New Apple tech will allow purchase of park tickets on Itunes?

[Chux]

I recently did this at PAX-East in Boston. I had left my convention badge at my house in MD, had my confirmation barcode as an image on my iPhone, explained my situation to a staff member and they scanned my phone.

Voila, con entrance.

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Well, how we feel about this technology is moot. This is the wave of the future. Everything we do eventually will be stored and accessable from a handheld device. For us over 30 or gasp 40, we may not have the same mind frame as the younger generation. With the upcoming advent of RFID and this I-Tech, our park and shopping experiences are going to change dramatically

I wholeheartedly agree. But this doesn't seem like it would be an efficient way to accomplish park admission, especially on peak days. RFID would be much more efficient, and allow for less disruption of the existing system. And because RFID is a much cheaper technology, there would be some synergy for all guests, as opposed to just those with smartphone devices.

Also, would itunes sales violate Disney's agreement with Verizon?

 

[Figment632]

I wholeheartedly agree. But this doesn't seem like it would be an efficient way to accomplish park admission, especially on peak days. RFID would be much more efficient, and allow for less disruption of the existing system. And because RFID is a much cheaper technology, there would be some synergy for all guests, as opposed to just those with smartphone devices.

Also, would itunes sales violate Disney's agreement with Verizon?

Maybe the park tickets wouldn't be available on itunes but there own seperate site Distunes :shrug:

 

[DisneyMusician2]

Maybe the park tickets wouldn't be available on itunes but there own seperate site Distunes :shrug:

Sounds like we should take the name out and make some cash off the sale of it before the system is finalized.

Honestly, I'd love to see some more hi-tech revisions to Disney, but we'll see about this one.

 

[Phonedave]

Well, how we feel about this technology is moot. This is the wave of the future. Everything we do eventually will be stored and accessable from a handheld device. For us over 30 or gasp 40, we may not have the same mind frame as the younger generation. With the upcoming advent of RFID and this I-Tech, our park and shopping experiences are going to change dramatically

It's not a matter of not liking tech, or for that matter not understanding it.

It's a matter of not using tech for techs sake. I want my AP to get me into the park - period. My paper AP does not need batteries, does not need to have signal, costs a minimal amount of money for the media, and fits easily in my wallet. When I change wallets I dont have to worry about trasfer protocals either. I don't have to worry about charging it at night. it doesn't require a monthly service contract, and if I loose it guest services gives me another one for free. Aside from the perceived 'coolness' factor, what is the incentive to put your ticket on your e-device. If they include some perks, OK thats an incentive for the user, but I still fail to see the incentive for the parks. New scanners and new support employees are going to offset any savings from using less paper media.

Unless of course they stick advertising on it too.

-dave

 

[Figment632]

It's not a matter of not liking tech, or for that matter not understanding it.

It's a matter of not using tech for techs sake. I want my AP to get me into the park - period. My paper AP does not need batteries, does not need to have signal, costs a minimal amount of money for the media, and fits easily in my wallet. When I change wallets I dont have to worry about trasfer protocals either. I don't have to worry about charging it at night. it doesn't require a monthly service contract, and if I loose it guest services gives me another one for free. Aside from the perceived 'coolness' factor, what is the incentive to put your ticket on your e-device. If they include some perks, OK thats an incentive for the user, but I still fail to see the incentive for the parks. New scanners and new support employees are going to offset any savings from using less paper media.

Unless of course they stick advertising on it too.

-dave

I am sure that they will never totaly do away with the old fashion ticket as far as all the stuff you mention if any of that happened couldn't they just set it up that you can go to GS or a ticket window and just look up your info?

 

[RickEff]

Going to have my annual pass barcode tattoo'd!

 

[Monorail_Orange]

As someone said earlier, if you're using a limited-time park hopper, I can see this working for the truly I-phone savvy. I mean, I drag my cell to the parks everyday in case our family gets separated (intentionally or not) and we need to meet up again.

For an AP holder, seems much easier to stick to paper tickets, especially in the case of device lost/broken/destroyed/electrical failure from riding on Kali and forgetting it in your pocket (haven't done it, but it's had to have happened by now)...etc.

IMHO, I don't care for Apple products. Every time I have owned one, it's been nothing but trouble - including iTunes. Granted, I haven't owned many Apple products because of my experiences with the ones I have, but I have a huge mistrust of them. I took great pleasure in killing iTunes off my computers after two iPod debacles. So, there's no way I would buy into this ticketing system right now.

I know Apple has a staunch and very loyal fanbase on this site, so I'm aware I might get flamed for my opinion, but, it is what it is.

::Flame-proof suit on:::lol:

 

[hokielutz]

As someone said earlier, if you're using a limited-time park hopper, I can see this working for the truly I-phone savvy. I mean, I drag my cell to the parks everyday in case our family gets separated (intentionally or not) and we need to meet up again.

