RFID for Little Mermaid and more

[mp2bill]

Didn't/don't they already use RFID technology in Pal Mickey and the Kim Possible thing?

This is how i understood it, they would know what parks/shops/rides/anything that you did in a given day even if you rode the bus or the monorail. And i thought it would just be done through your room/park key.
This way it would show that say I went on HM 10 times on so and so day. This in turn leads to knowing what age groups ride certain rides and what time and so fourth. This is just my opinion or impression.

My guess would be that it would be used to determine wait times. It scans your ID when you enter the line then scans again when you enter the ride vehicle or theater. That info can then be instantly transmited to the wait times board or database which people could access via cell phone. The wait time could then be updated with each person.

Also this could be used to track guest habbits. For example they could tell that Guest 78228942 visited ... attractions and ... shops even track how much you spent on souviners and such or how long you lingered in the shops at the end of the attractions and adjust their marketing for those attractions. Using this they could tell which shops hold on to guest longer which usually leads to a sell and which ones the guests just trot through.

Ok, just brainstorming all by myself (I know, not much of a storm). Wouldn't one obvious use be Fastpasses? Rather than having to keep track of the little pieces of paper, keep your RFID in your pocket and you're good. Same thing for the NextGen queues we've been hearing about.

And maybe it'd cater the games in the Space Mountain line to your age/______/nationality/language preference. Or perhaps Tigger could tell you he almost bounced out of the ride in Spanish instead of English (since the poster says MAoWtP is a possible test) if most of the people in the car are Spanish speakers.

Certainly the "Say Your Name" thing does little for us jaded folks, but imagine the starfish at the end of the Nemo ride saying a child's name as he exits the ride, or Crush not needing to be told the questioners name. Kids would eat that up.

Perhaps an inpark scavenger hunt/trivia game, where you answer questions, find clues, etc. in various queues or park locations, and your RFID knows at the end of the day/trip what you've done, making you eligible for...who knows. On-ride and other in-park photos linked to your RFID...no need for photopass or to make an immediate decision on purchasing.

And that's just one fool with no experience or knowledge about how things work. I suspect Disney can come up with a lot more and a lot better.

Of course, they can also come up with a lot of marketing-related stuff as well, but that's no surprise.

If all goes as planned, they'll probably use the technology for all these things.

That's not true. That presentation to Iger will be all about my trip to Disney and how I thought the wait for Soarin' was too long, and the fries needed more salt at the Electric Umbrella. It will be followed by a personal phone call (during dinner of course) to ensure that the reams of personal data they now hold about my bathroom visits are accurate. They will pre-book my next Disney visit and automatically deduct my AP purchase just after they raise the prices again. Crush will not just be talking to my kids by name, he'll insist that they go back to whining about not getting the Mickey hat at the last shop we visited because it will know that I generally give in after 30 minutes of whining and so far they've only whined for 25. At least at the end of my Disney day it will automatically open the hotel room door for me and turn down the bed so when I drop from exhaustion I won't sleep on top of the comforter.

Lol, I like how the "argument" got more and more absurd the longer it went on.

 

[mp2bill]

You do think you want Disney tracking you, I am sure they already do and they do not need RFID.

Every time you enter a park you are being tracked.
Every time you use a FastPass you are being tracked.
Every time you open the door on your hotel room you are being tracked.
Every time you make a dinner reservation you are being tracked
Every time you make a purchase at a gift shop using your room key you are being tracked.

The RFID is just going to make it easier for you and Disney.

I can walk up to RFID gate at the park and not have to show a ticket.
I can see walking up to a FastPass machine and I don't have to dig for my ticket.
I walk up to the checkin counter for dinner and the person say welcome Mr. _______ your table for 4 is ready.
Etc. Etc.

Good or bad they all already collecting as much information as possible on you and what you do at the parks.

Doesn't Disney track our every move already?

Think about it, if you are a visitor that uses your room card to charge purchases, or for the dining plan. Disney can tell what park you when to, where you ate and what you bought.

We check in online now so they know who we are and our addresses and phone numbers.

We go through turn styles so they know what rides we frequent.

