Have you heard about the theme park that uses high tech RFID bracelets instead of admission tickets? What about being able to use that same bracelet to open your hotel room door or to pay for a snack? You may be surprised to hear this has nothing to do with Disney.
Since 2006, the Great Wolf Lodge resorts have been using RFID bracelets in the majority of their locations as a high tech (and waterproof) way to gain admission, open your hotel door, and to pay for snacks. Great Wolf Lodge resorts also have several high tech family experiences that will keep your family entertained even when they are out of the water.
If you haven’t had the chance to visit a Great Wolf Lodge, it is a chain of hotels combined with an indoor water park that is geared for families. There are plans to build a new Great Wolf Lodge in 2013 near Disneyland, which is guaranteed to become a popular spot when it opens.
High Tech and Waterproof
The idea to use RFID bracelets at a water park is brilliant. Who wants to carry around soggy dollars or risk having their wallet stolen if left on a chair? With the RFID bracelets, you can leave everything in your room and still be able to purchase meals, unlock your hotel room, and gain admission to the waterpark. It is one of those ideas that is so brilliant, you have to wonder why everyone else hasn’t already adopted this technology.
High Tech Games
The Great Wolf Lodge resorts also have a few high tech bells and whistles to keep your family entertained while walking around the hotel. With this generation growing up in a world of tablets and touch screen smartphones, these types of interactive experiences are a big hit.
One example is MagiQuest in which your child uses a special magic wand to unlock portions of the game around the hotel. During the quest, your child (and the whole family) get to enchant objects, befriend a pixie, learn from an ancient wizard, battle a goblin, and outwit a dragon. It is geared toward children who are elementary or tween ages, but is also something the entire family can play together.
Another neat high tech experience is the Great Wolf Story Explorers. This is a modern day twist on the classic storytelling experience. It is ideal for any child who likes to read, but parents could also read the stories to younger children. It is currently at the Great Wolf Lodge in Poconos Mountains, PA with plans to expand to more locations.
The experience begins with your child selecting a plush toy, which becomes their companion. The new plush friend is a neat idea because it gives your child a unique way to connect with the experience (“they like books, just like me”).
You then then take a few photos, which are later used to make your child the main character in each of the story’s pages. As you move from location to location, your child just scans the RFID wristband worn by their plush toy. A page of the story appears on the screen and includes your child’s photo, making them part of the story.
Of course, the story ends “happily every after” when you receive a printed copy of your book to take home as a keepsake.
High Tech Family Fun
A water park and hotel chain might not top of mind when thinking of high tech resorts. But Great Wolf Lodge is years ahead of Disney when it comes to interactive scavenger hunts and using RFID bracelets to replace tickets.
The best part about all this tech is that it is user friendly. You don’t need an instruction manual to use the bracelets. It just works and it makes your family’s visit just that much easier.
Photos via Great Wolf Resorts, Inc
You’re right about the wristbands being a great idea. I once lost my wallet at Wild Rivers when I tried hiding it at the bottom of our bag that we left on a lounge chair. Something like this would have been a lifesaver.
They’re building a waterpark near Disneyland??!! That’s fantastic! I can’t wait for this to open!