NextGen/RFID news, info and experiences

[tissandtully]

Just back from the world and wanted to add my two cents. Touch to enter in the new turnstyle free lanes really was not any faster than using the old regular ticket media. After tapping the ticket to the Mickey head it can take anywhere from 2 to 5 seconds for it to turn green. (I counted, and it did vary quite a bit each day). Only then can you put your finger on the biometric reader (which was pretty quick, probably a second or two). Entering the park, as a result, seemed to actually take a bit longer.

Also, on several occasions, even my wife commented (who is a Disney fan but knows little about nextgen, rfid, etc.) how we could have walked right in without tapping our tickets, as CMs had been interacting with other guests and really didn't even pay attention to us. I still believe this is going to be a huge problem for them, especially with large groups, international guests, or others not familiar with the system. And that all sounds great to those looking to get away with something, but it certainly won't be pleasant when guests try to use Fastpass, and the system doesn't recognize your 4 year old or Grandma as being in the park since their tickets didn't register properly up front.

Finally, since stayed off property, we couldn't use the touch to pay system, but for most credit card transactions we were asked by CM's to swipe on the new devices. The major problem with these being that you can only swipe one way (mag strip face up), which requires multiple swipes if you aren't familiar with the system, as well as only being able to swipe when the CM "activates" the device. Compare this to shopping at a place like Target or your local grocery store, where you can usually swipe with the mag strip facing any direction, and at any point during the transaction (even while things are still ringing up). And the little readers are kind of small, so in many cases after the CM would say you could swipe, they'd have to reach down and hold them in place so they didn't tip over.

Overall, I wasn't very impressed.

You're really only judging one phase of the process. As for gate entrance, the fact that there are two points per line makes that line a lot lighter on crowds gathered around it. I can't tell you how many times I see a huge line at the paper ticket gates and virtually no one at the RFID gates. If that will stay the same, only time will tell.

 

[flynnibus]

You're really only judging one phase of the process

Because the mag strip readers are going to evolve on their own and grow a second reader in them?

Or that the system is really holding itself back to 20% and there really is 80% more capacity just waiting to be used to speed up transactions?

Or that guests are going to get smarter.. not dumber.. between now and when so the entrance ways are more sane?

If things were going well... things would be better now than when it ramps up to full capacity. But what we really see here is how poor the first attempt is.. and that it may take Disney a lot of iterations to actually get it right.

I can't tell you how many times I see a huge line at the paper ticket gates and virtually no one at the RFID gates. If that will stay the same, only time will tell.

Except you infer that's because they are faster/more efficent.. when that variance is for many more reasons like guest confusion, which ticket media they have, etc.

 

[tissandtully]

Except you infer that's because they are faster/more efficent.. when that variance is for many more reasons like guest confusion, which ticket media they have, etc.

Uh no, there's just more people with paper tickets right now.

Because the mag strip readers are going to evolve on their own and grow a second reader in them?

'
My comment on that was in response to the previous posters "Not impressed" comment. Judging the whole thing as a whole when it's not done yet. Good grief.

 

[muteki]

Finally, since stayed off property, we couldn't use the touch to pay system, but for most credit card transactions we were asked by CM's to swipe on the new devices. The major problem with these being that you can only swipe one way (mag strip face up), which requires multiple swipes if you aren't familiar with the system, as well as only being able to swipe when the CM "activates" the device. Compare this to shopping at a place like Target or your local grocery store, where you can usually swipe with the mag strip facing any direction, and at any point during the transaction (even while things are still ringing up). And the little readers are kind of small, so in many cases after the CM would say you could swipe, they'd have to reach down and hold them in place so they didn't tip over.

YES! Could not believe the card readers (that they just bought a ton of for who knows how much) were only 1-way readers. That is amazingly backwards to me. And while this is completely subjective, the orientation they chose to put the reader on was (to me) the complete opposite of what I expected it to be.

