FastPass Scanning Experiment?

[DisneyBoi1215]

Hey,

So my friend and I just went through the FP queue for PPF and noticed there was a CM scanning the FPs. Does anyone know why they are doing this?

 

[blackthidot]

Hey,

So my friend and I just went through the FP queue for PPF and noticed there was a CM scanning the FPs. Does anyone know why they are doing this?

Probably all the fraudulent FP's that are out there...

 

[dreamfinder]

People have mentioned the possibility of adding the barcodes to the FP's to ensure that they are legit. The barcode would help to ensure that each FP is unique, and has not already been used.

 

[DisneyBoi1215]

Those are some very interesting points. I noticed they were doing this at BTM yesterday, so wanted to ask.

 

[CarlFredricksen]

I wonder what will be allowed with the scanning and what won't be. Meaning if your return time is between 1:05 - 2:05, currently without the barcodes, the CM 9 times out of 10 will accept your pass after 2:05, as long as it's still the same day.

Will the barcode system make the FP active only during that 1 hr return time, or can you still return after the return hour?

 

[the-reason14]

I wonder what will be allowed with the scanning and what won't be. Meaning if your return time is between 1:05 - 2:05, currently without the barcodes, the CM 9 times out of 10 will accept your pass after 2:05, as long as it's still the same day.

Will the barcode system make the FP active only during that 1 hr return time, or can you still return after the return hour?

Doubt it. I'm sure it will just be to see if it is good for that day. Don't know if I like this.

 

[DocMcHulk]

I wonder what will be allowed with the scanning and what won't be. Meaning if your return time is between 1:05 - 2:05, currently without the barcodes, the CM 9 times out of 10 will accept your pass after 2:05, as long as it's still the same day.

Will the barcode system make the FP active only during that 1 hr return time, or can you still return after the return hour?

Well, technically the scanner doesnt prevent someone from going in, the cast member does. It's nothing more than "digital eyes" to prove if it's legit or not.

 

[tizzo]

I wonder what will be allowed with the scanning and what won't be. Meaning if your return time is between 1:05 - 2:05, currently without the barcodes, the CM 9 times out of 10 will accept your pass after 2:05, as long as it's still the same day.

Will the barcode system make the FP active only during that 1 hr return time, or can you still return after the return hour?

Sounds like it at least gives Disney the option of centralizing on a single policy on return times, taking the power out of the CM's hands. The value being that a guest is probably much less likely to argue the point if a CM can't honor their expired FP (because the machine won't let them) than they are if it seems like an arbitrary decision made at the CM's discretion.

Whether or not they do anything like this depends on how big a problem people using expired FPs really is. Given some of the complaints and detailed explanations I've read about how FP sucks, there are problems. But if counterfeit FPs are really that prevalent, there's no way for Disney to know how big a problem expired FPs are until they get rid of the counterfeits.

Another possibility - scanning all FPs would give them lots of raw data from which they can derive useful information. For example, given the kind of dataset that this would generate, some fairly simply queries would show them any correlation between spikes in standby times and surges of returning holders of expired FPs.

There are of course a host of other possibilities that FP scanning opens up. For example, if every FP has a unique barcode, not only can scanning tell if it's counterfeit, or if it has expired, but also if it's been used before. A list of the things off the top of my head that this enables is:

• FPs displayed as a barcode on a phone (and that they therefore can't collect from you or prevent you from using twice).
• FPs that you print yourself ahead of time (since they can't prevent you from printing multiple copies).
• Machines that can distribute FPs for more than one attraction - if they're scanning a barcode, then the FPs don't have to be visually distinct between attractions. Which itself enables several additional possibilities, such as:
  • FPs distributed by centralized banks of machines (sort of like what they tested a while back at AK, but without having to have a dedicated machine for each attraction).
  • FP machines in places they want you to spend more time - like inside shops.
  • FP distribution that is easier on the guest. Say you're about to use your newly opened FP to go on Buzz Lightyear, and you want to do Bit Thunder Mountain next. Who wouldn't appreciate being able to get that BTM FP from the machines outside BL on your way to the FP return line instead of having to go all the way across the park and back.
• Multiple FPs encoded on a single ticket.

 

[enoe01]

Here is a FP question. If I have 5 AP Passes but only 4 people go on this trip. Can I use the 5th AP Pass to get an extra FP?

 

[Buried20KLeague]

Here is a FP question. If I have 5 AP Passes but only 4 people go on this trip. Can I use the 5th AP Pass to get an extra FP?

If the AP isn't used to get someone in the park, it won't spit out a fastpass. It'll spit out a paper that says something about the ticket not being activated or something to that effect.

