To what extent is Disney World tracking you?
MagicBand+
MagicBand and MagicBand+ wristbands do a lot of nifty things at Disney World! They unlock your hotel room, work as a ticket to get you into the parks, let you scan in for Lightning Lanes, and even let you charge snacks to your room with a quick tap. But as with any tech that makes life easier, there’s always one unsettling question lurking…Is Disney tracking me with this thing?
The answer? It’s complicated. Disney tracks you, but not in a way that takes note of your every step.
MagicBand+
According to Disney, “MagicBand+ devices are not GPS-based and do not enable collection of continuous location signals. However, we may be able to detect the location of Guests who choose to use or wear MagicBand or MagicBand+ products while visiting the Walt Disney World Resort and certain other locations.”
MagicBands!
Your MagicBands do not contain a GPS, and Disney’s not using a satellite to follow you around the property. But you are being tracked, nevertheless.
When you scan your MagicBand to enter a park, tap into a Lightning Lane, use your MagicBand for a fun park interaction, or link a PhotoPass picture, Disney does log that interaction. So they know where you’ve been and what you’re doing. But that tracking detail isn’t just limited to MagicBand users.
Scanner
Your MagicBands are linked to your My Disney Experience account and app. Anything you do digitally — reservations, mobile orders, Lightning Lane selections, etc. — Disney tracks. They can detect you in specific locations, just more in a checkpoint kind of way and not a “we know you’re going to the bathroom AT THIS VERY MOMENT” kind of way.
MagicBand+!
Disney says they do this for a couple of reasons. Disney uses your location to create interactions with your band, such as a lighting effect for MagicBand+ during nighttime spectaculars. But the company primarily tracks you to enhance guest experience, or so they say. This means taking your data to form trends and adjust the park experience.
MagicBands streamline everything from ride queues to photos to hotel stays. Disney can analyze this data to see crowd flow, ride demand, and even dining trends.
©Guide2WDW
Rest assured: when you aren’t using your MagicBand, there’s nothing Disney can track. So, no, they aren’t spying on you at your house.
Remember, MagicBands are totally optional, and you can definitely operate a park day successfully without them! Do you use MagicBands? How do you feel about Disney “tracking” you? Share your thoughts in the comments below and continue to follow us here at DFB for all the latest Disney World coverage!
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The post Does Disney World Track Your Movement with MagicBands? It’s Complicated. first appeared on the disney food blog.
