Disney's "New" Technology to Enhance your Vacation!

This will be an important Icon
for your Next Disney Vacation

Updated Monday 1/7/2013 at the bottom of the post
This new program has been officially named MyMagic+ Experience.

There are many benefits to using a travel agent when you go on any vacation. Disney in the near future will introduce some "New" Technology to enhance your vacation that maybe confusing. A travel agent, like myself, will help you understand and help you utilize this technology to get the most out of your Disney vacation(for free even).Disney has been quietly working for a number of years on "new" technology to make your vacation extremely unforgettable. How quiet you ask? Unless you are directly involved in the project, the project doesn't exist. The only idea that something was going on was/is the massive dollar amount that has been spent on "something" keeping profits down in the year end reports to stockholders. How big of a dollar amount? It has been estimated that Disney has spent close to $1.5 billion dollars on this project  nicknamed by insiders as NextGen. My personal speculation is that NextGen has been in the works since before My Pal Mickey made his debut(click here to learn more). It appears as 2013 approaches, we are inching closer to the big reveal of what NextGen is and how it will enhance your vacation experience.

Pieces of NextGen began to emerge from secrecy and were installed around the Walt Disney World resort in the spring of 2012. While not ground breaking, these first pieces of technology came in the form of WiFi.  People in the resorts that it began to pop up in were overjoyed that they now had FREE  wireless connections for their laptops, tablets, and Smart Phones. Of course there were others that grumbled that it was about time. Then with the opening of the Arts of Animation Resort, a larger piece of the mystery of NextGen came to light. All of the locks at the Arts of Animation Resort were RFID locks. Those locks began to spread to every resort  and every guest room, one resort at a time. This process is still ongoing.

What is RFID? 

This is the quick and dirty look at  RFID. RFID or Radio-frequency identification is a wireless non-contact system that uses radio-frequency(RF) to transfer data from a tag to a sensor. This RF allows for automatic identification and tracking. It is speculated that Disney's RFID tags require no battery and are read at short ranges. The tag contains SECURED electronically stored information which can be read from up to several  yards away from a DISNEY sensor. Disney will be able to personalize RFID tags with specific information. This technology is not new, it has just become more affordable. It was invented in 1945 and began to have larger uses in the 1970's. 

Why it is important?

Disney's Point of Sale RFID Scanner

Disney is not stopping at door locks that use RFID technology. Test began at EPCOT using RFID Tickets. Disney removed a section of Turnstiles at EPCOT, gave a certain amount of test subjects RFID stickers to place on their tickets and told them when you go to EPCOT, walk near a specific entrance point to enter. It was virtually a barrier free entrance staffed by Cast Members that could rectify any problems that could occur. This meant no hold ups from  strollers being manipulated through gates and tickets having to be re scanned over and over causing lines to form.  Disney says it went off without a hitch. Since this original test,they have successfully tested at The Hollywood Studios and The Magic Kingdom.  So if you are keeping track, with RFID you can open your resort door and get into the theme parks with it. It doesn't stop there! A while back Disney did a small test with a certain mouse at his Town hall Meet-n-Greet. That test included a Talking Mickey Mouse......that could identify children by name.....Kid's and adults alike light up when they meet the mouse, but imagine their surprise when he knows your name without you telling him. Of course, the information on your RFID device is doing that seamlessly. Other aspects of RFID appear to incorporate payment options, pre-ordered meals, and FastPass+. More to come on those at a later time.

Disney's FastPass+  RFID Reader

 Wait a second, I thought you this was a quiet project that didn't exist how do you know so much?? 

I have been following this for a while, because it intrigues me. The possibilities seem endless on how RFID could be used with other technologies and the personalization that can come from them. Disney began to unveil how some of the technology will be used in a place most people over look. I guess you can say hidden in plain site.
   Over the summer, Disney released a new phone app called My Disney Experience. With that app, in the terms of agreement that many people don't read, there were many features of Disney's NextGen Technology that you had to agree to. Yes, you should read the terms of agreements! I was able to get some hands on experience with the app on my vacation to Walt Disney World in September. It worked wonderfully when connected to Disney's FAST WiFi network. Once off  WiFi, it was sluggish and not worth a damn to be bluntly honest. So as you can gather the WiFi is important.