RFID is just a more advanced system.

Wow, so eerily similar. I'll give you a pass though since the 2nd post was made within 10 minutes of the first one...maybe you just did't see it.

By the way...I think 120 of David S's 128 posts were made on this one thread.

 

[ob1thx1138]

Its a joke dont take it too seriously but in reality this can only make everyones next trip that much better bc of statistics

Hey this could inspire a new attraction at EPCOT.

THE WORLD OF STATISTICS. An inspirational trip through the world of tomorrow focusing on the way our lives will be improved through the use of statistical information gathered from your new friend Chippy, the implantable RFID chip.

They could even use the old Body Wars footage and ride vehicles and just add in "Chippy" a CG RFID character and even include a special meet and greet area where you can get an autograph and picture with Chippy.

 

[DVCOwner]

I have worked with RFID chips in my last job. I it to track shipments of boxes. By adjusting and use different recievers we could read chips many differnet ways. For the examples that we have been discussing. The same chip could be used to issue a FastPass, but the person holding the chip would have to be within arms lenght to the FastPass machine. The same chip, but a different reader could determine everyone that is in one large area of a ride and send each person in a different direction. Another could tell you how many people are eating at a certain fast food area. Etc. Having worked with RFID to track boxes, I can see some great things that could be done tracking tickets in the park and improving my Disney experience.

 

[MMFanCipher]

Even though I think the RFID at WDW would/could be cool, David S. has some
good questions on how it might work with FP. As a computer programmer I
know things will go screwy every now and then.

 

[David S.]

Even though I think the RFID at WDW would/could be cool, David S. has some
good questions on how it might work with FP. As a computer programmer I
know things will go screwy every now and then.

Thank you!

The idea of how a "paperless Fastpass" system - brought up originally by another poster - would work was what prompted me to enter the thread in the first place - not to complain about RFID, since Raven had already said you could "opt-out". Which I merely said I planned to do, unless I had to use the RFID system to get a FP, in which case I'd get a shield/sleeve. I thought the information that such sleeves exist would be helpful for others who might want to use them.

I had no idea this would set off such a firestorm of controversy!

 

[camperdave]

Hey OP:

If you could tell, (without breaking your NDAs of course) are the tags being considered the boring passive kind, or are we talking about larger and more interesting (in my opinion at least) active RFID tags?

 

[MichWolv]

Thank you!

The idea of how a "paperless Fastpass" system - brought up originally by another poster - would work was what prompted me to enter the thread in the first place - not to complain about RFID, since Raven had already said you could "opt-out". Which I merely said I planned to do, unless I had to use the RFID system to get a FP, in which case I'd get a shield/sleeve. I thought the information that such sleeves exist would be helpful for others who might want to use them.

I had no idea this would set off such a firestorm of controversy!

We cannot even discuss a bathroom refurb, a monorail cleaning, or the replacement of railings without a firestorm of controversy! :lol: It is our nature as fanatics!

 

[raven]

Disney is not spending 1.5 billion so Mickey can greet you by name. They are developing it for others or they plan to sell the software.

Exactly. People are thinking that personalizing is the only reason for the RFID. The fact is that nearly every aspect of your vacation can be supported by it if you so choose. It's going to make certain things a lot easier. I can't give all the details.

PS- The idea that the cards have to be put right next to the "reader" is a deliberate myth that is being forwarded to calm folk's legitimate fears. The "readers" can be made as electronically sensitive as needed. I would think that even those blocking sleeves will not have any effect on the most high tech receiving devices.

Danger Will Robinson. Danger.

Not true.

Readers are capable of reading them from a distance.

http://www.allsecurityequipment.com/proddetail.asp?prod=AWID-LR2000

I should've explained a little more clearly. The close-proximity readers will be used. You will need to place the chip over the sensor to activate it.

 

[JCtheparrothead]

Hey OP:

If you could tell, (without breaking your NDAs of course) are the tags being considered the boring passive kind, or are we talking about larger and more interesting (in my opinion at least) active RFID tags?

We are an active RFID company. Does that help?