And yes, they have this little handle built into them so that the CM can hold it in place while you swipe. Really? You couldn't have secured it some other way? Seemed kinda hokey to me.

We were staying on property this last trip so we had RFID cards, and using that functionality worked well. But the occasional time we used our credit cards...you can tell they weren't designed for that.

Also, when using the readers they shouldn't be asking guests to "tap" the card on the symbol, as that implies you won't have to hold it there for a second or two (or 5, for the entry gates) to get it to work. More than once when using the readers CMs would thank me for knowing how it worked the first try, because most people apparently, literally, tap the card on the symbol and expect it to work. In general, RFID tech is so relatively new that the average person that hasn't been exposed to it previously doesn't really have a feel for what to expect. It isn't like a magnetic strip, or a barcode for example, that just about everyone knows how to use.

 

[tissandtully]

YES! Could not believe the card readers (that they just bought a ton of for who knows how much) were only 1-way readers. That is amazingly backwards to me. And while this is completely subjective, the orientation they chose to put the reader on was (to me) the complete opposite of what I expected it to be.

And yes, they have this little handle built into them so that the CM can hold it in place while you swipe. Really? You couldn't have secured it some other way? Seemed kinda hokey to me.

We were staying on property this last trip so we had RFID cards, and using that functionality worked well. But the occasional time we used our credit cards...you can tell they weren't designed for that.

Also, when using the readers they shouldn't be asking guests to "tap" the card on the symbol, as that implies you won't have to hold it there for a second or two (or 5, for the entry gates) to get it to work. More than once when using the readers CMs would thank me for knowing how it worked the first try, because most people apparently, literally, tap the card on the symbol and expect it to work.

Yes, the direction you swipe your card just borders on moronic oversight to me or someone messed up the factory run and they got a big discount out of it.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Just back from the world and wanted to add my two cents.
...

Overall, I wasn't very impressed.

I noticed some of the same things. The time required/involved for the guest to use the new system doesn't seem any different than before, and in some cases it seemed slower. I wonder if part of this is due to it still being in a design/debug mode and things aren't fully in place yet.
Regardless, in the end, I came away with the same (un)impression. Maybe it will get better though. Have to wait and see. We're planning another trip back later this year.

 

[luv]

Just back from the world and wanted to add my two cents. Touch to enter in the new turnstyle free lanes really was not any faster than using the old regular ticket media. After tapping the ticket to the Mickey head it can take anywhere from 2 to 5 seconds for it to turn green. (I counted, and it did vary quite a bit each day). Only then can you put your finger on the biometric reader (which was pretty quick, probably a second or two). Entering the park, as a result, seemed to actually take a bit longer.

Also, on several occasions, even my wife commented (who is a Disney fan but knows little about nextgen, rfid, etc.) how we could have walked right in without tapping our tickets, as CMs had been interacting with other guests and really didn't even pay attention to us. I still believe this is going to be a huge problem for them, especially with large groups, international guests, or others not familiar with the system. And that all sounds great to those looking to get away with something, but it certainly won't be pleasant when guests try to use Fastpass, and the system doesn't recognize your 4 year old or Grandma as being in the park since their tickets didn't register properly up front.

Finally, since stayed off property, we couldn't use the touch to pay system, but for most credit card transactions we were asked by CM's to swipe on the new devices. The major problem with these being that you can only swipe one way (mag strip face up), which requires multiple swipes if you aren't familiar with the system, as well as only being able to swipe when the CM "activates" the device. Compare this to shopping at a place like Target or your local grocery store, where you can usually swipe with the mag strip facing any direction, and at any point during the transaction (even while things are still ringing up). And the little readers are kind of small, so in many cases after the CM would say you could swipe, they'd have to reach down and hold them in place so they didn't tip over.

Overall, I wasn't very impressed.

