News in Parenting: Disney’s NextGen Plan
http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/04/18/whole-new-world-for-whole-new-disney/
For all those who have gone to Disney during peak season (and even a fair amount who have gone during non peak season), you know that waiting in lines is a pain in your magical little keester. And heaven forbid you try meeting a character. Unless you know when and where to go, meeting one of the beloved Princesses can take hours. But this is what you came for, right? How can you tell your little princess that she can’t meet Cinderella because of the line? Well, with Disney’s new NextGen plan, you can ditch your waiting shoes on the steps with Cinderella’s glass slipper!
The article above from Fox News details the new line jumper idea that is planned to hit Disney World as early as 2013. With NextGen, all your magical planing starts exactly where you are sitting right now. At home, on your computer (or at work on your computer for all of you trying to avoid the paperwork on your desks). Disney will allow you to set up appointments for rides, character meetings, and restaurant seatings. You will even be able to reserve a spot for the shows, parades, and fireworks at all Disney Parks. Could it get any better? Yes! You can preorder meals, so your food is ready when you sit down!
So, how is this all going to be implemeted? With bracelets. Instead of carrying your FastPass around, you will get a bracelet that has all sorts of identification lodged within it’s NextGen walls. It will have your name, your appointmets, and even your credit card programmed in. Don’t want to worry about bringing a purse to the park? This is your solution! With just a swipe of the wrist, you can buy lunch, be greeted at rides by name, and to worry about waiting times.
Seems perfect, right? Well…some bloggers have their doubts. Privacy is a big issue – unsecure names and credit card information can lead to a lot of trouble. Another large issue is the concern for late bookers. This could make some rides absolutely impossible to ride, or some characters absolutely impossible to see. At least right now you have the option to wait.
My personal concern would be with children. A. How easy is it for a child to lose their bracelet? Especially when they’re on rides. I’ve known a good many kids who would lose their right pinky if it wasn’t part of their body. B. Your credit card information on your child’s wrist could be put to some evil usage. Whether it is a teenager who wants to splurge behind their parent’s back, or a younger child who willingly gives a swipe of their wrist to a new friend they meet while Mom has her back turned. I can only hope that the credit card information sticks to only Mom and Dad’s wrists, for danger calls if it doesn’t.
As long as the NextGen plan overcomes a few possible obstacles though, I think that this will be a great change to the current way of life in the land where all your dreams come true. Because, let’s be honest – some dreams just don’t come true because we’re not willing to wait for them (how true of life too!).