 

[JCtheparrothead]

Just a FYI for everyone. The rollout of a massive park wide system would be very expensive and very noticeable, especially with active RFID. Putting it outside requires a lot of enviromentally rated enclosures as well as trying to blend those into Disneys facade. I would guess that if a system were to go outside of the pilot areas you would see it in the Hotels and Stores first as the equipment would be much easier to keep out of site. Again I only know about the pilot and Disney is playing those cards very close to their chest.

I guess what I am trying to say is don't go putting on a tin foil hat too soon because a whole park installation would take a while to deploy in either case.:zipit:

 

[sublimesting]

Walt always tracked the crowds and encouraged them to make the decisions Disney wanted them to make. An example of this is the placement of weenies to draw crowds to certain areas in a logical flow. RFID is the next logical step in this direction. It's actually a great idea to use throughout the parks. It can make lines and crowds flow more smoothly, enhance personal experiences and enhance and individualize attractions so you can have a different show each time.

But I digress because now we are going to get the whole "I don't want Disney tracking me" argument.

 

[kittybubbles]

I am pretty sure it was when I was in Orlando (a year or more ago) one of the local papers had a pretty long article that spoke of WDW and RFID.

I recall them saying things like key less entry into your hotel room.

I also would guess that if they plan to sell admissions that do not allow you to ride any rides (as discussed in another thread) or tickets that allow a half day in the AM, RFID would be a way to do that.

I am really just trying to point out that this technology would be used for more than just personalizing the ride experience....

 

[DisneyWall-E]

Is there any way I could have a chip permanently installed in my arm or something? Man, I love disney that much. I plan on going to WDW at least every other year for the rest of my life.

Any who, sorry to David S. about the hard time people are giving you. Dont take it to seriously, I'm sure there joking. I do get your point about not wanting other strangers to know what your doing at all times, If I stoped to think about it for long enough it would prob creep me out that someone is "tracking" me. But, I am too trusting and laid back to care about it.

 

[SwooshOU]

I could see how RFID would help lines be much shorter, traffic flow would be much improved throughout the World as well as help more people get way more out of their vacation.

Say I fill out a questionnaire before my trip... favorite rides, which parks we'll be at on which days, whether or not I have park hopper, favorite characters, favorite restaurants/types of food...

Then, let's say I attach my cell phone number to this RFID thing...

In the questionnaire I put Space Mountain and Jungle Cruise as my top two rides. As I walk towards tomorrowland, I get a text message that says "Head to Space Mountain and get in the fastpass line!"

Perhaps everybody who put Space Mountain as one of their top two rides and are nearing Tomorrowland would be offered that "deal".

Then I am texted and told that my favorite restaurant has an opening just for me.

After lunch, I am texted a 25% off coupon for any purchase at the merch shop at Pooh's Adventure because they know Pooh is my favorite character.

Say Magic Kingdom is becoming overly crowded but Hollywood Studios is less. They know I have a park hopper so they text me and say "Use your park hopper and head over to Hollywood Studios today only and fastpass all your favorite rides" which they will know.

This is me just brainstorming... But I could totally see how Disney could use this technology to make it a better more streamlined experience for everybody. The way they could potentially control the crowds would make for a shorter line for everybody.

And who know's maybe everyone checking in for the day will get a dedicated "device" to carry with them alerting them instead of text messages. Perhaps it is a screened device with a GPS with a map with life "traffic" updates a la google traffic (red = heavy, yellow = manageable, green = little traffic). Or an iPod Touch like device that you can find out about rides or restaurants as you near them... Maybe the system they are installing will be compatible with iPhones & BlackBerrys ensuring that nearly everybody who goes ALREADY has the technology to register into the system. Just dreamin'

 

[raven]

I am really just trying to point out that this technology would be used for more than just personalizing the ride experience....

MUCH more. That's only about 5% of what they are planning to use it for. But again, the more information you store on the device the more options you will have on your vacation. Can't give the exact details just yet but it's going to change the way you vacation at WDW forever.

 

[kapeman]

For a project this big, in scope as well as budget, I am surprised that we haven't heard more about it.

Does anyone know when they plan on rolling it out?

