Rumor MaigcBands at DL?

[TP2000]

Because it's been years since I allowed my family to stay at the Grand Californian, due to their middling customer service and unpolished "Airport Sheraton On A Good Day" overall performance while charging Montage Laguna rates , I did some digging just now....

It appears none of Disneyland's hotels offer any sort of mobile check-in or "Digital Key". They are still operating with the same doors and same check-in technology as when the Grand Californian opened in 2001. And in 2001 that technology was already 15 years old. So basically it is still 1990 at the Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel.

What a freaking joke! It's like they've just been sitting there for 20 years watching the world go by. Do TDA execs and the management of the Grand Californian even know that Friends went off the air and boot cut jeans aren't a thing? Are they still collecting Pogs?

Meanwhile, in the 21st century, I can go to Fargo, North Dakota and check in to a half dozen cheap Hilton properties that all offer Digital Key services and standards for 100 bucks per night. Fargo, North Dakota!

https://hiltonhonors3.hilton.com/en_US/hh/search/findhotels/results.htm?view=LIST

 

[donsullivan]

Why is that better? Phones have RFID too.

(Not arguing, curious.)

Unlike Android phones, In the case of an iPhone, Apple has historically restricted access to the RFID in their devices except for ApplePay while Bluetooth was always generally available to developers. so this is the method the hospitality industry used for access control.

 

[chadwpalm]

Isn't the entire point of Magic Bands to plan out your entire day, minute by minute?

No, that is not the point of the Magic Band at all. You are describing the MyMagic+ program. The Magic Band is just a tool used in that program and as a tool, it can be used for other applications.

The Magic Band is nothing more than an RFID chip holder. It has a passive RFID chip for pressing up against FP readers at the entrance to attractions and hotel rooms locks, and an active RFID chip ran by a small battery that Disney can use to determine your location within the parks. These concepts can be worked into Disneyland without changing anything to the current FP program. The Magic Band could theoretically be connected to your account along with your entry ticket and be used with the existing FP/MP system in place of scanning barcodes.

In short, Magic Bands can be used without the MM+ program and the "planning out of the day" that goes along with it. I'm not saying there will be Magic Bands, mostly because Bob Iger has already stated there is no plan to introduce it at the DL Resort, just making a point that Magic Bands are used in the MM+ program, but does not have to be exclusively used with it.

Hotel room keys are almost all RFID now. Bluetooth has nothing to do with it.

This is nothing.

Exactly. I just stayed at Bally's in LV and the room key was RFID. Many hotel rooms are now. If you don't see a strip on the back of the card, then it is most likely RFID.

Edit: Just also want to point out that all entry tickets at WDW have RFID in them like the newer hotel room keys. This started when MM+ started.

Why is that better? Phones have RFID too.

(Not arguing, curious.)

Yes they do, but currently Apple does not allow 3rd party access to the RFID chips on their phones for security reasons.....at least not without jailbreaking it. Until this is reversed, most companies like Disney are not pushing using phones as RFID devices because you would eliminate the percentage of your customer base that only has iPhones.

 

[Disney Irish]

Why is that better? Phones have RFID too.

(Not arguing, curious.)

As others have stated, not all phones have RFID or provide the same access to the RFID within the phone.

Bluetooth however is universal. And because of the way BLE has been implemented, a unique signature between device and BLE reader is required so makes it a bit more secure. So less likely for spoofing which can be done with RFID tags. At least that is what I understand, I'm not an expert however.

 

[THE 1HAPPY HAUNT]

I am so sick and tired of magic bands and fast passes. we need to get rid of all it and go back how it used to be. you want go on that ride, get in line and stay there.

 

[TP2000]

Earlier tonight I drove down to the family's little old house in La Jolla for a few weeks, as I just needed to escape the heat of inland OC for late July and August. Family from the north will join me next week, and we're going to kayak the sea caves! And on my drive down I got to thinking about this thread and the state of the "Hotels of the Disneyland Resort" as they like to call themselves so grandly.

