3-23-06 WDW Podcast

[wdwowner]

While listening to this weeks WDW Podcast, Al Weiss said that all of WDW is now infrared and in the future you will be able locate where the rest of you party is (big groups of families or friends). I was semi-surprised at this.

To me it seems like WDW is now watching your every step, just like big brother. I bet the park tickets already have RFID tags in them and they know where everyone is just by walking past areas that read the tags.

Does this worry anyone else? What do you think?

 

[WDWFREAK53]

...and all of you thought PAL Mickey was a GOOD THING!


MUAH AH AHA HAHAHAHAHHA jk.

I don't think it's a "Big Brother" type of thing...I think it's for security reasons...

Think about it...if you're having a big party...don't you kind of want to know where everybody in the house is? You may close a door that you don't want people going in...but it's not saying that they're not going in there.

 

[EpcotServo]

I hear they use it to track guest flow. (Watch out for the new MIK 9000. Open the monorail doors MIK.... "I can't do that pal! haha!" )

 

[wannab@dis]

I doubt that RFID tags are added to the tickets since that would be fairly expensive. I'm not sure of the costs, but I don't think they have dropped to a level where that type of mass utilization would be feasible.

Pal Mickey and other future devices? Sure. I would say they are looking into giving "large families or groups" the ability to purchase/rent tagged devices that let them track where others are. This would make more sense and it would give them a revenue stream.

 

[MrNonacho]

To me it seems like WDW is now watching your every step, just like big brother. I bet the park tickets already have RFID tags in them and they know where everyone is just by walking past areas that read the tags.

 

[MickeyTigg]

It comes down to....even if they are watching you, so what? I'm sure it's used for guest flow as mentioned above.

It's already known that they have video feeds from all over the park...more than you would imagine or even aware of. If they wanted to follow any particular person even without the tagging of tickets, they probably could have done it anyway and you wouldn't even know it.

BTW...it's only "Big Brother" if the government is doing it not a private company on their property.

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

It comes down to....even if they are watching you, so what? I'm sure it's used for guest flow as mentioned above.

It's already known that they have video feeds from all over the park...more than you would imagine or even aware of. If they wanted to follow any particular person even without the tagging of tickets, they probably could have done it anyway and you wouldn't even know it.

BTW...it's only "Big Brother" if the government is doing it not a private company on their property.

:lookaroun
dont pick your nose



and if you gotta
dont flick it on any CM's


anyways...
I agree with who cares. They already monitor all the rides and queue areas that you probably dont know about! When I was a DL with my boyfriend, we were sitting on the benches outside the exit area of Star Tours and we went for a little smoochy time (very little...not tasteless at all i promise) We heard "For your safety, all areas of this attraction are monitored at all times, thank you"
IE...STOP THE KISSING :lol:
That was pretty embarassing, but it just goes to show you...somebody always knows what you're doing :wave:

 

[MickeyTigg]

:lookaroun
When I was a DL with my boyfriend, we were sitting on the benches outside the exit area of Star Tours and we went for a little smoochy time (very little...not tasteless at all i promise) We heard "For your safety, all areas of this attraction are monitored at all times, thank you"
IE...STOP THE KISSING :lol:
That was pretty embarassing, but it just goes to show you...somebody always knows what you're doing :wave:

Busted!!

:lol:

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

Busted!!

:lol:

:lol: yep

i was pretty embarassed, but it was funny!!! :lol:

 

[MickeyTigg]

:lol: yep

i was pretty embarassed, but it was funny!!! :lol:

I wonder if that was really directed at you or just bad timing.

 

[ImagineerAndy]

I doubt that RFID tags are added to the tickets since that would be fairly expensive. I'm not sure of the costs, but I don't think they have dropped to a level where that type of mass utilization would be feasible.

Pal Mickey and other future devices? Sure. I would say they are looking into giving "large families or groups" the ability to purchase/rent tagged devices that let them track where others are. This would make more sense and it would give them a revenue stream.

