Is the Lack of Magic Bands hurting UOR's Overall Image?

[MrRoamer]

Ever since I replaced my wax pass, it feels like I need to get them reprinted at least once a year. It has gotten to the point that if one of ours needs to be reprinted then I do any of them that could be questionable because it is really inconvenient when it needs to be done several times in a short period of time.

Agree with the getting online thing too. Luckily my password management tool is able to keep it to a mostly minor headache.

 

[natespf]

IMO UO should implement RFID, but not in the form of a wristband. Every guest gets a hard plastic card with chip inside, or even all but one-day single park no express (optimally all). With the volume the added cost per ticket would be under a quarter, and the tracking data alone would cover that. With the right set-up they can be read without taking out of pocket, making them even more (movie) magical. These "Universal" cards would work for everything, add a thumb print scanner wherever authorization/conformation is needed for security (room access, charge to card, etc). As the cards themselves wouldn't be secure, but just for identification purposes. But imagine how much of a superstar you would feel if there were experiences customized for you, even if you are not following a plan.

 

[wreck]

I'm a Universal fan but also like Disney and to answer the question - Yes magic bands makes universal's ticket system seem outdated you get access to the park, rides and buying stuff all from a band around your wrist Its like Magic. I thing to a 6 and 9 year old they see it as the coolest thing ever, a band that they get to keep around their wrist , no mom or dad taking back the ticket to hold so they "don't lose it" and it gives them total access to everything bringing a feeling of independence . What parent doesn't let their kid buy that popcorn or ice cream with their very own band. No I don't want to discuss the pitfalls, tracking and damage to the fast pass system Disney does / did with the magic band I know them all.

The question is a simple one which one is more futuristic and which one is outdated?

 

[Blue]

I don't think not having magic bands hurts UOR's image as much as the paper passes do.

 

[wreck]

I don't think not having magic bands hurts UOR's image as much as the paper passes do.

this

 

[natespf]

I don't think not having magic bands hurts UOR's image as much as the paper passes do.

Boom!

How did it take 8 pages to say what you did in one sentence?

 

[Nick]

I don't think not having magic bands hurts UOR's image as much as the paper passes do.

Exactly right. I don't think guests expect a Magic Band system at UOR, but when Six Flags gives out plastic passes (and now WDW does too for a few years), it feels a bit cheap that they still give out paper passes.

 

[MrRoamer]

You're my boy Blue!!!! Well Said!

 

[tielo]

I'm a Universal fan but also like Disney and to answer the question - Yes magic bands makes universal's ticket system seem outdated you get access to the park, rides and buying stuff all from a band around your wrist Its like Magic. I thing to a 6 and 9 year old they see it as the coolest thing ever, a band that they get to keep around their wrist , no mom or dad taking back the ticket to hold so they "don't lose it" and it gives them total access to everything bringing a feeling of independence . What parent doesn't let their kid buy that popcorn or ice cream with their very own band. No I don't want to discuss the pitfalls, tracking and damage to the fast pass system Disney does / did with the magic band I know them all.

The question is a simple one which one is more futuristic and which one is outdated?

This sounds horrible. There is a moment you could give your kid real life money to pay for his/her ice-cream but no the kid can use a magic band. Gone is a nice lesson about money and the value of it in a fun and friendly environment.
I loath the magic band. I don't want and never will be tagged and chipped like cattle. It's degrading and a waist of tech.

 

[Disneyhead]

1. People like techy type stuff (See: iANYTHING)
2. If you can use tech to overly complicate normal everyday functions, people will love it.

Therefore, I see an all inclusive app/plastic RFID Card combo coming that covers everything from ticket media, resort purchases, and dining ressies, to opening the room door.

They could also put the chips in a variety of items that could be linked to your account. Things like rubber locket like things to wear around your neck to belt clip retractable fobs similar to what I carry my work ID on.

 

[*Q*]

Maybe the RFID wands were just a first step.

