The article conveys just how much the magic band does for Disney
and its customer, as it says “There’s no need to
rent a car or waste time at the baggage carousel. You don’t need to carry cash,
because the MagicBand is linked to your credit card. You don’t need to wait in
long lines. You don’t even have to go to the trouble of taking out your wallet
when your kid grabs a stuffed Olaf [and begs for it].” For Disney, the
MagicBands, the thousands of sensors they talk with, and the 100 systems linked
together to create MyMagicPlus turn the park into a giant computer. This system
is streaming real-time data about where guests are, what they’re doing, and
what they want. This enables Disney to allow families to plan their trips more
efficiently with reservations, etc. It enables guests to get the most out of
their vacations, and guarantees smoother vacation planning.
Not only does the band benefit the customer, the
article also shows how it benefits the company. “By getting people exploring
beyond the park’s top attractions, overall use of the park goes up. People
spend less time in line. They’re doing more, which
means they’re spending more and remembering more. A Disney official stated, ‘The whole
system gave Disney a way of understanding the business.’”
The article describes
how this intimate information that is linked to the MagicBand may seem like an
invasive piece of technology out of the context of Disney, and that, as
technology grows, we change what we are comfortable with. The article states, “It’s designed to anticipate your desires.”
So not only does this band have access to your financial information, your
location, and what you are doing and buying in the park- it enables Disney to
know very intimately. Just like Google reads your emails in your gmail account
and targets ads to you based on your emails. With the MagicBand, Disney can do just
that and a lot of your personal information is now on file with Disney. Furthermore,
if you lose this band, or someone steals it, they now have access to your
credit card and hotel room. Your information is not 100% safe. Furthermore,
other articles show how the design is difficult to work with, and the
technology has had malfunctioning problems before, causing customers to be
frustrated with Disney. There is still much room for improvement in the
technology and design.
Sources:
Main Article: http://www.wired.com/2015/03/disney-magicband/
Other Articles:
http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/201311/3756/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/doug-lansky/disney-magic-band_b_4528094.html
Video of Magic Band Use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3ojftUvWWU
After reading the article myself and reading the post, I do see many hidden benefits in this MagicBand system. I personally would love a device that would help me navigate the park, show me which lines are shortest, help me pay, and introduce me to more attractions. For the price you pay to go to Disney, having a device that would help you maximize your experience in the park would definitelty make a trip to Disney seem more appealing. This added benefit for consumers will eventually lead Disney to book more reservations and sell more tickets, thus making Disney a stronger company. Despite the many benefits of a MagicBand, I can see many downsides to the system as well. First of all, purchasing the mass amount of RFID chips to make this system successful may be costly. Also, the idea of being physically tracked by a company and having your purchases monitored may turn some customers away who find this system invasive. And like any system, this system could be hacked by an outside source who could manipulate the system and send park-goers in a frenzy around the park. The hackers could also steal credit card information or locate where guests are staying, thus putting customers at a safety risk. Overall, I love the idea of MagicBands; however, I do believe they need to work on making the system safer.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting move on the part of Disney. Disney already has a system where people can charge purchases to their room bill from anywhere in the park using their room key. By making this an all in one band they really eliminate security buffers currently in place. It is not a tremendous hassle to take a credit card out of a wallet, nor a room key out of your pocket. If you lose one, they can be replaced easier than if an all in one device is lost. Furthermore, if the room key is lost, the purchases can be reviewed because they are payed for at checkout, no credit card information is stored on the room key. As mentioned in the comment above, this is also expensive move and a Disney vacation is not cheap to start with. One thing I would also be hesitant about is knowing they are watching my every move and making me pay more so they can do it. However, for families with small children, this could be a life saver. Many parents have a fear of losing their child in a large, open and very crowded place like Disney. With the introduction of tracking, parents fears can be relaxed knowing they may be able to track their child in they have the band on them. The Disney Magic Band does, however, connect data from across the parks perfectly. With the ability to manage your Disney PhotosPass account, check FastPass times as well as have the ability to check into your vacation is a great step forward. Simplifying the process and making it easier for both the customer and the Disney workers by cutting through the paperwork which can get easily lost or left behind. Already Disney is looking at ways to fix the security issues presented by the idea of a lost band and they already have a way to deactivate RFID chips which means that this move should ultimately pay off. Furthermore, the MyMagicPlus helps to add a little more magic into everyone’s stay by unlocking secrets hidden around the park according the Disney Park’s website. Disney’s films were once the cutting edge of animation, and now his park is the cutting edge of technology.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting move on the part of Disney. Disney already has a system where people can charge purchases to their room bill from anywhere in the park using their room key. By making this an all in one band they really eliminate security buffers currently in place. It is not a tremendous hassle to take a credit card out of a wallet, nor a room key out of your pocket. If you lose one, they can be replaced easier than if an all in one device is lost. Furthermore, if the room key is lost, the purchases can be reviewed because they are payed for at checkout, no credit card information is stored on the room key. As mentioned in the comment above, this is also expensive move and a Disney vacation is not cheap to start with. One thing I would also be hesitant about is knowing they are watching my every move and making me pay more so they can do it. However, for families with small children, this could be a life saver. Many parents have a fear of losing their child in a large, open and very crowded place like Disney. With the introduction of tracking, parents fears can be relaxed knowing they may be able to track their child in they have the band on them. The Disney Magic Band does, however, connect data from across the parks perfectly. With the ability to manage your Disney PhotosPass account, check FastPass times as well as have the ability to check into your vacation is a great step forward. Simplifying the process and making it easier for both the customer and the Disney workers by cutting through the paperwork which can get easily lost or left behind. Already Disney is looking at ways to fix the security issues presented by the idea of a lost band and they already have a way to deactivate RFID chips which means that this move should ultimately pay off. Furthermore, the MyMagicPlus helps to add a little more magic into everyone’s stay by unlocking secrets hidden around the park according the Disney Park’s website. Disney’s films were once the cutting edge of animation, and now his park is the cutting edge of technology.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I really like the All-in-One Magic Band. This idea is similar to our evergreen card. We have access to meals, buildings, the FAC, and other academic services. These RFID chips expedite processes and are convenient to have on your person. At Disney World, I want to see as much as I can being a tourist. This pass allows for everything to be done with a simple band. I like the tracking device on each individual band as well. This keeps track of where one's children may be. On the downside, this technology could easily be hacked or altered so one could gain access and pay significantly less. For the most part, this is innovative and wise for Disney. It will increase sales revenue and give people an overall better experience at the parks.
ReplyDelete