Walt Disney World has just launched a new wearable device that combines Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) with a mobile app to improve the guest experience. It is called MyMagic+. This blog post will focus on what RFID is, how guests can use MyMagic+ and how you might use this methodology when event planning, 

What is RFID?

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology uses radio waves to identify people. There is a wireless unit that reads the information contained in a wearable device without having to make physical contact or require a line of sight with the unit.

How Does MyMagic+ Work?

MyMagic+ allows the guest to make their vacation uniquely their own and works with three major components: FastPass+, MagicBands and the Disney mobile app.

FastPass+ allows a person to: 

  • Reserve their must-do attractions and entertainment up to 30 days in advance of their visit
  • If their plans change, they can update their FastPass+ selections in a real-time basis.
  • The guest has twice as many choices as FastPass and now includes shows, parades and fireworks. 
  • If they stay at a Disney Resort hotel, selections can be made up to 60 days prior to check-in 

MagicBands are wearable devices that you can use to:

  • Enter Disney theme parks
  • Use the FastPass+
  • Unlock your Disney Resort hotel room and
  • Charge purchases to your room

These colorful wristbands can even be personalized for every member of your family—you can select your favorite color and Disney Resort hotel guests and Annual Passholders can add a printed name on the inside.

The bands contain no personal information and do not employ GPS technology.

My Disney Experience Mobile App allow a user to: 

  • Explore Walt Disney World Resort on the interactive, GPS-enabled map
  • Get wait times for attractions and showtimes for fireworks and parades.
  • Find Character greeting locations and times
  • Browse restaurant menus and make dining reservations and
  • Manage their Disney Resort reservations, tickets, MagicBands and cards

This app is free and runs on an iPhone, iPad or Android system.

Event Planner Takeaways

Let’s face facts: Wearable technology is coming to meetings whether you like it or not. It is already here in Samsung’s SmartWatch, Nike’s FuelBand, Google Glass or something in between. Read up on it and be prepared when it seeps into your meeting environment. Be proactive in your approach and embrace it.

How can you present your own FastPass+, MagicBands and Mobile App into the attendees’ event experience? Here are my thoughts on ways this can happen today:

  1. Make sure your conference details are complete and open up registration to all your sessions up to 30 days before your event. In addition, the registration platform needs to be web responsive and flexible so attendees can change their plans on the fly – whether they are viewing the details on their desktop or a mobile device.
  2. Make registration greater than the conference itself. Include networking events, TweetUps and anything else you can think of that will make your attendee’s experience a great success.
  3. Give them an incentive to stay within the room block. Disney gives their hotel guests better perks. They allow them to book their attractions 30 days earlier, access the park an hour earlier, open their hotel rooms and charge the room from the wristband, even if they are in the park.How can you work with your hotel to encourage attendees to stay within the block and make it a more cohesive experience?
  4. Give the attendee a mobile experience. Whether they are using iPad rentals or BYOD, allow attendees to explore the trade show floor through GPS, understand wait times for hosted buyer programs or browse social chatter about the event. In addition to hand held devices, video wall rentals are a great way to bring collective mobile information onto the big screen.

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