Who needs MB when you have a smart phone?

[AngiTN]

As long as Disney can make you pay $13 for a MB I don't see any chance of this ever becoming a reality at Disney. Personally, what I'd like to see is some kind of smart watch partnership with Disney, where you could use the watch along with all of your apps, but it would also double as your MB, fully rechargeable, no need for replacing it when the battery dies, interchangeable bands, and the ability to run all sorts of apps on it.

They don't make you buy MB. It's never required to have one and for sure not required to buy one

 

[srwarden1928]

Carry an extra battery, most people do these days.

I think you are making unwarranted assumptions. I didn't know you COULD have an extra battery for a phone. I wouldn't know how to access the battery to my phone other than plugging it into a charger. As far as technology is concerned, when I went to Disney alone, I took my phone, a tablet, and two laptops, and used them all. I am not a technophobe. I have a charging cord in my car that I use on long trips to keep my battery alive as well as the one in my bedroom that I pack for trips. I love my technology. I did, however, never considered the possibility that the phone battery even could be changed out.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

I wouldn’t mind having it as an option, but the efficiency of magic bands for park entry and FP return is superior right now IMO.

I can just picture unprepared people not opening up their ticket or FP on their phone until the last minute (when they are face to face with the Fastpass attendant or park entry CM). Similar to when people wouldn’t get their paper FP or tickets out until the last minute and be fumbling around distributing them instead of prepping it ahead of time. Still happens with some people who use hard tickets. Not to mention people having trouble getting it to load, etc.

I love using my phone for everything in non-Disney life like boarding passes, paying for things, etc. I’m not sold on doing that at Disney in place of magic bands just yet. I think having so many people using the same exact technology has a great efficiency factor in the parks.

 

[11290]

Funny how when "key cards" were being replaced with Magic Bands everyone was going on and on about how great it was that now they wouldn't have to fumble around to find their key card in their pocket / purse / wallet (when their hands were full, etc.) and now we're here discussing about how you will need to fumble around getting your phone out of your pocket or purse, open an app and then use the "bulkier" phone (with or without an attached battery pack and cable) to activate your door lock, instead of just touching the Magic Band on your wrist to the lock.

So the phone activation is now considered "progress"?

 

[hllb]

I think you are making unwarranted assumptions. I didn't know you COULD have an extra battery for a phone. I wouldn't know how to access the battery to my phone other than plugging it into a charger. As far as technology is concerned, when I went to Disney alone, I took my phone, a tablet, and two laptops, and used them all. I am not a technophobe. I have a charging cord in my car that I use on long trips to keep my battery alive as well as the one in my bedroom that I pack for trips. I love my technology. I did, however, never considered the possibility that the phone battery even could be changed out.

That’s not what he means. He means an external battery pack. You can plug your phone into them or, I have a battery case for my phone. Google Mophie brand and you’ll see some good options.

 

[Gehrig1B]

I didn't know you COULD have an extra battery for a phone.

You can buy an external battery pack on Amazon for under $20. Some are about the size of a large lipstick. Disney also has fuel rod stations at the parks and resorts where you can change out your external battery (fuel rod brand) for another for a one time charge. Some larger external batteries will charge your iPhone as many as 6 times before recharging. Easy peasy. I do apologize as I thought this was pretty common knowledge as I have been using them for years.

 

[Bullseye]

I'm just not adept enough at whipping out my phone and accessing the right app to ever make it easier to use than a plastic band on my wrist.

 

[Tomh]

They don't make you buy MB. It's never required to have one and for sure not required to buy one

Ok, let me rephrase so that there is no question of the semantics used.

As long as Disney can sell MB for $13 each, plus sell special MB for significantly higher prices, plus sell extras to go with the MB for more money, it is pretty unlikely that they will roll the MB functionality into a device we already own that they get no profits from. FP+ and the related technologies that MB function with represent an enormous cash investment from Disney. I can't see them passing up an opportunity to recoup some of that investment.

 

[AngiTN]

I think you are making unwarranted assumptions. I didn't know you COULD have an extra battery for a phone. I wouldn't know how to access the battery to my phone other than plugging it into a charger. As far as technology is concerned, when I went to Disney alone, I took my phone, a tablet, and two laptops, and used them all. I am not a technophobe. I have a charging cord in my car that I use on long trips to keep my battery alive as well as the one in my bedroom that I pack for trips. I love my technology. I did, however, never considered the possibility that the phone battery even could be changed out.

That’s not what he means. He means an external battery pack. You can plug your phone into them or, I have a battery case for my phone. Google Mophie brand and you’ll see some good options.

There are actually still several brands of phones you can swap out actual batteries. Not iPhones but many other brands can. DD has spare batteries for her LG phone and I had them for my last Edge phone, though now I forget which number it was that I had. I found carrying a spare battery much easier than an external charger.

 

[srwarden1928]

That’s not what he means. He means an external battery pack. You can plug your phone into them or, I have a battery case for my phone. Google Mophie brand and you’ll see some good options.

I believe that I misunderstood. I thought he was talking about taking out the battery and replacing it. I actually have a couple of those, but I tend to refer to them as portable chargers.

 

[Tomh]

There are actually still several brands of phones you can swap out actual batteries. Not iPhones but many other brands can. DD has spare batteries for her LG phone and I had them for my last Edge phone, though now I forget which number it was that I had. I found carrying a spare battery much easier than an external charger.

