Magic is Going RFID?

[Brownski]

I've never run across an RFID system that didn't have the turnstile gates.

Mountain Creek uses hand scanners

 

[LIskibum91]

Mountain Creek uses hand scanners

Saw them at Cannon this year too. First time ever seeing them. So easy to not have to have a barcode scanned.

 

[Andy_ROC]

I've never run across an RFID system that didn't have the turnstile gates.

Holiday Valley went RFiD and don't think they have gates either.

Also I'm almost positive in Feb 2020 there was at least 1 chair at Breck that was no gates and using RFiD scanners.

Correction: Taos uses barcode scanners.

 

[tirolski]

When I got my Ski3 card updated ($43) at Gore yesterday I put it back in the upper left coat pocket.
Went up AE2 twice and got the low boink sound several times but then the higher pitched beep to open the gate each time.
When I was all done skiing found the card on the back seat of the truck & the pocket where the card was supposed to be was not velcroed shut. Card may've fell out when I went back to get ready.
They probably just felt sorry for me to let me get thru and/or checked my pic on their computer and saw I was good to go.
There were no lines.

 

[riverc0il]

I've never run across an RFID system that didn't have the turnstile gates.

Really silly to pay someone to scan tickets instead of buying the gates and saving money over the long run. Cannon was hand scanning this season. Totally dumb and a major pain. I am not a fan of having to buy an RFID card at every area that I ski at. But if I must, then I should get the benefit of not needing to play the scan game with the hand helds (total pain in the ass).

Saddleback also went RFID this season. I suspect we will see all most all Indy areas go RFID eventually, since the company that bought Indy specializes in lift ticketing systems and plans on doing a universal Indy RFID card next season.

 

[Peter Minde]

Here's the problem with RFID cards. The ski center employees have to know how to use the software. Last time I went to Mt van Ho, I took my child with me. I got her day passes. It seemed like a painfully difficult process, and in the end, they didn't charge me.

Now, I'm getting this email: "Laurel, time to reload your season pass!" My kiddo's name? I clicked on the link and entered my RFID card number. They're billing me at the adult rate although this year I qualify for the senior rate. WTAF. @ORDA if you're reading, a reply would be appreciated.

 

[not2brite]

Hunter, Stowe and Okemo all used the hand scanners this year when I went. Seems that’s the Vail way? I would assume a bunch of handheld devices are much cheaper than fixed gates and I would guess this is the way the Indy partners will go. I ski midweek so crowds were never an issue but it would seem easier to control crowds and fully load chairs (here’s looking at you Sno!!) with the scanners since you always have someone in the corral.

 

[MarzNC]

I've never run across an RFID system that didn't have the turnstile gates.

Several of the newer RFID installations are based on hand scanners so that RFID gates didn't need to be installed. Meaning at resorts that are not Epic resorts. One reason VR spent time and money coming up with something different for Epic from the start was to be able to use a different frequency from the standard in 2008 that allowed for hand scanning or gates. Boyne Resorts relatively new dual-frequency RFID for lift access also allows hand scanning. Boyne worked with Axess.

When going through a lift line, hand scanning an RFID card beats having to have a ticket/pass visible. The contrast between Grand Targhee hand scanning based on RFID and what Taos and Snowbasin have to do with "old fashioned" hand scanners was very clear to me this season. The liftie could wave the RFID scanner from a foot or three away, instead of having to be close enough to point directly at the bar code.

 

[MarzNC]

Hunter, Stowe and Okemo all used the hand scanners this year when I went. Seems that’s the Vail way? I would assume a bunch of handheld devices are much cheaper than fixed gates

Yep, the technology used for Epic meant that when VR bought Peak Resorts there was no need to install RFID gates in the northeast. Training lifties and customers . . . that probably took a while. I was at Sunapee for a day during the first season with the RFID hand scanners. It was for a weekend Demo Day event and there were many people who weren't regulars who had no clue where the RFID card should be put in a jacket or ski pants. Saw plenty of times when the liftie just gave up and waved someone through.

When Alta wanted to go to RFID back in the early 2000s, Axess had to come up with RFID gates that could move vertically and move out of the the way so that a groomer could get the snow in the loading area set up for the next day. As I remember the SkiData gates at Mt. Hood Meadows looked quite different.

 

[Adirondack Johnny]

Vatos Locos forever! Forever!