It was.
Now, as then, there should be a choice for guests not to use their own personal possessions to replace a company tool. Especially since a previously free option is being removed.
Thankfully I don’t wear a shackle.
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News Disney will be ending complimentary MagicBand distribution to Disney Resort hotel guests and moving to smart devices
- Thread starter wdwmagic
- Start date
Now, as then, there should be a choice for guests not to use their own personal possessions to replace a company tool. Especially since a previously free option is being removed.
Thankfully I don’t wear a shackle.
Oh, also people getting locked out of their rooms at the end of the day due to a dead battery. This definitely complicates the whole DTR (Direct to Room) process since it means that some folks will only have a mobile key and not a KTTW card unless they go to the front desk and ask for one
Rider
Well-Known Member
It was greatly improved in ios13 last year.
NFC gets a lot more powerful in iOS 13 | TechCrunch
NFC -- the technology that helps power Apple Pay as well other clever features for iOS apps like Launch Center Pro's tappable stickers -- is getting a big
techcrunch.com
VJ
Well-Known Member
i'm pretty sure it sends over the exact same amount of information a regular magicband would...
Apple is working on system to allow unlocking in the event of a dead battery
Car Keys: A Feature That Lets You Unlock a Car With Your iPhone or Apple Watch
Apple's iPhones and Apple Watches have supported NFC for some time now, and now those NFC capabilities can be used to allow Apple users to lock,...
www.macrumors.com
They are using HID/ Assa Abloy Seos technology for this over BLE. Same technology as current Mobile Key as well as HID Mobile Access if you work somewhere/ live somewhere that uses it.
All of the 2nd generation Touch Points have BLE support. This has been a long time in the making.
MrPromey
Well-Known Member
If Disney were to actually charge the dollar or two these things really cost, I don't think most people would care that they aren't free anymore and would be content to buy them for the family members in their party that it might make more sense for (i.e. kids) but I'm guessing that even at the reduced rate, they're still going to be unreasonably marked up like any other piece of "merchandise" in the parks.
These are really something that should be sold as a utility and priced accordingly. I get that in the early years, there was a push to make the system profitable or at least break-even but if they're ending the complimentary nature of bands for people staying on property, that's a huge piece of their ongoing operational costs. It would be nice to see that reflected in standard band retail pricing.
Of course, the novelty and LE bands are another story but from my own anecdotal experience, I've never seen many of those around the parks which to me suggests they've not been big sellers.
I'm wondering though - thought one of the benefits of the magic bands was the ability to use their distance tracking to monitor people's days in the the parks to figure out cost savings. Curious if they think they'll have enough people using their phones in this capacity rather than opting for the cards that this won't have much of an impact or if they're actually backing off the data collection a little.
I would imagine that they'll get a less complete picture since not all members of a family will be walking around with smart phones and out of those that are, not all will likely have the Disney software installed and active for the whole day, especially with older and younger family members.
These are really something that should be sold as a utility and priced accordingly. I get that in the early years, there was a push to make the system profitable or at least break-even but if they're ending the complimentary nature of bands for people staying on property, that's a huge piece of their ongoing operational costs. It would be nice to see that reflected in standard band retail pricing.
Of course, the novelty and LE bands are another story but from my own anecdotal experience, I've never seen many of those around the parks which to me suggests they've not been big sellers.
I'm wondering though - thought one of the benefits of the magic bands was the ability to use their distance tracking to monitor people's days in the the parks to figure out cost savings. Curious if they think they'll have enough people using their phones in this capacity rather than opting for the cards that this won't have much of an impact or if they're actually backing off the data collection a little.
I would imagine that they'll get a less complete picture since not all members of a family will be walking around with smart phones and out of those that are, not all will likely have the Disney software installed and active for the whole day, especially with older and younger family members.
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This is BLE based though, so won’t benefit from that unfortunatelyApple is working on system to allow unlocking in the event of a dead battery
Car Keys: A Feature That Lets You Unlock a Car With Your iPhone or Apple Watch
Apple's iPhones and Apple Watches have supported NFC for some time now, and now those NFC capabilities can be used to allow Apple users to lock,...
Rider
Well-Known Member
I find it silly that people are concerned about giving "big Disney" your phone for Fastpass and admission when Google, Apple, ATT, Verizon, etc already control everything about your phone.
But anyway the article says cards will still be available.
412
Well-Known Member
I probably will too. But 1) I'd rather not pay extra for things that used to be complimentary and 2) there are plenty of first-time guests who won't buy MagicBands, and they will miss out on the better experience that MagicBands provide.
MyMagic+ already has reliability issues. I don't see how replacing free MagicBands, currently standardized for all resort guests, with a variety of cell phones (with varying operating systems, varying NFC capabilities, varying battery capacities, varying conditions) improves the guest experience.
It is bizarre that Disney is cutting complimentary MagicBands, the guest-facing cornerstone of their billion dollar MyMagic+ initiative.
But its a hint of where thing are going. In the not too distant future this type of system will be commonplace and users will have a lot more confidence in it. Hopefully
DABIGCHEEZ
Well-Known Member
Will not buy a magic band or use my phone (for many reasons) They have to still have the cards as an option.
jt04
Well-Known Member
Agreed, this should be optional. Bringing back ticket books utilizing the standby queue would work.
Pirate Magic
Well-Known Member
jt04
Well-Known Member
Agreed, this should be optional. Bringing back ticket books utilizing the standby queue would work.
All we need are batteries that match what’s asked of them.But its a hint of where thing are going. In the not too distant future this type of system will be commonplace and users will have a lot more confidence in it. Hopefully
heapster411
Well-Known Member
It's not like we don't have at least 5 magic bands at our house. Disney is not giving out FREE ones. Just reuse one of the many that we ALL have at home. I was already planning to reuse the one I used last year for this trip in December.