I just have to say one more time... what a pathetic joke they are! Their service is mid-range at best, and often their CM's unpolished demeanor and lack of proper training and close management oversight is glossed over with a big cheesy smile and a "Have a Magical stay!" belched up automatically. Puke. Their amenities at all three hotels are basic for the $300 price range in any big city hotel, but for the $450 to $600 price range they actually charge the amenities are shockingly underwhelming. And again, the service levels at the valet stands and nearly every bar and restaurant in all three hotels except Napa Rose are just average at best and too often appallingly bad. (God love the Napa Rose, somehow they have escaped the corporate mediocrity in the rest of that same hotel for almost 20 years now.)

I'm going to brunch at the Lodge at Torrey Pines on Sunday, and as always I will be met with crisp efficiency on the valet drive that turns into warm and genuine hospitality with an impressive level of polish and care. And they are wearing Scottish kilts when they do all that!

Try to get that level of care and polish at the Grand Californian and see how far you get.

And now, in this future year of 2019 where even a hundred bucks per night roadside motel in Fargo, North Dakota has had smartphone enabled check-in and charging abilities for years, Disneyland is finally getting some sort of watered down digital key process. How does that even happen? Who the heck has been in charge of these properties for the last ten years??? How do you even get that far behind?

It's nearly criminal, and honestly whoever has been in charge of their IT and Customer Service teams for the last decade should just quit and go work for a swap meet or something more their speed. But at least it gave me a few laughs as I drove through Camp Pendleton and along those gorgeous cliffs above the Pacific tonight.

 

[shambolicdefending]

I've been led to believe Magic Bands have never actually worked out like Disney thought they would at WDW.

I was told the technology cost way more than expected to implement, and has never produced the increase in revenue that was envisioned. So, it's hard to imagine them repeating it in Anaheim

 

[Disneylover152]

As long as Disney doesn't implement the "plan your entire trip minute by minute 6 months before your trip or else" approach that WDW has, I'm ok with Magic Bands.

There's a reason my family decided to switch from WDW to Disneyland despite WDW being cheaper.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

As long as Disney doesn't implement the "plan your entire trip minute by minute 6 months before your trip or else" approach that WDW has, I'm ok with Magic Bands.

There's a reason my family decided to switch from WDW to Disneyland despite WDW being cheaper.

This. I'd actually like to see MagicBands added to DLR, but ONLY in place of existing park ticket/hotel room key/PhotoPass card media. I despise MyMagic+ and the whole "plan your whole day" garbage. I find it actually makes going to WDW miserable. Let me first say too, I agree with those that say to hell with FastPass all together. But, if we're going to have it, DLR's essentially legacy FP program is vastly superior to the FP+ stupidity in WDW.

WDW should scrap their FP+ system and adopt DLR's. Their only problem will be they've already disposed of the FP distribution machines and FP+ kiosks, so essentially they will have to give everyone MaxPass by allowing them to continue using the MDE app to book FPs. But, hell just monetize the ability to get more than one FP at a time (before two hours) and that problem will be solved.

 

[Disneylover152]

WDW should scrap their FP+ system and adopt DLR's. Their only problem will be they've already disposed of the FP distribution machines and FP+ kiosks, so essentially they will have to give everyone MaxPass by allowing them to continue using the MDE app to book FPs. But, hell just monetize the ability to get more than one FP at a time (before two hours) and that problem will be solved.

They do have FP+ kiosks scattered around the park for those who didn't get fastpasses in advance or those who don't have a magic band and want to use their park ticket. There's like 5 in each park and you can book any fastpass for any ride in that park from those kiosks.

I actually feel like they should implement this kiosk approach WDW has to Disneyland, having about 5 or 6 kiosks in the park that you can make any Fastpass for. But then again, there will be no reason for paid MaxPass.

 

[Stevek]

I don’t have any interest in planning out my day but I’d rather use a magic band to scan into rides than my ticket or phone.

Agreed. Had zero issues with our magic bands. I can see them being linked for payments as well.

 

[Stevek]

Earlier tonight I drove down to the family's little old house in La Jolla for a few weeks, as I just needed to escape the heat of inland OC for late July and August. Family from the north will join me next week, and we're going to kayak the sea caves! And on my drive down I got to thinking about this thread and the state of the "Hotels of the Disneyland Resort" as they like to call themselves so grandly.

