Don't mind me, just got a bag full of THORPE vesselsFizzy drink fans...the Freestyle machines are now up and running at the park.
Don't mind me, just got a bag full of THORPE vessels
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Actually no, the tags are all cross compatible but it's been deliberately configured not to permit cross site activation.I'm assuming you can pay to activate the chip at any of the parks as the hardware is the same?
Actually no, the tags are all cross compatible but it's been deliberately configured not to permit cross site activation.
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Actually no, the tags are all cross compatible but it's been deliberately configured not to permit cross site activation.
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I think we could possibly see a map vessel once all the RTPs+LLW are on Freestyle.
I believe this is likely what was wanted from launch, but that certain implementation issues may have occurred from the supplier side.
The reading scheme is fantastic as it shows how flexible VALID FILL can be, I believe LL Florida they actually have multiple packages.Both Disney and Universal run systems with NFC cups that work across multiple locations. For Universal one cup works in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, with the same pricing structure as Alton Towers. At Disney it only works in the resort hotels, but it works even if you go over to a different hotel. So I'd be surprised of it is a supplier restriction.
https://www.validfill.com/ is the system used by Disney/Universal and it is being rolled out by Coke Europe using the same systems and mugs as the US parks. University of Reading was one of the first uses in the UK https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/coca-cola-uk-trials-system-to-reduce-soft-drink-packaging/
Both Disney and Universal run systems with NFC cups that work across multiple locations. For Universal one cup works in Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, with the same pricing structure as Alton Towers. At Disney it only works in the resort hotels, but it works even if you go over to a different hotel. So I'd be surprised of it is a supplier restriction.
https://www.validfill.com/ is the system used by Disney/Universal and it is being rolled out by Coke Europe using the same systems and mugs as the US parks. University of Reading was one of the first uses in the UK https://www.themanufacturer.com/articles/coca-cola-uk-trials-system-to-reduce-soft-drink-packaging/
edit to add, its from the launch in 2017, but the pricing at UoR is interesting at basically £1.20 a drink (when buying 10) or £40 a term https://blogs.reading.ac.uk/student...troducing-our-new-sustain-it-reusable-bottle/
I'm not sure if that's the case but it might be useful if I give some information I've uncovered in the process of reverse engineering the tag system.Does anyone do cups that can be used across parks that are further away, such as at both Universal Hollywood and Orlando, or within Six Flags/Cedar Fair parks? In my mind, that's were a potential limitation occurred from a odd design decision.
Does anyone do cups that can be used across parks that are further away, such as at both Universal Hollywood and Orlando, or within Six Flags/Cedar Fair parks? In my mind, that's were a potential limitation occurred from a odd design decision.
I'm not sure if that's the case but it might be useful if I give some information I've uncovered in the process of reverse engineering the tag system.
Each vessel has a location, each machine has a corresponding location I'd which need to match.
The data that permits a refill is written to the tag itself, the machines don't look up on a database to check if they can dispense they just read the vessel.
So distance between venues isn't really an issue, now each machine (Freestyle and the check&charge machines/mini pos's) do keep a record of what transactions they do with bottles but that's for back of house analysis not actually controlling the dispensing.
Now whilst I am might be able to change the location I'd for a vessel it appears by default the check&charge machines lock out cross location vessel handling But that is an additional software restriction that VALIDFILL could adjust to say let a machine at Alton issue a product into a THORPE location vessel such as by changing the location I'd.
The key thing is the location code, now I haven't been able to check an Alton bottle to see if it's a different location code to a THORPE one.It may well be that final software restriction.
There's certainly nothing from a technical perspective I can see what would prevent cross site usage. But there could well be some fairly bad design decision to prevent say a cup from Universal working at Disney, which has had a knock on effect. But it's certainly not something that couldn't be fixed in software.
Update: checked and it appears to be a different location code, but the data seems to be the same format.The key thing is the location code, now I haven't been able to check an Alton bottle to see if it's a different location code to a THORPE one.
If they are the same it's not a technical restriction but a operation decision.
It’s been 12 years since I been Chessington but don’t Tomb Blaster have different load,unload areas and the time it takes to dispatch each train should give staff plenty of time to clean everything down.
It wouldn't surprise me to find that the location code is hard coded into the retail activation unit as a nasty fix to prevent cup usage across parks. If that's the case, then surely Merlin should have just been able to request the same location code for all of their sites.Update: checked and it appears to be a different location code, but the data seems to be the same format.
That is correct. Additionally, in the last few seasons the time taken to dispatch has been so terrible, that they could probably fully sanitise each train and still have time to spare.
It wouldn't surprise me to find that the location code is hard coded into the retail activation unit as a nasty fix to prevent cup usage across parks. If that's the case, then surely Merlin should have just been able to request the same location code for all of their sites.
So we're perhaps verging on no one at Merlin knowing how to do that then? Or an operational decision, so as to allow Towers to charge £2 more per cup than Thorpe.The check and charge machines are configurable with a site id according to the documentation ive seen, no word to if VALIDFILL/CCEP control that or if the venue can configure it themselfs.
Its implied In a few places venues can simply activate a vessel to add extra locations it can be used, the example VALIDFILL show is adding usage at a waterpark onto a vessel purchased at its sister operation.
Operational atm, but I do think once all sites are on the VALIDFILL freestyle system they will then look at a passholder cup, perhaps £15 a cup?So we're perhaps verging on no one at Merlin knowing how to do that then? Or an operational decision, so as to allow Towers to charge £2 more per cup than Thorpe.
Operational atm, but I do think once all sites are on the VALIDFILL freestyle system they will then look at a passholder cup, perhaps £15 a cup?