, so maybe that's why I find this shoddy piece of "journalism" so offensive. (And no, I'm not Disney's lawyer.)

I understand what you are saying. It isn't going to win any Pulitzer Prizes, and I totally understand about the clicks. I don't think the piece was designed to investigative report.

I do think the topic is worth discussing, and there have been very few articles bringing up the concept.

And the links were good.

 

[pilferk]

There is also complete video camera coverage through out all the parks that can just as easily track your movements

True, but with a lot more effort, and a lot less data mining capabilities. At least "off the shelf". Tagging specific people, via video, and following their efforts/movements, in a boolean fashion, is some serious kung fu. Doing it on a large scale (like MBs allow them to), as real time/expediently as this system will allow them to (via passive/active RFID) WOULD BE NSA level stuff.

MBs are not NSA level stuff because consumers are opting in, above board. They could plead ignorance, I guess...but the information is all there, for them to consume. The whole point of the NSA is for that surveillance to be clandestine, and without using an "opt in" tracker.....simply using what people already use in their daily lives, going about their daily business.

MBs are certainly not that.