I just have to say one more time... what a pathetic joke they are! Their service is mid-range at best, and often their CM's unpolished demeanor and lack of proper training and close management oversight is glossed over with a big cheesy smile and a "Have a Magical stay!" belched up automatically. Puke. Their amenities at all three hotels are basic for the $300 price range in any big city hotel, but for the $450 to $600 price range they actually charge the amenities are shockingly underwhelming. And again, the service levels at the valet stands and nearly every bar and restaurant in all three hotels except Napa Rose are just average at best and too often appallingly bad. (God love the Napa Rose, somehow they have escaped the corporate mediocrity in the rest of that same hotel for almost 20 years now.)

I'm going to brunch at the Lodge at Torrey Pines on Sunday, and as always I will be met with crisp efficiency on the valet drive that turns into warm and genuine hospitality with an impressive level of polish and care. And they are wearing Scottish kilts when they do all that!

Try to get that level of care and polish at the Grand Californian and see how far you get.

And now, in this future year of 2019 where even a hundred bucks per night roadside motel in Fargo, North Dakota has had smartphone enabled check-in and charging abilities for years, Disneyland is finally getting some sort of watered down digital key process. How does that even happen? Who the heck has been in charge of these properties for the last ten years??? How do you even get that far behind?

It's nearly criminal, and honestly whoever has been in charge of their IT and Customer Service teams for the last decade should just quit and go work for a swap meet or something more their speed. But at least it gave me a few laughs as I drove through Camp Pendleton and along those gorgeous cliffs above the Pacific tonight.

We enjoy the concept of being at a Disney Hotel...that whole immersion thing...but no way in hell I’m ever paying for one of the DL hotels again. We were lucky, stayed at 2 of them for cheap AP rates 10-15 years ago and at the DL hotel for my 40th for a ridiculous rate (my wife booked, I would never have paid that much) and that was enough for me. I have a buddy that works at the DL hotel and can get his CM rate and that’s even too much.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

They do have FP+ kiosks scattered around the park for those who didn't get fastpasses in advance or those who don't have a magic band and want to use their park ticket. There's like 5 in each park and you can book any fastpass for any ride in that park from those kiosks.

View attachment 394315

I actually feel like they should implement this kiosk approach WDW has to Disneyland, having about 5 or 6 kiosks in the park that you can make any Fastpass for. But then again, there will be no reason for paid MaxPass.

I know, it's just that now the kiosks are so few at the WDW parks, it would be a nightmare to change now so that it's either stand in line at the kiosks or MaxPass, such that they would have to spend more money to install additional kiosks. The better route overall would be to forgo that and just allow guests to continue to use the app. More kiosks means they would have to spend money, but using the app like MaxPass simply means they give up a potential small revenue stream.

It's the same thinking with DLR - keeping what they have costs them little (just maintenance) and they realize the revenue from MaxPass. Whereas to switch to kiosks, they have to buy new machines (albeit fewer) and rip out the existing ones.

Edit to add: I don't think 5 or 6 kiosk per park will cut it, I'd think it would require more like 30 if there are no other legacy machines anymore.

 

[Disneylover152]

Edit to add: I don't think 5 or 6 kiosk per park will cut it, I'd think it would require more like 30 if there are no other legacy machines anymore.

There's like 5 or 6 kiosk stations skattered around the park and they each have around 6 individual kiosks. From what I can tell, it works great but that's because most of park goers just use the free app.

 

[Monorail_Orange]

There's like 5 or 6 kiosk stations skattered around the park and they each have around 6 individual kiosks. From what I can tell, it works great but that's because most of park goers just use the free app.

Ok, I misunderstood 5 or 6 stations, with 5 or 6 kiosks apiece, that puts our math right on spot. I thought you were originally saying 5 or 6 kiosk in one station for the whole park. Sorry about that. I agree with you entirely that the app supplants the need, and that's really my point. The app takes the places of those kiosks, almost completely, and without the kiosks, there's no maintenance expense, and the machines don't become obsolete...because every guest has their own piece of equipment (smart phone) they use, maintain, and upgrade. Granted, there's still backroom equipment (i.e. servers) to host the FP system, but you have to have that stuff regardless to make the system work.