Samsung used to be like that. My Note 4 had a removable back cover. However, there aren't any current phones I can think of that still have an easily replaceable battery. Portable battery chargers / banks are going to be the only option going forward I think.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

I keep hoping they will allow my Digital Watch (in my case an Apple Watch, but any smart watch would do). In theory it would work - it's just allows the NFC chip to be interrogated. Their mickey scanners are even capable of talking the same frequency. They would just have to allow it. It's more a business decision at the moment.

Also, the MB's have TWO transmitters. A smart phone or watch would only work for the near range transmitter. I do not believe they can simulate the long range transmitter - which means it would not work for the smart rides (like Haunted Mansion and It's a small world).

 

[FastPasser.]

Also, the MB's have TWO transmitters.

Only one, the RFID is passive.

 

[Leelo]

I prefer the MB bc we go bagless and only 1 of us carries a phone. With 1 phone it would take too long. We would have to pull up the app, then scan 1 persons FP (which would already add time over the MB), then exit out to open the other person's FP. It would slow down the line I think.

Hilton's digital room keys never seem to work but I wouldn't have an issue with phones over MB outside of the parks.

 

[maxiesmom]

Given how "great" Disney is with all thing technical, I'll give the idea a big fat NO. Not at this point in time.

Also, I like being able to just flip my wrist and open my door, instead of having to dig for a key card or phone.

 

[TiggerBouncy]

Only one, the RFID is passive.

Sorry - technical term. It has one antennae and one transmitter. I was conveying it uses two different technologies - but yes, my term was technically incorrect.

 

[erionm]

According to ViralDisney.com, Disney will start using the bluetooth chip inside of the MagicBands to unlock your room door as you approach.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories...resorts-to-introduce-bluetooth-to-magicbands/

 

[bryanb]

Some Starwood hotels (Element, W Hotels, Aloft) also offer mobile keyless entry. I've used it and it's really great, though there are definitely more steps like downloading the app, registering it, and then opening it each time you approach your room door.

I'm also hopeful that Disney will partner with phone companies, but I don't think they're going to go out of their way to do so for several reasons:

1. Among many functions, MagicBands help Disney collect a lot of data. They feature always-on radio transmitters that can communicate with long-range readers located throughout WDW on attractions, shops, bus stops, walkways, event spaces, etc.. This function continues to teach Disney about guest behavior, from how many people stop to watch a street performer to how many are waiting for a particular bus to property-wide traffic patterns. The possibilities for this data are so vast that they've only begun to scratch the surface of these possibilities.

2. MagicBands were billed as a way to create new customized experiences. Everything from having an attraction say your name, to letting cast members know when you should get a little extra magic. Again, the promise of this technology is still in the early stages. I think that dream will still take time to be realized but it's in the future.

3. The MagicBand payment system has proven to be very effective in stimulating guest spending. Phones might do the same, but then the payment information isn't tied to your Disney ID (MDE login), so they can't tie all that data back to the user.

4. Phones and smartwatches can't really replicate the long-range function just yet. MagicBands are power efficient (their battery can run for a couple of years) and work without user intervention. Phone makers heavily lock down what's allowed on the phone. The NFC function (Apple Pay / Samsung Pay /etc.), can't just be activated by Disney... they are heavily secured parts of the hardware and software. Also, apps can't just do whatever they want. Apple regulates apps to keep them from sucking up resources in the background. So Disney would need to ask Apple (and maybe others) to break some of these limitations, which I think would be hard and expensive.

Mostly for reasons 1-3, though, I think Disney wouldn't be motivated to push something other than MagicBands for now.

 

[scrapquitler]

Just checked in a stay at a relatively new Renaissance (Marriott) property and like Disney, they offer early check in, with direct to room option. However, they don't use Magic Bands (obviously). Once you have a room assigned, they enable your phone to open your room. This will be a first for us, will know tomorrow night how well it works, or doesn't. LOL

Made me wonder, would Disney ever evolve away from MB and enable a system where smart phones did everything, instead of MB?

Personally, I think between the 2 I'd rather use a MB for everything at Disney, instead of the phone. Especially FP. But it may be nice to be able to use the phone for tickets and room access.

I wouldn't mind the phone instead of a MB, but I think they'd need to keep it optional because there are so many international visitors who might not have a phone with a plan they can use in the US, and because a lot of Disney guests are children who don't carry smartphones. I'd definitely opt for the phone, as long as I could still use a MB for backup.

 

[YawningDodo]

Hilton Properties, or most of their newer places, have the option for using your phone for room access too. I never do it. I don't know why, but I just like having a key. Wifi/data reliability is spotty sometimes where I stay and I would have to go to the front desk and get a key..and then go back to the room. LOL. Would rather just stop by the desk and get my key. LOL.

I'm with you. I've used my phone for an electronic boarding pass at the airport all of once and I have no intention of doing it again. Wouldn't you know, while I was in line for security my phone disconnected and then couldn't find a good signal! I ended up being able to just step back from the stand for a couple minutes and my boarding pass eventually loaded and I was able to continue on, but if the signal had been any spottier in that part of the airport I was looking at having to backtrack through a crowded queue in order to get somewhere I could access data. I enjoy the connectivity my phone offers and I'm a stereotypical millennial when it comes to how much time I spend using it, but I avoid putting myself in any situation where I have absolute reliance on it functioning correctly at any given moment. Absolutely would not use it for a hotel key, and the only reason I was comfortable using it for MaxPass at Disneyland was that I knew my fastpasses could also be pulled up using my paper ticket if the phone didn't work.