Figment!
12-11-2012, 08:23 PM
4/20/13
MyMagic+ feature roll-outs and tests are continuing across the Walt Disney World Resort.
All Walt Disney World Resort hotels have reportedly launched a new feature called “Mobile Lobby Experience”. This new offering allows Guests to check-in with a Cast Member at curbside or in the lobby area of the hotel via a mobile tablet device.
Blizzard Beach and the International Gateway at Epcot are the latest park entrances to receive the RFID Entrance Gates. The Blizzard Beach entrance has been fully converted to RFID Gates, while about half of the International Gateway turnstiles appear to be in-process of conversion.
Last weekend, a large scale test of MyMagic+ services were conducted with Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Pre-Selected Guests were able to test the FASTPASS+, Touch-to-Pay, Touch-to-Enter services using the MagicBand devices from 4/12 to 4/13. Further testing and full-scale launch dates for these services have not yet been announced.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be testing FastPass for night time shows next week. From April 22 – 27, 2013; FASTPASS will be available for Fantasmic!. FASTPASS distribution will be near the tip board on Hollywood Blvd.
3/16/13
The Roll-Out will continue for Annual Passholders starting next week. Effective March 20, 2013 all Annual Passes issued and renewed will be RFID capable cards.
From March 20th to May 19th, current Annual Passholders may exchange their current card for a RFID capable card at the Odyssey Complex in Epcot's Future World during normal park hours. Conversion to a RFID capable card is not yet required, however, it will allow Passholders to use the RFID park gates. Passholders who wish to exchange their pass need to bring their current pass and a photo ID.
1/30/13
As of 1/29/13, the following locations are offering the “Touch-to-Pay” system to Guests using a RFID Key-to-the-World card:
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Disney's Beach Club Resort
Disney's Boardwalk Resort
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney's Port Orleans Resort
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Epcot
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Magic Kingdom
Typhoon Lagoon
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
Additionally, all Guest Service locations are scheduled to offer only RFID capable single day and multi-day park ticket media by February 1, 2013.
12/22/12
Permanent RFID Park Entry Gates are now operational at all four theme parks. The "gates" are marginally themed to each of the parks to provide a cohesive aesthetic with the entry gate areas. As originally announced, the new entry areas are located on the right side.
The Magic Kingdom has also added a new touchscreen kiosk in City Hall. Cast have reported that this type of kisok will be available at all Guest Service locations to allow Guests without an internet-capable mobile device to update or change their "NextGen" program selections while at the park.
12/15/12
The testing for "FastPass+" has moved beyond the Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Epcot will soon begin a trial of FastPass+ viewing locations for Illuminations. During the test period, two sections will be used; one near Germany and the other in Showcase Plaza (the section between World Showcase and Future World). This past Fall, the Magic Kingdom similarly tested FastPass+ parade viewing areas.
12/11/12
The Walt Disney World Resort has internally announced that it has begun to roll-out its first major installations of the “NextGen” RFID Guest interaction program.
Effective December 11, 2012; a “Touch-to-Pay” system is now available to Guests using a RFID Key-to-the-World card at select register locations inside Epcot and at the Art of Animation, Beach Club, BoardWalk, Contemporary, Polynesian, and Yacht Club Resort Hotels. The system allows Guests to tap their RFID Key-to-the-World Card on a reader to pay for their purchase. To use the system, Guests must select a PIN number upon check-in that will be used to verify all purchases over $50. The system is expected to be available at all register locations by Spring 2013.
It has been additionally announced that permanent RFID Park Entry Gates will begin to go operational this week at all four theme parks. See Melanie’s post (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=187121) from late last year for pictures of the RFID turnstiles tested at Epcot. The Parks are planned to begin with a few RFID "gates" located on the right side of the entrances and then convert the remaining turnstiles in phases. The tentative completion date for the conversion process is Spring 2013. In line with this change, it has also been reported that all Guest park ticket media will be RFID capable by the time the conversions are complete.
These changes come as another portion of the RFID program is currently being heavily tested at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Beginning today, the two parks are currently conducting the largest test-to-date of the “FastPass+” system. Pre-selected Guests are testing the system at several of the parks' FastPass attractions through December 15th. See INTERCOTee Dulcee's description (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=2320167&postcount=1) of their expereince in using the "FastPass+" trial reservation system.
As noted in Tidbits November 2012 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=195983), many Disney Resort hotels are beginning to implement RFID room-locks. This feature allows Guests to tap their RFID Key-to-the-World card on the doorhandle fixture to open their door.
MyMagic+ feature roll-outs and tests are continuing across the Walt Disney World Resort.
