All of this is an investment for the future. Disney knows of multiple ways to use it to benefit everyone and I'm sure there will be more benefits for both parties in the future. Disney is known as an innovative company. This is the future. Already we hear of business including some in the theme park/water park community that use this technology to enter hotel rooms or for parents to track kids or for guests to charge stuff easier. Disney see this and has decided to invest to do all of that and more. The Walt Disney Company is a HUGE GLOBAL company that see MILLIONS of visitors for HUNDREDS of countries. If they can hire some of the best artists, architects, and engineers, I'm sure they can also hire some of the best data security specialists, information technology experts, and cyber crime fighters. Safety is the companies number one concern and that doesn't just stop at physical safety. They make sure their computer systems are also safe from vulnerabilities. If you are worried that these devices are going to be easily hacked, what about the countless computer databases that already exist and all the show/ride system controls that can be hacked and as a result put your actual life in danger. Disney doesn't lack this type of security. They know there are risks and will take the precautions to protect against those risk.
While I'm don't know exactly what they have up their sleeves with these new wristbands, nor what all they are capable of, but I can already think of different ways the company can benefit from it. These may be reasons why they are doing it aside from the "guest experience".
-Reduce waste/Green initiative: No more paper Fastpasses. Less plastic cards guests have to carry (one for their ticket, one for Photopass, one for their Fastpass tickets). Less FLIK cards produced/lost/broken for queue wait times. I'm sure there are more, but those are three I can think of. All of that trash costs money to take care of. All of that money spent to produce more plastic tickets and more FLIK cards can go elsewhere if these devices can combine all those purposes. I'm sure there are even some tax breaks for taking initiatives like this which could benefit the company.
-Operation Efficiency: All of the current methods of room entry, Fastpass distribution, and turnstiles require cards to be scanned usually using magnetic strip and/or mechanical elements. RFID may be a cheaper more efficient medium for the task. Less machinery that could break down or fail under certain conditions. Less time spent by guests and cast members finding out a card has been demagnitized (time is money). Less time and materials spent reprinting those tickets or cards. Along with that, less paper Fastpasses will get lost or distroyed. With them being more virtual, visiting a kiosk to reprint is all that is required. Less discrepancy, less guest situation, more efficient operation, less wait times, more time for guests to spend money.
-Research: Look at all the research teams Disney current has, now what if a device came along that could report back the same amount of research with less working cast members and less physical interuption of guests' visits? They may be able to predict traffic patterns and have crowd control cast member be able to report to problem areas. They could also use the information to see bottlenecks to make future improvements like the new path near Haunted Mansion. They might be able to find which restaurants, gift shops, and attractions are more frequented by guests, specifically 1st time visitors or specifically by international tourists or even specific type of resort guests.
-Access Control: When biometrics came out, it made it more difficult for people to cheat the system. It also made those ticket sellers on 192 have to figure out a new system to cheat. It's about time to throw them for a loop again. The new devices will make it harder for guests to cheat the system or to their benefit, harder for them to get ripped off. We see how it will also control access to hotel rooms, but it could also control access to things like resort pool areas for instance. Same idea for extra magic hours. Rather than a cast member asking to see your room ID or a wristband, you just scan your wristband at the entrance. If you get the green you are good, if you get the blue then you have an issue. All in the name of protecting the money of the company and also the guests for all the money they did spend.
Technology/Innovation: Disney is different because of this. In order to stay at the top, they have to be competitive. By offering something like this for the "guest experience" is will in turn set Disney apart. In many guests eyes they will see it as amazing and so beneficial. These differences are what do bring guests back which again brings Disney more money. So while I know you what more that the "guest experience" bit, it really is a reason, because that guest experience is money. Don't believe me, that is why Disney increases park hours when it is busy. They want their guests to experience the 8.5 attractions they are supposed to in their visit to the park. If they don't because they failed to plan park hours appropriately for crowd levels, then they have failed their objective... they have failed their guests...which means they have failed their shareholders.
Anyways, I'm not an expert. I don't even know the possibilities, limitations, or actual use of these devices, but it seems to me to have more pros than cons. It really isn't as controversial as everyone is making it out to be. Also, if the government came out with these for a driver's license replace, sure it would make some skeptical and get big brother syndrome, but it's Mickey Mouse. How can you not trust Mickey Mouse?