 

[Nick]

1. People like techy type stuff (See: iANYTHING)
2. If you can use tech to overly complicate normal everyday functions, people will love it.

Therefore, I see an all inclusive app/plastic RFID Card combo coming that covers everything from ticket media, resort purchases, and dining ressies, to opening the room door.

They could also put the chips in a variety of items that could be linked to your account. Things like rubber locket like things to wear around your neck to belt clip retractable fobs similar to what I carry my work ID on.

I will say that it is a bit annoying that at the hotels you can't just use your key for express, they give you a separate pass for Express use. That should be something that is easily combined but isn't yet.

 

[Brian G.]

I will say that it is a bit annoying that at the hotels you can't just use your key for express, they give you a separate pass for Express use. That should be something that is easily combined but isn't yet.

It used to not be that way, strangely.

 

[JungleSkip]

I will say that it is a bit annoying that at the hotels you can't just use your key for express, they give you a separate pass for Express use. That should be something that is easily combined but isn't yet.

There's a reason for that, and from what I understand it's not Universal's fault.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

It used to not be that way, strangely.

Yeah, until they realized that hotel keys were very easily transferrable, especially when they were good for use on the same day you checked out. The new system is annoying, but it's to keep down fraud. It's really nothing compared to the things they'll do at Disneyland in CA to cut down on ticket fraud.

 

[OrlandoGuy]

This sounds horrible. There is a moment you could give your kid real life money to pay for his/her ice-cream but no the kid can use a magic band. Gone is a nice lesson about money and the value of it in a fun and friendly environment.
I loath the magic band. I don't want and never will be tagged and chipped like cattle. It's degrading and a waist of tech.

Get off the computer then, people are tracking and tagging you like you wouldn't believe right now lol

 

[Nick]

This sounds horrible. There is a moment you could give your kid real life money to pay for his/her ice-cream but no the kid can use a magic band. Gone is a nice lesson about money and the value of it in a fun and friendly environment.
I loath the magic band. I don't want and never will be tagged and chipped like cattle. It's degrading and a waist of tech.

No one is forcing you to use a magicband. You can still give your kid all the money you want for them to pay for their ince-cream and teach them a monetary lesson if you wish.

A friend of mine recently went to Disney for a week with his family. He has 3 kids and instead of using the MBs (they did use them for FP+), he bought them all gift certificates with a certain dollar amount to buy whatever they wanted for the week. Once the money was out, they were done.

That's what you call a life lesson.

 

[rhino4evr]

No one is forcing you to use a magicband. You can still give your kid all the money you want for them to pay for their ince-cream and teach them a monetary lesson if you wish.

A friend of mine recently went to Disney for a week with his family. He has 3 kids and instead of using the MBs (they did use them for FP+), he bought them all gift certificates with a certain dollar amount to buy whatever they wanted for the week. Once the money was out, they were done.

That's what you call a life lesson.

I'm going to steal this idea!

 

[natespf]

How do the free Express passes work currently?

I would prefer it they stay away from the jewelry. It is too gimmicky and Disney done did it. The "magic" will quickly fade, I never saw it all that novel to begin with. And do not get me started on NFC, then you'll have a huge line in front of you all trying to figure out how to use their own phones. Then the molasses grinds to a halt with the pissed guy causing a scene as the TM explains his phone does not have NFC.

 

[wreck]

This sounds horrible. There is a moment you could give your kid real life money to pay for his/her ice-cream but no the kid can use a magic band. Gone is a nice lesson about money and the value of it in a fun and friendly environment.
I loath the magic band. I don't want and never will be tagged and chipped like cattle. It's degrading and a waist of tech.

My kid gets to manage and use money 359 days a year in the real world, with todays world coming at them in full speed 24/7 all in real time. In Disney with a magic band there is still room for a little bit of Magic and I believe more magic in our kids lives is necessary and a ever increasing need and I will utilize every trick or con I can find to make them believe magic is real. Reality will rear its head and prove me wrong soon enough..