Walt Disney World testing Apple iPad for FastPass use

posted by Alan F. / May 02, 2012, 1:16 PM

Walt Disney World testing Apple iPad for FastPass use

RFID scanner inside the Magic Kingdom

An Apple iPad wielded by a Walt Disney World employee could help you stay off those long lines at the Orlando theme park. Coming from an unofficial Twitter account, the word is that Disney is looking to use Apple's tablet as part of a new system that would issue line-cutting FastPass tickets to guests hours before going on that ride. When visitors enter the park, they would be given an RFID-enabled wrist band that is scanned at the entrance to each attraction. This info would be sent to that Disney employee with the iPad who would issue the requested FastPass.

Disney is said to be testing this system during this month. According to the unofficial Twitter account @DisneyProjects, the iPad is not the central device that prints out the FastPass tickets and the tablet merely is being used to display information. Regardless, if you have ever waited on a long line for Splash Mountain with the hot Orlando sun beating down on your neck, you'll appreciate this system even more.

source: @DisneyProjects via TUAW

Disney is testing the Apple iPad for use with its FastPass system

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4 Comments

1. quryous

Posts: 106; Member since: Mar 07, 2012

How many people go to Disney world carrying an ifad? Lets see, summer time, rainy, hot, wet sweaty hands, slippery, heavy and bulky, can you say shattering experience. Hmm, wonder how many fly off the whirly-gig attraction or the roller coasters? Winter time, gloves, great time to try sticking a frozen, bare finger on a frozen piece of glass. Battery power suffers during cold weather. Hmm, can you say, fumble and shatter? Now, I can see using SMALL devices, such as phones which can be pocketed and protected from heat, wet, and cold, but something as huge as an ifad? Hardly! Try it on an Android phone. They are taking over, anyway, according to the data I've seen posted the last week or so. What was it, 51% and climbing? Yes, try Android devices. Come on, Disney, thinking like this is why I sold all my Disney stock long ago. Don't want any more, either.

posted on May 02, 2012, 4:34 PM 0

3. Fallout09

Posts: 421; Member since: Oct 17, 2011

Did you actually read the article or just start bashing due the mention of iPad? I am no fan of Apple but the way the story is written, the Disney employee will be using the iPad to print fast passes for riders. This will allow them to walk around free and interact with park visitors. If it makes the fast pass and ride lines faster, I am all for it! Who cares if the Disney employee is using an iPad to print tickets.

posted on May 03, 2012, 6:54 AM 0

4. Atrixboyyy

Posts: 605; Member since: Nov 03, 2011

Right and wrong "the iPad is not the central device that prints out the FastPass tickets and the tablet merely is being used to display information." :)