I totally agree with this, I think there will be devices that could be rented and also I think its quite a good idea for you to know where family members are.

Andy's Quote to Guess of the Day
"How about that, send a city kid to college for 7 years and what happens? She becomes a farmer!"

 

[thejohn]

:lookaroun
dont pick your nose



and if you gotta
dont flick it on any CM's


anyways...
I agree with who cares. They already monitor all the rides and queue areas that you probably dont know about! When I was a DL with my boyfriend, we were sitting on the benches outside the exit area of Star Tours and we went for a little smoochy time (very little...not tasteless at all i promise) We heard "For your safety, all areas of this attraction are monitored at all times, thank you"
IE...STOP THE KISSING :lol:
That was pretty embarassing, but it just goes to show you...somebody always knows what you're doing :wave:

Did that relly happen?

 

[speck76]

Does this worry anyone else? What do you think?

who cares?.....unless you are doing something wrong, what is the problem. In addition, do you really think they have the time or energy to "follow" individual people around?

 

[1disneydood]

They'd gain NOTHING by following guests around and knowng where they are at all times. They can follow me as much as they want, I need attention anyway.

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

Did that relly happen?

yes sir :lol:

and Ray, I really think it was directed at us because it was an actual person...not an announcement



It wasnt that big of a deal, but I bet they've seen MUCH worse, so they were just trying to prevent it. (believe me, we're not those kind of people anyway :lol: )

 

[rjs_252]

If anyone should be worried about being tracked in theme parks.........

then it should be about this:

http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200603/72/

Not that I think it'll be used for much more than as described or in case of a security risk. . . .

 

[SoccerMickey]

Well the infared technology is all well and good but my concern is the lack of security in the merchandise shops. I have noticed it to be very lax. I saw a guy in the Star Tours shop actually take something off the shelf, and walk right out of the store with it. He didn't even have a bag! Plus how many times have we all seen teenagers pick up PVC's, pins, charms, rings, keychains.
I used to report it to a CM everytime I saw it but the "there's nothing we can do about it now" response I've received almost everytime has made me just watch in disbelief (not to mention anger because that does affect the value of my stock!) Does anyone else have more info about security against theft or is it really as bad as it seems?

 

[fngoofy]

I doubt that RFID tags are added to the tickets since that would be fairly expensive. I'm not sure of the costs, but I don't think they have dropped to a level where that type of mass utilization would be feasible.

Pal Mickey and other future devices? Sure. I would say they are looking into giving "large families or groups" the ability to purchase/rent tagged devices that let them track where others are. This would make more sense and it would give them a revenue stream.

The price is low enough, in Vegas they have rfid chips in the chips. They can track any $5 spot though the entire casino. I think it is a cool idea in resorts, bad idea in cities.

 

[GrimGhost]

I had no idea Al Wiess has worked at WDW since 1972. He seems like a really great guy.

 

[Hurricane]

Well the infared technology is all well and good but my concern is the lack of security in the merchandise shops. I have noticed it to be very lax. I saw a guy in the Star Tours shop actually take something off the shelf, and walk right out of the store with it. He didn't even have a bag! Plus how many times have we all seen teenagers pick up PVC's, pins, charms, rings, keychains.
I used to report it to a CM everytime I saw it but the "there's nothing we can do about it now" response I've received almost everytime has made me just watch in disbelief (not to mention anger because that does affect the value of my stock!) Does anyone else have more info about security against theft or is it really as bad as it seems?

The castmembers are right, only shopkeepers/agents can detain a suspected shoplifter -- imagine the hastle of a guest alleging that a suspicious looking person stole a trinket, causing Disney security detains him only to let him go and have him sue for false imprisonment. -- The losses of an entire year are offset by a single false imprisonment judgment. And remember, most Disney merch is made in China and exorbitantly priced, their margins are doing quite fine.