Universal's MyMagic+: Consolidating Ticketing, Hotels, and Express with Wrist Bands

A few years ago Parkscope reported about Universal patents for queue management systems and other MyMagic+ (MM+) features. This year we've heard several reports of plans for Universal to implement resort wide ticketing improvements project that will consolidate theme park and hotel ticketing into one universal (pun not intended) system. Wrist bands or other RFID technology will be used in addition to recent tests of face recognition technology.

Volcano Bay's TapuTapu is an early test of a park wide implementation of the system. Here Universal can test the wrist band system and implementations in a low capacity form before rolling out to existing parks. Additionally Universal has trademarked "Universal Pay", a term that could be used for Universal's tap to pay system for phones and possibly wristbands.

What is unknown by us is the behind the scenes infrastructure for linking an account to a band and if FastPass+ (FP+), the most controversial change at Disney, will be implemented. Disney's MM+ uses My Disney Experience (MDX) for its backbone. This has caused issues for guests as accounts become unlinked and system wide crashes cripple the infrastructure. FP+ allows guests to book attraction return times 60 days in advance for their visit, but issues arise when attractions go down or don't hit hourly capacity estimates and causes long wait times for all.

What is also unknown how Universal ExpressPass, their front of the line pass, will fold into this program. We expect the system to remain and implement face recognition technology instead of scanning tickets for verification.

Follow Parkscope for more information as we hear it and tune in to our podcast for the latest information for parks and rides around the country.