I have to agree that getting into the park has not been quicker. You get used to turning your card around quickly, but it does take you by surprise the first couple time. If you think those machines are bad (wobbly) now, you should have tried using them when they were first being installed!!

There is staff watching to make sure people don't sneak in.

And I've asked several other AP holders if they like the new APs better and they do. The paper tickets were a nightmare. People were having to replace them on a routine basis. The plastic ones are working fine. Both my APs are a pleasure to use now. I used to wonder, every time I took it out, if I'd have to go replace it...and figure I might. I'm still wondering, because it's habit. But they just keep on working.

I don't think these circle machines are better than the old turnstiles, but they aren't worse. And the APs are working, so...

So far, so good.

 

[GrumpyFan]

And yes, they have this little handle built into them so that the CM can hold it in place while you swipe. Really? You couldn't have secured it some other way? Seemed kinda hokey to me.

Just speculating, but I think the handle and unsecured reader is designed so the CM or guest could hold the keypad and use it. I could see where this might be helpful for someone in a wheelchair.

But, still the issue with the card reader swipe does seem like a pretty tragic design flaw that somebody missed. They were probably more focused on the RFID function and didn't even catch this until after they had already bought and installed a few hundred of them.

 

[Lord_Vader]

I noticed some of the same things. The time required/involved for the guest to use the new system doesn't seem any different than before, and in some cases it seemed slower. I wonder if part of this is due to it still being in a design/debug mode and things aren't fully in place yet.
Regardless, in the end, I came away with the same (un)impression. Maybe it will get better though. Have to wait and see. We're planning another trip back later this year.

Time will tell, the system is still in test phase and they may not even have only a fraction of the servers in place and functional to boot.

How many times have you been behind a guest who's card would not read correctly and the castmember had to key in information or re-run the card through the swipe reader multiple times? That always seems to take forever.

 

[muteki]

Just speculating, but I think the handle and unsecured reader is designed so the CM or guest could hold the keypad and use it. I could see where this might be helpful for someone in a wheelchair.

But, still the issue with the card reader swipe does seem like a pretty tragic design flaw that somebody missed. They were probably more focused on the RFID function and didn't even catch this until after they had already bought and installed a few hundred of them.

Ehh, I dunno. If I was a CM I would get tired pretty quick of having to hold it down for everyone. I can only guess they did it because installation would be cheaper (sit it on the counter, hook up the cables) than actually permanently mounting the thing. I can understand it at some of the more temporary locations like festival kiosks, etc. But at the Emporium and such they should bolt those down.

Keypad buttons are also pretty tiny too. I don't have horrible eyesight or giant fingers but I could see that causing issues as well.

 

[COProgressFan]

You're really only judging one phase of the process. As for gate entrance, the fact that there are two points per line makes that line a lot lighter on crowds gathered around it. I can't tell you how many times I see a huge line at the paper ticket gates and virtually no one at the RFID gates. If that will stay the same, only time will tell.

I was just putting forth my opinion on what I saw earlier this week and last week. I know it is only one part of Nextgen and still in beta testing, but its one of the direct interactions which guests will face.

As far as the lines at the traditional turnstyles vs. the RFID entrances, at this point we have no idea how many guests are using each type of ticket. So it remains to be seen how things go when every guest is required to use a RFID ticket or MagicBand.

 

[GrumpyFan]

How many times have you been behind a guest who's card would not read correctly and the castmember had to key in information or re-run the card through the swipe reader multiple times? That always seems to take forever.

Yeah, I've seen that, and been behind a couple who were having issues, but my comments were regarding the time it took me or my wife to complete the transactions for ourselves, and it didn't seem any faster. We had one issue with using our card for purchasing, but I equate it to the CM who didn't do something right and the reader didn't work for her. The second time though, she got it right.

 

[tissandtully]

I was just putting forth my opinion on what I saw earlier this week and last week. I know it is only one part of Nextgen and still in beta testing, but its one of the direct interactions which guests will face.

