I've heard an unconfirmed report from a Cast Member that backstage at DAK are the new turnstile gates that will be installed soon. These use the RFID technology that was tested several months ago at Epcot's turnstiles. In that system, there is no actual "turnstile." You hold up your admission ticket (meaning your hotel card, for those staying at Disney's hotels) to a metal orb on a metal pole, and it flashes green when it recognizes your radio-frequency chip. Then you simply walk through the passageway (which was not, in the Epcot test, blocked off with any physical barriers. There were no "moving parts" to the system).
It's unclear if DAK will be the first to get these new gates, or if I just haven't heard about them at the other parks. There are online reports that new "Keys to the World" cards (ie, hotel cards) will be integrated to all hotels in the coming year. Apparently, it's already there at Contemporary, BoardWalk, Yacht & Beach Club, and Art of Animation.
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Kevin Yee is the author of
numerous independent Disney books, including the popular
Walt Disney World Earbook series and
Walt Disney World Hidden History.
