Disney's NextGen Initiative

[jtsalien]

How many monorails and how much could they have expanded the lines with that much money?

Probably not that far. That's hundreds of millions per mile

If this gets let people in FP lines, I'm all for it. But that remains to be seen.

 

[BJCool]

From @bioreconstruct

Disney resort guests with the new RFID ticketing had a separate bag check today near the Magic Kingdom RFID entrance.

From WDW News Today

RFID entrance being utilized at some of the Animal Kingdom turnstiles as well

They are themed!

FastPass+ installed at Primeval Whirl

Also at DINOSAUR

 

[Jakester]

I think this sums up the whole thing behind "NextGen" This was posted by Lee on WDWMAGIC with the information provided by WDW1974

As envisioned and implemented by Disney, NextGen is not merely the application of existing technology to bring its parks and resorts...up to date from a technology standpoint, it is the most extreme and thorough application of mandatory, craftily cultivated and dynamically applied surveillance ever undertaken by a corporation in one, highly specific location.
Central to the engagement of the initiative is the tagging and tracking of every guest. Each visitor will be expressly and explicitly profiled through the mandatory use of GPS-enabled RFID technology. This is incorporated, specifically, in the bracelets Disney has received several patents for as well as room keys and passes (the last to address a still in dispute phase-in for passholders to include annuals and seasonals as well as day buy-ins). To reach the profit targets and overarching design goals set for this project, as well as export the technology and its fruit to other companies, Disney understood early on that there could be no opt-out for any guest. Application of an 'opt-out mode' would remove the control and thereby defeat the financial gains required of such a massive capital outlay defined publicly devoid of detail.
NextGen "tagging" is a requirement even for those individuals paying with cash and those visiting just for the day. Making it so has been presented in typical corporate fashion as being nothing but an enhancer of the customer or "guest" experience. Disney, as sold to the masses, will streamline and personalize your experience based on highly specific information about each member of your party. The information will be partly tendered under the guise of a voluntary "itinerary builder" to help the guest pre-plan nearly every aspect of a Disney Parks vacation. Names, birth dates, gender and real and virtual addresses (email, Twitter, Facebook, and the like) will be gathered.

From there, the collection of information will grow in a dynamic and organic manner...to be first rolled-out at Walt Disney World beginning in early 2013, once you arrive your personalized NextGen bracelet or room key or pass will gather or mine every data point consistent with 24 hour surveillance. (Note: handheld devices, smartphone and tablets, are a supplemental feature that is, by design, a distraction from the actual intent of NextGen that feeds on society's familiarity with this ubiquitous technology.) Cash will remain an accepted form of payment; however, for resorts guests, cash will only be allowed to settle accounts prior to departure much like as a credit card is required prior to boarding and for all purchases on cruise ships.

Unlike most currently utilized RFID products, Disney's tags or profilers will not require the tapping or waving of the guests' bracelet or other embedded tagger for the vast data-mining the passive element of NextGen introduces. No push, tap or swipe is required as readers now blanket Walt Disney World to extract every possible piece of information or data from the guest in their GPS-enabled device. Any concerns over the right of Disney to acquire, compile and export for their profit and the profit of corporate partners aside, grave concerns over guest safety and the actual legality of this project have been raised.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I have some technical objections.

First and foremost, from the FCC documentation released so far regarding radios, the only, ONLY antenna in the device is for the 2.4GHz data spectrum, not GPS (2.4GHz = WiFi. Makes sense now, no?) There simply isn't GPS, from what has been released so far, in the device. In fact, a GPS system inside the device would require FCC disclosure, further testing, and a much larger device. I simply cannot believe that there is a GPS device inside the unit that is tracking our movements.

Now, GPS LIKE, where the use of WiFi signals and towers can triangulate a location, that's another story, and one that is significantly less accurate in it's locating services.

The wristband is simply a WiFi chip that broadcasts a set of data to a terminal. This is an active RFID system, not passive as many have thought it would be. An active system would allow for a MUCH more secure system, but still not un-hackable. The idea of hundreds of thousands of techno-idiots walking around Orlando with their personal, financial, and other information attached to their wrists is a dream for thefts.

I don't see how Disney can force anyone to give any information beyond a name for these tags. I have had Resort IDs given to me with other people's names on them because CM's don't care and/or other shady reasons. This NextGen service requires that CM's stick to the rules all the time, guests always wear these, and there is no infrastructure weaknesses (ha!). Right now it SEEMS that the only testing has been for the passive RFID in the form of FP+ cards. Any well designed system can handle this as the technology has been around for years if not decades (see wireless pay on credit cards.) But I don't think there has been a system deployed, ANYWHERE, where 40,000+ roaming, active signals over 300 acres is tracked on the level as described by '74s sources. Again, this is my understanding, and if someone can correct me I'm all ears (no pun intended).

Again, this is my observations based on my exposure to technology, the patent applications, the installed infrastructure, and so forth and so on.

 

[Hockeyman55]

So can they really force you to walk around wearing one of those bracelets? Time to break out the tinfoil hats and make them into wrist guards

 

[jtsalien]

So can they really force you to walk around wearing one of those bracelets? Time to break out the tinfoil hats and make them into wrist guards

Could they? Maybe. Would they? I doubt it. It would certainly cause an uproar on the net.

