Disney, Verizon to turn the cellphone into a theme-park visitor's tool - LA Times

[Darkbeer]

Disney, Verizon to turn the cellphone into a theme-park visitor's tool - Los Angeles Times

Disney and Verizon bill it as a way to enhance the "theme park experience," enabling parkgoers to use their mobile phones for tasks such as saving a spot in line at a popular ride and zeroing in on where Cinderella can be found signing autographs.

But the service has broad -- and potentially controversial -- implications for marketers and consumers as each attempts to balance the need for information with privacy. The new service has echoes of the futuristic film "Minority Report," in which Tom Cruise's character is inundated with personalized ad messages as he passes interactive billboards in a mall.

Much more at the link.....

But I love this quote...

"This is not us shooting out random messages; it's about the guest experience," said Disney parks spokesman John Nicoletti.

Sounds to me like it is all about selling more food and merchandise, and tracking EVERY guests move in the parks.

[dland_lover]

I don't care if they know where I am or what I'm doing (except for bathroom duties ); I'm not doing anything wrong. I think this is a great idea, even more so because I have Verizon.

[DisneyIPresume]

They had this story last night on the KTLA News At 10.

It was interesting as far as editing goes. They showed the castle from a distance with snow on it. Then they cut to a close-up shot without any snow. They showed Space Mountain a lot for some weird reason and interviewed a couple of people standing in line.

And then they showed a parade going in front of Cinderella Castle!

So much for the coverage on the local LA station...