It would also be nice if they threw in some WAPs (Wireless Access Point) while they were running any new cables.

 

[IWant2GoNow]

MUCH more. That's only about 5% of what they are planning to use it for. But again, the more information you store on the device the more options you will have on your vacation. Can't give the exact details just yet but it's going to change the way you vacation at WDW forever.

From what you've heard, can you say whether you feel that the way they are implementing RFID on the rides is tasteful and intuitive?

 

[Tom]

MUCH more. That's only about 5% of what they are planning to use it for. But again, the more information you store on the device the more options you will have on your vacation. Can't give the exact details just yet but it's going to change the way you vacation at WDW forever.

Just to clarify the bold comment above, since some people might take this the wrong way, there is no actual information stored on the device, other than the unique RFID number itself - just like your park ticket or your personal credit card. There is nothing on there more than a big serial number that's been converted into magnetic format (or, in this case, a code readable by radio frequency).

So, if you lose your park ticket/KttW, nobody can pick it up and steal your identity.

As for the logistics of making it work for wait times, tracking how often you ______, and fastpass, consider these things:

- As far as I know (and I could be wrong), a system that can track your RFID's actual movement has not been invented....or at least isn't in an affordable state of development. So, they can't "watch you walk around the park". They would have proximity sensors that would ping your card and record your approximate location at a given moment - like checkpoints.

- If they want to know how many people stop in the pirate gift shop vs run right through it from the speedramp to the exit, they just place a sensor at the top of the speedramp, and then one at each exit from the gift shop. It pings you both times and simply records the data into a HUGE database. They won't be following you around from shelf to shelf, and they won't know exactly what you buy unless they scan your RFID directly at the register (using proximity sensors isn't precise enough in this application)

- To make Fastpass work, you just press your park ticket up to an impression sensor pad at the Fastpass Kiosk, and it displays a time (ok, maybe they'll still print out a slip for those of us who can't remember what we had for lunch, let alone a fastpass time). However, your ACTUAL FastPass would be "embedded" on your KttW/Ticket. Then, you would literally have to walk through a "wall-o-sensor" before it registers you as having used your FP (Imagine the new wall of mist effect at Pirates). They can aim and narrow the field of vision of sensors very precisely, thus preventing false positives.

- If they put any kind of sensors at restroom entrances, I'd be shocked. Not only would that be crossing the line when it comes to REAL privacy issues, but other than knowing when to restock toilet paper, I see no real reason to track potty usages. And I don't put Disney in the same Big Brother shoes as our government. I don't think Disney would use this for any reasons OTHER than to improve guest service and save/generate more money.

I, for one, would love to be able to walk up to the MK and just keep walking (through an airport metal detector type scanner) without standing in line for a turnstile. Lines will move a bit faster, and big red lights and sirens could go off (just like at the airport) if you enter without permission.

I'd love to press my ticket against the sensor and get a FP, without the time consuming process (for many inept guests) of putting the ticket in, waiting for processing, remembering your ticket and getting the paper out of the tray - and then being able to just walk into the FP line. Another "warning light" could go above the entrance, on the CM side, and they would immediately know if someone was legit or not. No questions about if your return time is valid.

I could walk up to a CS cashier, press my card against a sensor, and their computer would instantly know that I was on the DDP, and which one. And when I'm done ordering, there's no additional process of swiping the card.

There are just so many possibilities. Most of the options are merely time savers for the guest (room charging, DDP, FastPass), but the rest will help Disney's statisticians and data analysts fine tune and refine everything they do. That always results in cost savings, which either means lower prices (yeah right) or more money to spend on rides (slightly more likely).

Would I use an RFID in the real world? No. Because I absolutely do NOT trust my government. But at WDW - yes. It's a private company with no ulterior motive other than to collect data for their own profit. Knowing how many times you take a pooh is not on their agenda.

 

[IWant2GoNow]

Nice explanation, edwardtc. I'm pretty excited to see all of the possibilities this will bring. Sounds like it could potentially allow for guests to be able to have slightly more time to relax in the parks also so they are constantly running from place to place.