Disney World NFC Payment System is Truly Magical

Disney has come up with another magical way of incorporating tech into fantasy by bringing a wireless payment system to Walt Disney World. They’ve been trialling it over the past year at the Orlando, Florida resort in a $1-billion scheme called MagicBands.

MagicBands are colourful and waterproof wrist worn gadgets that allow little kid and big kid visitors to gain access to attractions by pressing the familiar (and highly marketable) symbol of Mickey Mouse onto receivers located at the start of every ride.

The wonderful wearable can be customised and will be sent out before the visit so it can be preloaded with a full trip itinerary by linking it to ‘My Disney Experience’ on the Disney World website. The MagicBand not only includes pre-booked spots on rides to avoid the queuing with FastPass+ but is also used for checking into the hotel accommodation, allows you to find photos online and gives the parent’s permission to access credit card information and spend money at a touch.

Disney promises that this information remains private and secure and this means a MagicBand can be used to make NFC payments in place of cash or card to buy extras all the necessary extras around the park such as food and drinks in the many eateries or souvenir mouse ears in the gift shops. It also means no chance of losing your wallet and valuables in the Haunted Mansion or getting them soaked on Splash Mountain.

The MagicBand is a great idea which will get the kiddies even more hyped for their holiday and adds fun to the Disney experience when you’re there while also making mum and dad’s bank balance disappear as if by magic!

It’s understood that after the success of MagicBands the park will soon begin accepting other methods of NFC payment as well, most noted is Apple’s wireless iPhone system ApplePay.

Source: Wired.com, Disneyworld.disney.go.com