Why are some people against the bands?

[ManyMinnie]

I don't have any problems with the bands, or wearing them = I am more against how they may change the fast pass system. If Disney goes to only the Fast pass + system which only allows 3 fast passes a day, it will change how our family vacations at Disney. So much so that we may not want to vacation at Disney like we do now. Just thinking of that makes me sad, but if my boys can't ride Space Mountain multiple times per day (without waiting in the hour+ standby line), they will not want to visit Disney anymore.

Another great point.

What we know about the FP+ system right now gives Disney way more control over *my* vacation than they have any right to have.

 

[GaBelle]

I think the biggest problem with the bands is simply change. People hate change. There are a lot of unknowns at this point.
For me, I'm going to take the wait and see approach. I don't mind wearing a band but I know my hubby is going to gripe about it. He can take it off and put it in his pocket- like the KTTW card. I don't perceive it as having any more security issues than a KTTW card, either.

 

[amberpi]

My Dh loves the idea, I hate bracelets, they get in the way of my watch (which you can prye off my cold dead body) but that's not issue, I can easily snap it to my wristlet. No issue at all and think it could be very easy to use! I DO have issue with some of the as yet undisclosed privacy concerns - why do they need the long range? Are they trying to drive guests to one park or all? Is it just crowd control or other issues? If so, what? I work in risk consulting, have for 12 years, I want to know what they are doing with the data, how long they are keeping it, etc.. Its why I keep my room key and my credit card and ticket separate. I LOVE new technology, and I'm for anything making life easier but I also want to understand it clearly. I'm an iphone5/mini, must have the newest, but I'm darn sure I "GET" what I'm buying and I don't get have a comfort level with the long range RFID info that's been supplied thus far, I'm sure I will be ok with it once supplied, but I do require more info before I blindly give up my data.

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Another great point.

What we know about the FP+ system right now gives Disney way more control over *my* vacation than they have any right to have.

Well, it's their park, and you have other vacation options.

Personally, I like the idea of bands. We lost one of our KTTW cards last year (I'm pretty sure I left it in a FP machine) and these seem easier to keep track of. Plus, I think the kids are going to think it's pretty awesome to be wearing their "special, magical Disney bracelets." They don't have issues wearing bracelets in any other venues so I can't imagine it's going to be an issue at Disney. Kids are unpredictable, though.

I really don't like the tracking nature of the RFID technology in general, but again, I'm going to their park, and they have a right to keep track of me when I'm on their turf if that's what they choose to do. The way I see it is that Disney isn't the government. They're a private entity and they get to make the rules for their "house." I can't have much of a right to privacy when I'm on their property. If I don't like the tracking they're going to be doing, I shouldn't go to their property. JMO.

 

[ManyMinnie]

Well, it's their park, and you have other vacation options.

You're right, I sure do.

But until Disney pays me to vacation at their park, I get to decide how I want to vacation while I am there.

 

[TygerHawks]

You're right, I sure do.

But until Disney pays me to vacation at their park, I get to decide how I want to vacation while I am there.

Customer Service

Bands are not for everyone, I hate wearing things on my wrist or hands. Took me a long time to get used to my wedding band While I like that there are options like keychains, these will be provided at additional cost.

 

[DisneyFive]

Some don't like to wear them on their wrists. Others don't like the systems they are inexorably linked with--FP+ is one example, perceived privacy issues is another.

That sums it up pretty well for me too. (although I'm not concerned so much about the privacy thing)

I just don't want something on my wrist all day, and a card was very easy to carry in my wallet. Heck, I carried our whole family's KTTW cards in my wallet. No way I can do that with 5 wristbands. Hopefully, converting from wristbands to cards will be an easy thing.

This may be illogical, but I also have this tinge of a feeling that walking around in WDW with one of the bracelets on is somehow like I'm being subjugated to something. Like, I'm a lemming once I wrap this "wrist collar" on. Like, looking down mainstreet and seeing all these Disney robots, I mean guests, with these bands on. I know, a little far fetched, but you get my idea?

Third, I'm nervous about FP+, and these bands are intrinsically linked to FP+. Shoot, FP+ may turn out to be an awesome thing, but so far I'm not so sure (especially if they limit the number of FP's allowed in a day, etc...)

Dan

 

[LaurenT]

I like the bands, but I'm one of those people who feels naked without a watch....
But I can certainly understand someone not liking the idea if they don't like having something on their wrist. I wouldn't like the idea of having to stuff the band in my pocket.
I really think we all need to take a step back and wait for the roll out before we decide whether this going to work for us.
It could be an unmitigated disaster, but I don't think it's Disney's intention to make our experience less enjoyable...that would be bad for business. So I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and hold off judgement until we know what the deal really is. .....then I'll whine and threaten to vacation elsewhere (I am scoping out universal.....just in case I need a new home....)

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Well, it's their park, and you have other vacation options.

Personally, I like the idea of bands. We lost one of our KTTW cards last year (I'm pretty sure I left it in a FP machine) and these seem easier to keep track of. Plus, I think the kids are going to think it's pretty awesome to be wearing their "special, magical Disney bracelets." They don't have issues wearing bracelets in any other venues so I can't imagine it's going to be an issue at Disney. Kids are unpredictable, though.

I really don't like the tracking nature of the RFID technology in general, but again, I'm going to their park, and they have a right to keep track of me when I'm on their turf if that's what they choose to do. The way I see it is that Disney isn't the government. They're a private entity and they get to make the rules for their "house." I can't have much of a right to privacy when I'm on their property. If I don't like the tracking they're going to be doing, I shouldn't go to their property. JMO.

