Disney Plans Wireless Wristbands Instead of Tickets

Disney has some high tech plans in the works for an RFID wristband that could replace the need for paper admission and Fastpass tickets.

The system is called Fastpass Plus and has been in the testing phase for several months. This week, the mouse filed documents with the FCC for approval to use this new technology on a permanent basis.

In the short term, the magic wristbands will replace the need for paper Fastpass tickets. Ahead of your visit, Disney will let you schedule a few Fastpass times and they will automatically be added to your wristband.

Disney will also integrate your theme park tickets and hotel key into the wristbands. Many of Walt Disney World’s hotels are having RFID-based key locks installed in the hotel rooms. You’ll just wave your wristband and magically unlock the door. Disney already gives the option to use your hotel key as a payment option, which makes it likely that the wristband will let you pay for purchases as well.

The bracelets are designed to be disposable as well as waterproof for rides like Splash Mountain. However, it’s also probable that Disney could make a more permanent model to use in the place of plastic Annual Passport cards.

The longer term possibilities are the most interesting aspect of Fastpass Plus. The band can be personalized with a specific name and can be linked to information about you. For example, if you let Disney know during registration that it is your birthday or anniversary, Disney could then trigger a special song or light show to play when you scan your wristband. The wristbands could also trigger notifications for the Disney Cast Members. As you approach the hotel’s front desk, the computer screen could immediately light up with your info and prompt the employee to wish you a happy birthday.

The Orange County Register recently had an article about what Disney is planning with the RFID technology in the Glow With the Show mouse ears. The technology in the mouse ears is similar to the technology in the Fastpass Plus wristbands, so the article gives a neat glimpse into what is possible. The Jack Sparrow figure on Pirates of the Caribbean could recognize you with a wink. You could automatically keep a log of how many times you’ve been on your favorite ride.

This new technology will likely take several years to mature, but it is exciting to see Disney taking the first steps to add this to its theme parks. Just as Fastpass started small and later has become a staple of the theme parks, Fastpass Plus will likely become a standard part of our theme park visits in the years to come.