 

[maxairmike]

I have some technical objections.

A GPS device isn't necessary. They are "bugging" the parks for this, and at the least will know what shops you're in (even just for browsing, don't have to buy anything), how long it took you to go from point A to point B, etc. This is a massive data mining process, and they will have every single relevant piece of data (including where you go at what time) they need to be the real-life equivalent of Google ads, and probably "better" from a profit/business standpoint. The computational requirements for this, however, are massive, and I'm trying to figure out where they're housing the servers necessary and handling the network architecture. They've been stocking the buildings at park entrances with servers and tons of conduit and cable trays (usually in the former kennel areas), but apart from that I know of no other data center size locations to serve as a main server point.

 

[Disneyhead]

I believe the proper term that should have been used in this tech is LPS ( Local Positioning System) and is Wifi based. But yes, that IS what they are doing.

That way they can "push" discounts to your smart phone based your location. Like if you haven't eaten dinner, expect you phone to be spammed with offers based on your buying history and location.

 

[Hockeyman55]

I may be in the minority but I'd sign up to get offers sent to my phone while at the parks if it means I can save a few bucks here and there.

 

[AquaDuck]

I may be in the minority but I'd sign up to get offers sent to my phone while at the parks if it means I can save a few bucks here and there.

While it would be nice, it would be much nicer if there were more high quality and less generic items to buy.

 

[grizzlybarely]

I don't mind if Disney knows where I am in the parks if it's helpful. "Spam" is another story. It just matters how it's done rather than that it's done.

 

[Hockeyman55]

I believe the proper term that should have been used in this tech is LPS ( Local Positioning System) and is Wifi based. But yes, that IS what they are doing.

That way they can "push" discounts to your smart phone based your location. Like if you haven't eaten dinner, expect you phone to be spammed with offers based on your buying history and location.

Reading the thread over at wdwmagic about this and I assume it was your comment over there about "putting the fancy bracelet on a squirrel" that serious made me laugh

 

[BJCool]

A GPS device isn't necessary. They are "bugging" the parks for this, and at the least will know what shops you're in (even just for browsing, don't have to buy anything), how long it took you to go from point A to point B, etc. This is a massive data mining process, and they will have every single relevant piece of data (including where you go at what time) they need to be the real-life equivalent of Google ads, and probably "better" from a profit/business standpoint. The computational requirements for this, however, are massive, and I'm trying to figure out where they're housing the servers necessary and handling the network architecture. They've been stocking the buildings at park entrances with servers and tons of conduit and cable trays (usually in the former kennel areas), but apart from that I know of no other data center size locations to serve as a main server point.

I remember hearing that the entire project is being based out of a vacant building at DHS. Whether there is any truth to that statement is beyond me, however.

 

[Hockeyman55]

What I don't understand is how are they going to track what you buy if you are paying cash? They going to make you have to scan your bracelet before each transaction.

 

[jtsalien]

I may be in the minority but I'd sign up to get offers sent to my phone while at the parks if it means I can save a few bucks here and there.

I don't mind if Disney knows where I am in the parks if it's helpful. "Spam" is another story. It just matters how it's done rather than that it's done.

I'm in the same boat. Do I wish they spent less money on it? Obviously. But I don't really care about Disney knowing my touring habits. Especially if they use the information to target areas of improvement.

 

[maxairmike]

I remember hearing that the entire project is being based out of a vacant building at DHS. Whether there is any truth to that statement is beyond me, however.

I know they're doing stuff there, but that kind and amount of equipment would require some hefty network connection equipment, and I don't believe there's been any permits for sizable fiber pulls or related work at DHS. As HTF reported before, the former kennel and main entrance building is being used, but that seems to be mostly entry and test equipment. I suppose they could be distributing the load across the installations they've been doing for all the new entry systems...I have some more digging to do. We have any network admins/IT pros that know a little bit more about such stuff?

 

[Hockeyman55]

I'm in the same boat. Do I wish they spent less money on it? Obviously. But I don't really care about Disney knowing my touring habits. Especially if they use the information to target areas of improvement.

The more I read up about all of it the more all this next gen garbage irritates me. The fact they spent billions on this when it could have gone towards new rides and upkeep of the old ones is sickening. I don't care if they want to know what rides I've been on and at what times but if they require you to wear a bracelet to track you and do so whether you pay cash or card, that I don't like.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

I remember hearing that the entire project is being based out of a vacant building at DHS. Whether there is any truth to that statement is beyond me, however.

My understanding is that building is currently being used for offices, not servers. NextGen or not, I don't know.

 

[Nick]

I thought they recently rented out some space near Universal, which was rumored to be the location of the Servers?

 

[Disneyhead]

Reading the thread over at wdwmagic about this and I assume it was your comment over there about "putting the fancy bracelet on a squirrel" that serious made me laugh

Yeah, that was me. Let them track that little guy for a while. "Get security, we have a guest up a tree in Frontierland. No wait, he's crawling under the tables at Pecos Bill's..."