When it came to RFID, Cast members and test subjects began to relay their experiences online in forums and videos( yes there were some hoaxes out there but there is also solid evidence). I also had my own experience with RFID in September when I wanted to check out the Big Blue pool area at the Arts of Animation Resort. Well, since I was not a guest at the resort and had no RFID "key", the only view I got of the Big Blue was from the fence surrounding the pool. Simple, yet effective. Think of the safety measure that has for kids that may sneak away from their parents! No Key, No Entry! I know its not a novel idea here, but most pools around the Disney Resorts aren't fenced in and pool hopping used to be a favorite past time.

A" Blogosphere" controversy arose over another test that Disney attempted with the use of RFID. This test involved limiting guest of abuse of refillable mugs and pop purchases at one of the All-Star resorts. Lets face it, many return visitors bring back their refillable mugs from trip to trip. Some people even take them into parks or keep their other cups through out the day hitting unmanned soda fountains and getting free refills. Clearly when a refillable mug is purchased, it is noted that it is to be used for your length of stay at the resort you are checked-in to. Disney came up with this crazy idea of keeping guest honest by placing an RFID tag in the Refillable Resort mugs and cups purchased at the All-Star Resort. The soda fountain would only activate when the RFID tag was recognized. The Tag would expire in x amount of days, meaning if you came back months later, you had to buy a new refillable mug like the original program intended. CURSE YOU DISNEY for making people follow the rules! As you might suspect, if every soda fountain had this technology across the resort, it could save Disney money in the long run and "virtually" stop theft or bending of the rules.

I will take Blue....

Personalized "Magic Band"

The biggest piece of information to date fell into place in October when Disney filed with the FCC to be able to use RF devices and Wall Street wanting some answers from Disney's CEO Robert Iger. To appease Wall Street, Mr.Iger gave out just enough information to get them off the companies back. From that information surfaced pictures of the "magic band". It is a wristband that looks to be your room key, credit card, theme park ticket, FastPass+, dining plan, and identification. Then Last weekend, Disney selectively rolled out a new website for Walt Disney World(go ahead check to see if you were lucky enough to get it) that you had to have an account for called My Disney Experience....Yep Same name as the app. Right there in the Terms and Conditions again, that most people probably skipped over, Disney displayed what technology they will use and how it will work for you and them!

The big reveal date has not been announced by Disney yet. More than likely it will be a gradual roll out like the RFID locks at the resorts. Many details are still under lock and key but will leak out when more testing is done. A big detail still be determined is if any of the NextGen initiative will cost anything extra for you or if it would be included in your vacation packages. There is some speculation that some resort levels(moderate and deluxe) may have some perks added to entice you to stay there. Then there is that pesky wording in the terms of agreement that state "Depending on the Experience benefits you have purchased..." which opens the door to speculation that you will have to purchase certain items on top of your package or ticket.

Disney is not the only resort in Orlando eyeing RFID, Wifi, and other Technology to enhance your vacations. Last week Universal Orlando introduced an RFID refillable mug for their Coke Freestyle Machines. Darn you Disney for making Universal Orlando return visitors honest!!!! Universal Orlando also is currently looking to expand WiFi throughout their parks and resorts. There are even rumblings RFID technology might show up in a game or experience for the Harry Potter Expansion. That could give some interesting interactivity with those nice expensive wands people purchase!

As with any new program there will be a learning curve and growing pains.Some people that wear tinfoil on their heads and produce conspiracy therories will make up hoaxes and urban legends about what is to come. There are even those that are already making plans to break the system.( I prefere to enjoy my vacation, not get banned from Disney) Things will change and be tweaked. As for me, I am glad Disney's NextGen is ready to break out and enhance Vacations!
What are your thoughts on the enhancements on the way?

Officially announced enhancements by Disney 

• Hidden sensors will read MagicBand data, providing information needed for a personalized greeting: “Hi, Angie,” the character might say without prompting. “I understand it’s your birthday.”

• The Under the Sea attraction features a robotic version of Scuttle the sea gull from “The Little Mermaid” that will be able to chitchat with MagicBand wearers.