The AP has to be run through the ticket machine at the park, showing someone "live" is in the park using it.

 

[enoe01]

HMMMMMMM how can i do this....:drevil:

 

[David S.]

There are of course a host of other possibilities that FP scanning opens up. For example, if every FP has a unique barcode, not only can scanning tell if it's counterfeit, or if it has expired, but also if it's been used before.

One potential problem I can see with this is that there are a lot of times I enter a FP queue, and, before giving my ticket to the SECOND person (who collects it), I realize the ride has gone down or the line is backed up. When this happens, I usually get out of the line, do something else, and come back later. Hopefully this "scanning" system wouldn't prevent people from exiting the queue once it's been scanned (for the reasons mentioned above) and returning later (with the system thinking it's been "used" even though it hasn't!) The whole point of FP, is, after all, to SAVE time, not hang around indefinately waiting for a ride to come back up when it's down!

 

[coolmark18]

I like the dataset theory alot - this would give Disney a heap of useful data about when people are using their fastpass.

I dont get the centrilized fastpass theory - only because a machine could easily just print a name of the attraction. This would be very easy to have rather than a one machine per attraction. Would be alot easier for disney to implement touch screen menus (such as those on the Coca Cola Freestyle machines) to distrubte fastpasses.

 

[khale1970]

The downside of a touch screen option or really any other multi-attraction fast pass machine is that it will slow down the process of obtaining a fast pass. It could hardly be a simpler process than it is now and there are still people who seem to struggle. Imagine if these same people had to flip through menus on a touch screen.

 

[DisneyBoi1215]

Personally, I like the idea of FP scanning. Here are my reasonings:

• Early Arrivals - this would cut down SIGNIFICANTLY on people attempting to arrive early just to break the FP policy CMs are instructed to adhere to. The fact that people try to take advantage of CMs annoys me to no end.
• Validity of FP - CMs would be able to learn quickly whether or not the FP is for the current return time.

 

[CarlFredricksen]

Personally, I like the idea of FP scanning. Here are my reasonings:

• Early Arrivals - this would cut down SIGNIFICANTLY on people attempting to arrive early just to break the FP policy CMs are instructed to adhere to. The fact that people try to take advantage of CMs annoys me to no end.
• Validity of FP - CMs would be able to learn quickly whether or not the FP is for the current return time.

One of the secret advantages of FP now is that you can use your FP ANYTIME after the return time. It makes planning a day sooo much easier and enjoyable.

 

[Timekeeper]

Scan-able barcodes as a prerequisite for a valid FP may not be the best idea for the simple fact that some guests will have valid FPs with a distorted barcode that cannot be scanned.

For example, FPs that are creased/folded, scratched, or wet from a water attraction may not generate an accurate scan. The problem with a barcode is that one simple blemish that prevents a complete laser scan will defeat the barcode altogether. Barcodes do not work on a premise that, if 90% of it is readable, then the computer can guess that last 10%.

Thus, to the extent that counterfeiting is a big enough of an issue to implement a change in the system, counterfeit tickets would simply be scratched, folded, or wet, to prevent scanning (thus eliminating the ability to determine its validity).

The "better" idea would be to simply generate a random character illustration for that particular day to appear on all fastpasses, or a number, or a letter/number combo, like "D7," etc. No one would know (including counterfeiters) what that image would be for any given day in advance.

...This is essentially what Pleasure Island did with the handstamps and wristbands back in the day. You would need to have collected one of each color wristband over time in order to have one that matched the color chosen for admission on any given night.

 

[LoriMistress]

That's a great idea to scan the FP's. Keeps from people from creating fake FP's.

 

[Timekeeper]

That's a great idea to scan the FP's. Keeps from people from creating fake FP's.

As I mentioned above, this would provide no such solution, as the "fake FPs" would only need to be "distressed" so that they could not be scanned, and there are countless legitimate situations in which a FP would become "un-scannable." The problem with laser printing on cardstock is that, when the cardstock (paper) is folded, it "cracks" and the laser printing on that paper becomes distorted. All it would take is one small distortion and the barcode would not be scanable. Anyone who has purchased items at a grocery store understands this.

 

[Kamikaze]

I wonder what will be allowed with the scanning and what won't be. Meaning if your return time is between 1:05 - 2:05, currently without the barcodes, the CM 9 times out of 10 will accept your pass after 2:05, as long as it's still the same day.

Will the barcode system make the FP active only during that 1 hr return time, or can you still return after the return hour?

Not a chance. Would you really like to see someone go and complain to Guest Services because they got delayed getting back to the ride and the CM wouldn't let them use the FP? Either would Disney. The ticket is valid from the beginning to the end of the day. Changing that would be a stupid decision.