Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband • Hacker News Board

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#91

Post by cpwright » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 5:19 PM UTC

bnycum wrote: post #76

I recently got back from my second trip to Disney World in which I had a Magic Band, the first time it was still test phase and had lots of kinks. This time around it worked flawlessly. To get into the park it requires you to scan your fingerprint as well, to buy anything with a credit card linked to your account or use your dining plan requires your pin number. Other than that it's pretty much tap and go. The crazy…

The RFID refills bothered me. I didn't buy the dining plan/visit-long refillable cup, but when I got a soda at the Gasparilla in the Grand Floridian there was a refill count of either 2 or 3. I kind of fell that if I drop that much on a paper cup, and hundreds of dollars a night on a hotel, they shouldn't be limiting the number of refills I get on my cup of soda during lunch. I don't think I hit the limit to the point that I required buying a second soda, but that it was there bothered me. Though it didn't irk me so much that I won't go back, so they've clearly got it fine tuned.

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#92

Post by cpwright » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 5:20 PM UTC

bnycum wrote: post #88

scott_karana wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wait, they fingerprint you?! Wow. Is that part opt-out at all?

Not that I'm aware of, I didn't try. They haven't requested my daughter scan her fingerprint at ages 2 or 3, don't know what age that starts at though. During the testing phase the finger print wouldn't always work 100% of the time, they'd get someone over with basically a tablet with an RFID scanner to let you in.

They don't fingerprint at 6 and 8 either. The finger scan predated magic bands; you had to do it with the plastic card tickets/keys as well.

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#93

Post by bnycum » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 5:21 PM UTC

fourstar wrote: post #85

bnycum wrote: post #76

I recently got back from my second trip to Disney World in which I had a Magic Band, the first time it was still test phase and had lots of kinks. This time around it worked flawlessly. To get into the park it requires you to scan your fingerprint as well, to buy anything with a credit card linked to your account or use your dining plan requires your pin number. Other than that it's pretty much tap and go. The crazy…

You are scared because you are being tracked in a theme park that Disney controls... Odd type of paranoia. They've been tracking people for years (I grew up going to Disneyland and my sister worked there), with cameras, so this is nothing new -- it's just updated technology. Personally, I think it's cool and interesting.

In a way, it's mainly just creepy. Five years ago none of this was happening in such a digitized fashion. It's not stopping me from going back again. Outside of Disney I typically don't eat the same type of foods or drink the same things. Some of it was just a little unsettling, especially thinking about my daughter.

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#94

Post by bnycum » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 5:28 PM UTC

cpwright wrote: post #91

bnycum wrote: post #76

I recently got back from my second trip to Disney World in which I had a Magic Band, the first time it was still test phase and had lots of kinks. This time around it worked flawlessly. To get into the park it requires you to scan your fingerprint as well, to buy anything with a credit card linked to your account or use your dining plan requires your pin number. Other than that it's pretty much tap and go. The crazy…

The RFID refills bothered me. I didn't buy the dining plan/visit-long refillable cup, but when I got a soda at the Gasparilla in the Grand Floridian there was a refill count of either 2 or 3. I kind of fell that if I drop that much on a paper cup, and hundreds of dollars a night on a hotel, they shouldn't be limiting the number of refills I get on my cup of soda during lunch. I don't think I hit the limit to the poin…

I'd say the same thing. I know I had to explain the concept to several guests. Just a little frustrating. No way can you make up for staying there by drinking Coke all day.

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#95

Post by zyxley » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 5:37 PM UTC

cpwright wrote: post #91

bnycum wrote: post #76

I recently got back from my second trip to Disney World in which I had a Magic Band, the first time it was still test phase and had lots of kinks. This time around it worked flawlessly. To get into the park it requires you to scan your fingerprint as well, to buy anything with a credit card linked to your account or use your dining plan requires your pin number. Other than that it's pretty much tap and go. The crazy…

The RFID refills bothered me. I didn't buy the dining plan/visit-long refillable cup, but when I got a soda at the Gasparilla in the Grand Floridian there was a refill count of either 2 or 3. I kind of fell that if I drop that much on a paper cup, and hundreds of dollars a night on a hotel, they shouldn't be limiting the number of refills I get on my cup of soda during lunch. I don't think I hit the limit to the poin…

Limiting refills is just weird when the cup is a larger part of the production cost than the actual drink is.

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#96

Post by TeMPOraL » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 5:37 PM UTC

gknoy wrote: post #71

bentcorner wrote: post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My first response to this is to eschew the technology, but in retrospect, maybe getting pre-paid cc's for the kids and linking their cards to those may be a good option. "Here's $200 for the week, don't blow it all on the first day".

I can only imagine that, the first time you do this, the entire rest of the week will be Not Fun for the parents.

Probably, but OTOH this could be a useful lesson in financial responsibility for the kids.

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#97

Post by __david__ » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 5:57 PM UTC

ssully wrote: post #73

evan_ wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simple is kinda this.

Yup. My phone usually notifies be of a transaction before a teller even hands back my card. This actually came in handy about a year ago when my number got stolen. I was sitting at my desk and heard my phone vibrate twice in quick succession. It showed 2 charges at a grocery store in Florida (I am in Chicago). I immediately put a block on my card through Simples app and notified Simple about the fraudulent charges. I…

I love that about Simple. It's what prompted me to stop getting receipts. I used to keep them, "just in case". But I never validated against my bank statement--it's just too much of a pain. This way I can instantly see it's correct and that I have a record of it. I quite like my Simple card.

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#98

Post by unreal37 » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 6:09 PM UTC

bhandziuk wrote: post #64

One difficulty with the bands is that, unlike a regular hotel with a magnetic (or even RFID) wallet sized card, this needs to be placed on your wrist every morning. I've needed several replacement Magic Bands because I am used to walking out of my house/hotel room and just checking for my wallet, cell, keys and knowing I'm good. Usually a hotel card would be in my wallet and it is not an additional check. They are fr…

I don't understand. You leave the magic band in your hotel room and need to have it replaced? Why not go back into the hotel room and retrieve the original?

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#99

Post by Dirlewanger » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 6:20 PM UTC

wyldfire wrote: post #7

rcaught wrote: post #5

> “If we can get out of the way, our guests can create more memories.” “If we can get out of the way, our guests can spend more money.” - FTFY.

My first reaction to the magicbands was pretty cynical, like this. But it's really astonishing how much more convenient and enjoyable it made the vacation. No need to slog a camera, wallet, etc. I was surprised that even the smallest out-of-the way Disney feature (Magic Express at the airport, entry into the resort pools, e.g.), they still had a way to scan the magic bands. If we did end up spending more because of i…

Entire thing had me thinking "How did Huxley get it so right ~80 years ago?"

Re: Disney's $1B Bet on a Magical Wristband

#100

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Mar 10, 2015, 6:21 PM UTC

joezydeco wrote: post #45

Consultant32452 wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The long range reads are primarily used right now to detect that you were on a particular ride when your photo was taken so when you swipe your band they can pull up your photo for purchase. A lot of the other ideas they had for this tech was never brought to fruition because it creeped out a lot of the test guests. Source: I played a very very small role in making magic bands happen.

Do you mean like the characters greeting kids by name or saying "Happy Birthday!" if that was a known event? As a techy parent that's one thing that sounded great on paper but I'd be kind of creeped out if I didn't know what was going on.

[deleted]