• An online options menu will offer various controls: Do you want park employees to know your name? Do you want Disney to send you special offers when you get home? What about during your stay?

• MyMagic+ will allow users of a new Web site and app — called My Disney Experience — to preselect three FastPasses before they leave home for rides or V.I.P. seating for parades, fireworks and character meet-and-greets.

* Disney plans to introduce collectible sets of MagicBand accessories and charms.

The  system will be available at no additional cost. The basic MagicBand RFID bracelet can be upgraded to a customized band, such as a Princess band, for an additional fee. This is only a cosmetic change however, and does impact the actual experience.

Guests will be able to use kiosks inside the parks to choose FASTPASS+ experiences as well as using smartphones or websites.

The system is opt in, and is not required. However, if you do not use 'MyMagic+' you will not be able to use FASTPASS+.

Stay tuned right here and I will get you the latest and greatest information on the new experience!

Before there was NextGen there was and is Pal Mickey

NextGen is the new buzzword around the Disneysphere and Disney is sinking major amounts of money into this project. The entire scope of the project is only known to those  directly involved in the research and implementation,  but pieces of information have found their way into blogs and guesses have been made to what it will entail.We have begun to see some testing of some of the features the NextGen project will have like  FastPass+ and the new phone App My Disney Experience but there really hasn't been a time table set for a complete roll out of the project yet. There are rumors and some facts presented that NextGen will run on the newly installed WIFI in the parks & resorts and that it will also use RFID technology. RFID technology is in full use at the new Arts of Animation Resort and RFID locks are starting to make their way into other resorts. The NextGen project has been heralded as something that will make guest experiences much more entertaining and save them time; increasing their satisfaction and overall experience at the Walt Disney Resort.While this project has been in the works for a number of years, I would argue the first piece of NextGen was tested and still can be found in use today at Walt Disney World in the form of Pal Mickey.

Pal Mickey 1.0 We have the first version. He is a small guy.

So what is this Pal Mickey? It was a neat little souvenir I picked up for my daughter back on one of trips in 2003…. It is a small plush Mickey Mouse that contains a microprocessor, a speaker, is powered by three AA batteries, and has an infrared receiver in its nose. This infrared receiver would allow it to communicate with a few hundred infrared transmitters around the parks and resorts on the Disney Property. When certain transmitters were in range Mickey would start to laugh and vibrate. You would then have to press his belly or squeeze his hand  so he could tell you  information about the immediate area, a parade, showtime reminders, tips on what costumed walkaround characters may be nearby, and attractions with short queue times. Kind of like a phone app without the phone.

 Pal Mickey was discontinued in October of 2008 and can still be found on eBay for purchase. Why is that important? There were three version released of Pal Mickey, all are said to still be able to work in the parks to this day. So in theory, if you bring a Pal Mickey into any of the Disney World Parks in Orlando, he should still work. Once you leave the park and are at home, Pal Mickey doesn’t become a mute useless souvenir. If you squeeze his hand or push his belly, he will tell jokes and play a few programmed games. He is supposed to have several hundred pre-recorded phrases, ours just keeps telling the same joke over and over.

His clip was just like a Cell phone belt clip, just with a Mouse hanging from it. 

Pal Mickey is a really cool idea and pricey souvenir. He looked stylish on your belt or hanging form a lanyard but the clip that allowed you to do this was not the most comfortable  He  provided some nice entertainment in the lines and through out the resorts. In my opinion, Pal Mickey could easily be considered NextGen 1.0. Why do you ask? Pal Mickey has been rumored to be able to track each individual device so it wouldn't play the same phrases over and over again also in theory tracking where you were in the park. This tracking is something that some people are  worried about the with use of RFID technology by Disney, because they could be able to track where you are on the resort and see what your spending your vacation dollars on. Practice for NextGen? Probably not, but a cool feature.If Disney is tracking me on property, more power to them. Maybe it could be used to track lost child? I am cool with that type of use.
Our Pal Mickey won't be joining us on our Adult trip this fall but may become a stowaway in one of our kids' suitcases for our spring break trip. Do you have a Pal Mickey? Have you brought him back to the park recently?