~Fabulous post! Omg... jtown, I just *love* your posts. More please, lol!

 

[Mac4life30]

How is Disney controlling your vacation by making you wear the bands? Im still not clear on this. I thought the bands were simply meant to simply everything for us.

 

[tobikaye]

I do not like the bands because I can become nauseous when wearing something on my wrist for more than a few hours. So, when I first heard of these, I was extremely upset. Once indications came that I could still request a card instead of a band, I no longer cared. To me, it is now a mute point. I will request a card so that I do not have to worry about the band.

 

[hoosll]

I would probably stick with a card. I feel so much better with something that has my name printed on it that I can take a picture of.

 

[siskaren]

I really think we all need to take a step back and wait for the roll out before we decide whether this going to work for us.
It could be an unmitigated disaster, but I don't think it's Disney's intention to make our experience less enjoyable...that would be bad for business. So I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and hold off judgement until we know what the deal really is. .....then I'll whine and threaten to vacation elsewhere (I am scoping out universal.....just in case I need a new home....)

I like the way you think.

 

[JustAKid]

i think i'm gonna leave this thread--i fear inhaling too much second-hand pixie dust.

right?!

 

[JustAKid]

~Do you mean to ask, why some people "here" -- because that's not even worth asking. It's just the same 20 people or so, complaining on here, every single day. I think the majority of the 20 million other guests who frequent Disney will like the bracelets!

~Omg... will you please stop! If all of my posts offend you, don't read them. Simple, huh? I wasn't insulting anyone, I was putting things into perspective. This is a tiny group of people that may not accurately reflect how the majority of millions of park goers may feel about the wristbands -- places like Great Wolf Lodge have been utilizing this technology for years and people seem to adapt just fine. Thank you!

Listen, with all due respect...are you always this brash? (I have seen your other posts so let me clarify and say that was a rhetorical question and I'm not actually asking for you to explain yourself)

I mean, the first quote is clearly an over-exaggerated argumentitive post that would leave anyone with an opinion that differs from yours to become defensive as you're inferring that they're ridiculous because of that opinion. You are not saying the words "these people are dumb" but it is clearly what you're getting at. We cannot possibly comment on what the other 20 million park visitors are saying, can we? We don't really have their testimonials of how they would like to do things. What we DO have is the responses of those here on the forums, and I think the consensus is that some are excited with the changes, some are not.

I don't understand the need to jump down someone's throat for quoting your response and replying to it. If you don't want that to happen, wouldn't it be silly to post at all? You're stating your opinion, which you are more than entitiled to, and that opinion is also a valid one! However, they are also entitled to use your post as a jumping off point for *their* opinions without being treated as if them quoting your words is a personal attack and they are somehow unreasonable for doing so.

More bees with honey, my friend!

Annnnnnnnnnnd...curtain.

 

[danetter]

Does anyone know how big the bands will be? I don't have a problem with wearing them if they will fit as I have large wrist( I can't even wear an 8in bracelet).

 

[MikeandReneePlus5]

I put people who can't wear something on their wrist in the same category as people who cover their ears when an ambulance goes by: wimps.

 

[JimmyV]

It's just the same 20 people or so, complaining on here, every single day. I think the majority of the 20 million other guests who frequent Disney will like the bracelets!

That implies that the thousands of board members here are not a representative sampling of the general public. There really is no reason to think that the rate of disapproval in the general population will be lower than the rate of disapproval here. In fact, this board is probably populated with far more Disney cheer leaders, so the rate of acceptance here is probably higher than in the general population. Will the majority of guests like them? We don't know. But I am willing to guess that the majority won't care too terribly much.

...places like Great Wolf Lodge have been utilizing this technology for years and people seem to adapt just fine. Thank you!

See. Now this is one of the reasons that I don't like the bands. To me, they appear to be sweaty, ugly adornments that are tacky and bring Disney World down to the level of lesser places, such as giant indoor chlorine parks. I'd like to think that WDW can do things with a bit more class. I can't stand going to a company office where all the employees have to wear ID tags on lanyards all day long. That just seems so de-humanizing. The idea of seeing 35,000 people all with the "mark of Disney" on their wrist sort of creeps me out. Until they can make the system completely invisible with a chip behind the ear, I would much prefer a plastic credit card that I can keep in my pocket or wallet. Sounds like that might be an option, so as far as I'm concerned, it's all good.

 

[Lizziejane]

I love the idea of the band - as long as it works. And honestly, that's my biggest concern. If everything - and I mean, everything - is now accessed through that band, that means there's some lovely big server somewhere storing all this info. I don't care about privacy issues - I'm worried what happens if/when that server goes down! and I don't doubt it WILL go down, judging from the technical difficulties of their website.

That's when I'll wish I still had that little piece of paper in my hand, telling me to return at a certain time to ride that ride!

 

[LaurenT]

I love the idea of the band - as long as it works. And honestly, that's my biggest concern. If everything - and I mean, everything - is now accessed through that band, that means there's some lovely big server somewhere storing all this info. I don't care about privacy issues - I'm worried what happens if/when that server goes down! and I don't doubt it WILL go down, judging from the technical difficulties of their website.

That's when I'll wish I still had that little piece of paper in my hand, telling me to return at a certain time to ride that ride!

Well, if we're going to spend our time worrying about it, let me throw out there that even the pentagon has been hacked....
It's the world we live in. If I let myself succumb to the "what ifs", I might just lock myself in my room and pull the covers over my head.
So, I agree...there is a risk involved, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not one I'm going to let myself worry about.