For an AP holder, seems much easier to stick to paper tickets, especially in the case of device lost/broken/destroyed/electrical failure from riding on Kali and forgetting it in your pocket (haven't done it, but it's had to have happened by now)...etc.

IMHO, I don't care for Apple products. Every time I have owned one, it's been nothing but trouble - including iTunes. Granted, I haven't owned many Apple products because of my experiences with the ones I have, but I have a huge mistrust of them. I took great pleasure in killing iTunes off my computers after two iPod debacles. So, there's no way I would buy into this ticketing system right now.

I know Apple has a staunch and very loyal fanbase on this site, so I'm aware I might get flamed for my opinion, but, it is what it is.

::Flame-proof suit on:::lol:

no need to send flames your way...

just a gentle encouragement for you to try iPod/iPhone/iPad another time....


(user: S. Jobs signing off remote connection)

End Of Line....

 

[Master Yoda]

It's not a matter of not liking tech, or for that matter not understanding it.

It's a matter of not using tech for techs sake. I want my AP to get me into the park - period. My paper AP does not need batteries, does not need to have signal, costs a minimal amount of money for the media, and fits easily in my wallet. When I change wallets I dont have to worry about trasfer protocals either. I don't have to worry about charging it at night. it doesn't require a monthly service contract, and if I loose it guest services gives me another one for free. Aside from the perceived 'coolness' factor, what is the incentive to put your ticket on your e-device. If they include some perks, OK thats an incentive for the user, but I still fail to see the incentive for the parks. New scanners and new support employees are going to offset any savings from using less paper media.

Unless of course they stick advertising on it too.

-dave

As usual you are quite correct. It reminds me of the race of Gnomes in the Dragonlance Chronicles. No matter how simple a task was, no matter how well the current system worked they felt a compulsion to make a machine to do the same task. Sometimes this made for a great advancement in technology but most of the time it lead to simple tasks being made incredibly complicated. Just because we can do a thing does not mean we should.

 

[Figment632]

As usual you are quite correct. It reminds me of the race of Gnomes in the Dragonlance Chronicles. No matter how simple a task was, no matter how well the current system worked they felt a compulsion to make a machine to do the same task. Sometimes this made for a great advancement in technology but most of the time it lead to simple tasks being made incredibly complicated. Just because we can do a thing does not mean we should.

I don't see what is so complicated about touching an app on your phone to order tickets?

 

[Master Yoda]

I don't see what is so complicated about touching an app on your phone to order tickets?

The action is simple...the potential problems are numerous hence you are making a simple process that works just fine more complicated with little to no benefit.

 

[Figment632]

The action is simple...the potential problems are numerous hence you are making a simple process that works just fine more complicated with little to no benefit.

Yes but don't all new systems start out that way, some people might have said the same thing when they changed from the Ticket books :shrug:

 

[Master Yoda]

Yes but don't all new systems start out that way, some people might have said the same thing when they changed from the Ticket books :shrug:

Some do but most are meant to streamline and improve a complicated system not the other way around.

"The more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain."
Montgomery Scott

 

[Figment632]

Some do but most are meant to streamline and improve a complicated system not the other way around.

I guess if it happens only time will tell?

 

[Monsterfan99]

This would be a mess for the Fast Pass system. You will get a mix of batteries dying during the day, needing scanners at every stand (with employees) and dealing with lost phones. Also, if every family members ticket was on one central phone, say good bye to breaking up the family to park hop.

How hard is it to just get a ticket and use it at the gate? Then again, maybe this is a master plan to put quick phone chargers all over the park for a fee of $5 a charge. Six Flags has done it and it works wonders for them (and the user has to watch ads for 15-20 minutes while it charges.)

 

[Festivus]

I don't see how it would make things easier. Right now if you stay at a Disney resort your room key multitasks for you by being a room key, park pass, fast pass, meal plan, and credit card. When we go to WDW I shut my phone off and check messages when we get back to the resort. I wouldn't use the iPhone app. How will it handle multiple park passes if I purchase passes for myself, wife and kids? Would I have to scan my phone multiple times for each family member.

 

[jakeman]

Having been stuck behind people in the airport security lines a number of times while they jerk around with their i-devices trying to size and resize the screen so the 3D barcodes on their super convenient electronic boarding passes can be read, I think I will stick with the old fashoned paper media for now.


-dave

This pretty much sums up the problems in a nutshell.

I was "that guy" with the airline ticket on my phone, twice, and never again. As a frequent business traveller, I can tell you that a ticket on a mobile device is more trouble that it is worth.

It is not anywhere near as effecient as a simple paper boarding pass for speed.

Techonology for technology isn't a good thing:

A special effect without a story is a pretty boring thing."

 

[KevinFlynn]

^^^Oh, how ironic is that quote?

 

[UnrealFire]

I like to swim with my Key To The World in my pocket. I do not like to swim with my iPhone in my pocket.