All Walt Disney World Resort hotels have reportedly launched a new feature called “Mobile Lobby Experience”. This new offering allows Guests to check-in with a Cast Member at curbside or in the lobby area of the hotel via a mobile tablet device.
Blizzard Beach and the International Gateway at Epcot are the latest park entrances to receive the RFID Entrance Gates. The Blizzard Beach entrance has been fully converted to RFID Gates, while about half of the International Gateway turnstiles appear to be in-process of conversion.
Last weekend, a large scale test of MyMagic+ services were conducted with Guests staying at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Pre-Selected Guests were able to test the FASTPASS+, Touch-to-Pay, Touch-to-Enter services using the MagicBand devices from 4/12 to 4/13. Further testing and full-scale launch dates for these services have not yet been announced.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be testing FastPass for night time shows next week. From April 22 – 27, 2013; FASTPASS will be available for Fantasmic!. FASTPASS distribution will be near the tip board on Hollywood Blvd.
3/16/13
The Roll-Out will continue for Annual Passholders starting next week. Effective March 20, 2013 all Annual Passes issued and renewed will be RFID capable cards.
From March 20th to May 19th, current Annual Passholders may exchange their current card for a RFID capable card at the Odyssey Complex in Epcot's Future World during normal park hours. Conversion to a RFID capable card is not yet required, however, it will allow Passholders to use the RFID park gates. Passholders who wish to exchange their pass need to bring their current pass and a photo ID.
1/30/13
As of 1/29/13, the following locations are offering the “Touch-to-Pay” system to Guests using a RFID Key-to-the-World card:
Disney's Animal Kingdom
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort
Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Disney's Beach Club Resort
Disney's Boardwalk Resort
Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Disney's Contemporary Resort
Disney's Coronado Springs Resort
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Disney's Old Key West Resort
Disney's Pop Century Resort
Disney's Port Orleans Resort
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort
Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort
Disney's Yacht Club Resort
Epcot
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Magic Kingdom
Typhoon Lagoon
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
Additionally, all Guest Service locations are scheduled to offer only RFID capable single day and multi-day park ticket media by February 1, 2013.
12/22/12
Permanent RFID Park Entry Gates are now operational at all four theme parks. The "gates" are marginally themed to each of the parks to provide a cohesive aesthetic with the entry gate areas. As originally announced, the new entry areas are located on the right side.
The Magic Kingdom has also added a new touchscreen kiosk in City Hall. Cast have reported that this type of kisok will be available at all Guest Service locations to allow Guests without an internet-capable mobile device to update or change their "NextGen" program selections while at the park.
12/15/12
The testing for "FastPass+" has moved beyond the Magic Kingdom and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Epcot will soon begin a trial of FastPass+ viewing locations for Illuminations. During the test period, two sections will be used; one near Germany and the other in Showcase Plaza (the section between World Showcase and Future World). This past Fall, the Magic Kingdom similarly tested FastPass+ parade viewing areas.
12/11/12
The Walt Disney World Resort has internally announced that it has begun to roll-out its first major installations of the “NextGen” RFID Guest interaction program.
Effective December 11, 2012; a “Touch-to-Pay” system is now available to Guests using a RFID Key-to-the-World card at select register locations inside Epcot and at the Art of Animation, Beach Club, BoardWalk, Contemporary, Polynesian, and Yacht Club Resort Hotels. The system allows Guests to tap their RFID Key-to-the-World Card on a reader to pay for their purchase. To use the system, Guests must select a PIN number upon check-in that will be used to verify all purchases over $50. The system is expected to be available at all register locations by Spring 2013.
It has been additionally announced that permanent RFID Park Entry Gates will begin to go operational this week at all four theme parks. See Melanie’s post (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=187121) from late last year for pictures of the RFID turnstiles tested at Epcot. The Parks are planned to begin with a few RFID "gates" located on the right side of the entrances and then convert the remaining turnstiles in phases. The tentative completion date for the conversion process is Spring 2013. In line with this change, it has also been reported that all Guest park ticket media will be RFID capable by the time the conversions are complete.
These changes come as another portion of the RFID program is currently being heavily tested at the Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Beginning today, the two parks are currently conducting the largest test-to-date of the “FastPass+” system. Pre-selected Guests are testing the system at several of the parks' FastPass attractions through December 15th. See INTERCOTee Dulcee's description (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=2320167&postcount=1) of their expereince in using the "FastPass+" trial reservation system.
As noted in Tidbits November 2012 (http://www.intercot.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=195983), many Disney Resort hotels are beginning to implement RFID room-locks. This feature allows Guests to tap their RFID Key-to-the-World card on the doorhandle fixture to open their door.