 

[Curious Constance]

Earlier tonight I drove down to the family's little old house in La Jolla for a few weeks, as I just needed to escape the heat of inland OC for late July and August. Family from the north will join me next week, and we're going to kayak the sea caves! And on my drive down I got to thinking about this thread and the state of the "Hotels of the Disneyland Resort" as they like to call themselves so grandly.

I just have to say one more time... what a pathetic joke they are! Their service is mid-range at best, and often their CM's unpolished demeanor and lack of proper training and close management oversight is glossed over with a big cheesy smile and a "Have a Magical stay!" belched up automatically. Puke. Their amenities at all three hotels are basic for the $300 price range in any big city hotel, but for the $450 to $600 price range they actually charge the amenities are shockingly underwhelming. And again, the service levels at the valet stands and nearly every bar and restaurant in all three hotels except Napa Rose are just average at best and too often appallingly bad. (God love the Napa Rose, somehow they have escaped the corporate mediocrity in the rest of that same hotel for almost 20 years now.)

I'm going to brunch at the Lodge at Torrey Pines on Sunday, and as always I will be met with crisp efficiency on the valet drive that turns into warm and genuine hospitality with an impressive level of polish and care. And they are wearing Scottish kilts when they do all that!

Try to get that level of care and polish at the Grand Californian and see how far you get.

And now, in this future year of 2019 where even a hundred bucks per night roadside motel in Fargo, North Dakota has had smartphone enabled check-in and charging abilities for years, Disneyland is finally getting some sort of watered down digital key process. How does that even happen? Who the heck has been in charge of these properties for the last ten years??? How do you even get that far behind?

It's nearly criminal, and honestly whoever has been in charge of their IT and Customer Service teams for the last decade should just quit and go work for a swap meet or something more their speed. But at least it gave me a few laughs as I drove through Camp Pendleton and along those gorgeous cliffs above the Pacific tonight.

Saw on a disneygeek update that the Spa at GCH did close.

 

[TP2000]

Saw on a disneygeek update that the Spa at GCH did close.

Sure, close the spa down in the middle of summer. Brilliant.

I assume they are remodeling and/or transferring the ownership to a different third party operator. If they don't get a spa reopened in this space within the year, that would seem to be proof they are backing off of the attempt at "Four Diamond" service and amenities that it's always baffled me that Disney is able to score for their Anaheim hotels.

 

[mikenatcity1]

All of this talk about digital keys- i've never once thought about them. I've never had a digital key- the first time I will is going to be when I go to WDW in September. I don't think of that as any part of a lower quality. Perhaps because I always stay in the villas, I enjoy GCH a great deal. I've stayed once in the regular portion of the hotel was was just "ok" (2 years before the recent refurb).

I am not a fan of magic bands in general. I hate wearing a rubber bracelet on my wrist in the heat. I don't even wear a watch. Yes I have a hotel card to get in/out of the hotel, but otherwise everything is on my phone. I quite enjoy it

Now...room charging I found to be very dangerous with the magic bands- it's sooo easy for me to tap and go vs getting out my wallet.

 

[Disneylover152]

I am not a fan of magic bands in general. I hate wearing a rubber bracelet on my wrist in the heat. I don't even wear a watch. Yes I have a hotel card to get in/out of the hotel, but otherwise everything is on my phone. I quite enjoy it

You don’t have to wear it in your wrist, you can remove the Mickey circle and they sell accessories so you can put it on your backpack or something.

 

[mikenatcity1]

You don’t have to wear it in your wrist, you can remove the Mickey circle and they sell accessories so you can put it on your backpack or something.

I'm just having an issue spending money on accessories for this. I did for the first type of Magic Bands and they were used once before they changed the band and I couldn't use them anymore. This is just me I'd rather spend the money on something else other than to make something I don't want to wear livable. I'm sure i'm in the tiny minority.