I spent the majority of the last 30 years in Florida, and the theme parks were a regular past time. Disney World, but also Busch Gardens Tampa, SeaWorld, and Universal. All of them have gone down this path, though Disney is probably the most insidious. At the other parks, even with a paper ticket, your fingerprint is scanned to prevent people from sharing tickets. Disney used to do this too, but they stopped a few years ago. I didn't pay much mind to it, but the article reminded me: they can just use facial recognition.
Visiting Disney parks without using the app is a distinctly inferior experience. This is no accident. It isn't possible anymore to book a dining reservation sans app, likewise to check queue times (unless you walk to the ride entrance), likewise fastpasses. The app is more convenient, but only because they actively make the parks less convenient. The quality of the rides, the scenery, the staff/cast, and the mis en scene have all been slowly degrading over the past 10+ years or so. Despite that, prices nearly doubled I think.
> It isn't possible anymore to book a dining reservation sans app
The website? [0]
> likewise to check queue times (unless you walk to the ride entrance)
There's giant digital signage around the park with wait times? [1]
> likewise fastpasses
Don't exist anymore, but correct (except for CS options in the park) for the new paid version. Previously you could get them at kiosks around the park.
> The quality of the rides, the scenery, the staff/cast, and the mis en scene have all been slowly degrading over the past 10+ years or so.
Visiting Disney parks without using the app is a distinctly inferior experience. This is no accident. It isn't possible anymore to book a dining reservation sans app, likewise to check queue times (unless you walk to the ride entrance), likewise fastpasses. The app is more convenient, but only because they actively make the parks less convenient. The quality of the rides, the scenery, the staff/cast, and the mis en scene have all been slowly degrading over the past 10+ years or so. Despite that, prices nearly doubled I think.