As far as the lines at the traditional turnstyles vs. the RFID entrances, at this point we have no idea how many guests are using each type of ticket. So it remains to be seen how things go when every guest is required to use a RFID ticket or MagicBand.

Paper tickets are still going to exist for one-day guests right?

 

[COProgressFan]

My comment on that was in response to the previous posters "Not impressed" comment. Judging the whole thing as a whole when it's not done yet. Good grief.

I was a paying guest last week. I'm not allowed to have an opinion on my experience with the turnstyles and payment system? I didn't judge the "whole thing" (whatever that even is/turns out to be), just my experience with what is running so far.

Again, it remains to be seen how things ultimately turn out...but as others have indicated, I'm not sure the system will somehow become faster, the readers will magically have the ability to swipe both ways, the readers will not tip over when swiping with a traditional magnetic strip, or there won't be problems with guests entering parks without their cards being read.

 

[tissandtully]

I was a paying guest last week. I'm not allowed to have an opinion on my experience with the turnstyles and payment system? I didn't judge the "whole thing" (whatever that even is/turns out to be), just my experience with what is running so far.

Again, it remains to be seen how things ultimately turn out...but as others have indicated, I'm not sure the system will somehow become faster, the readers will magically have the ability to swipe both ways, the readers will not tip over when swiping with a traditional magnetic strip, or there won't be problems with guests entering without parks their cards being read.

What were you expecting to be impressed by? You're obviously a reader of this forum, where did you read that you're going to have a life-changing experience with the simple RFID stuff that's already been implemented? My comment was only to iterate that maybe we should give more time to be impressed.

 

[GrumpyFan]

Wow

What were you expecting to be impressed by? You're obviously a reader of this forum, where did you read that you're going to have a life-changing experience with the simple RFID stuff that's already been implemented? My comment was only to iterate that maybe we should give more time to be impressed.

Wow, take it easy. I think COPregressfan was just adding their opinion of their experience. Most everyone here is aware that this is all new and changing regularly.

 

[fillerup]

I've used the tap to enter quite a few times in the last month and my impression is that ease and speed of entry is no better and no worse than before. I've experienced pretty much the same rate of failure on the biometric scan that I did with the old tickets and when it doesn't fail, it's taking pretty much the same amount of time to enter than it did before.

One problem I've seen almost every time I go, is that since people tend to behave like sheep, and the infrequent visitor even more so (lack of familiarity, etc) - families tend to stick together and line up together. So if Dad goes to the first reader, the kids and Mom stay behind him waiting their turn. The guests behind them don't move forward, either out of courtesy or because they don't even see the second reader. I have seen CMs a few times urging people to come to the empty reader, but not on a consistent basis.

And - my second time with tap to enter, I wasn't paying a whole lot of attention, did the finger scan and went in. I was fifty yards into the park when I realized I had gotten the blue light instead of the green but no one noticed it or stopped me. So yes, there will be people going in without a valid scan, whether it's intentional or not.

Finally, while I'm sure someone will say it's temporary (and it probably is), the staffing levels at the entry points seem very high to me. There have been four or five CMs at every group of readers every time I've gone.

 

[tissandtully]

Wow
Wow, take it easy. I think COPregressfan was just adding their opinion of their experience. Most everyone here is aware that this is all new and changing regularly.

*puffs inhaler*

 

[COProgressFan]

Paper tickets are still going to exist for one-day guests right?

One day guests will get (and already getting) RFID enabled tickets.

 

[awilliams4]

Because the mag strip readers are going to evolve on their own and grow a second reader in them?

Or that the system is really holding itself back to 20% and there really is 80% more capacity just waiting to be used to speed up transactions?
.

I believe it is safe to assume that this particular technology is not going to just stop improving while the rest of the worlds technologies continues to change at a rapid pace.

The processors will get faster, the software will be updated, streamlined, replaced over time.

Yes, this new process will continue to improve just as the world continues to turn.