CptnSkippy wrote:I'd bet a soda (in a refillable mug from 2001) that it's just a serial number that does a lookup against a database that grants the permissions. If it's anything like the access control system I deal with, it'll have a man database that it checks against, but will load all currently active chips in a local database that it can check against in the event of connectivity loss.
LOL...my DH, who works in the circuit board industry, was literally just saying that exact same thing. The RF chips are used a lot in his industry for job tracking and such, and generally all that's on the chip itself is the number...it's the database that's the key element where all the "good stuff" is stored. You'd have to hack the database for a forged mug to be at all useful...and that seems a little extreme to me.
Personally, I've never been able to understand why buying the mug each trip is such a big deal for some of the Board X fanatics that get into flame wars on this subject. I mean, if you don't drink enough soda to make the mug worthwhile, then just buy drinks as you need them and skip the mug. And if it's because you think the mug is too expensive, then Disney isn't where you should be vacationing, 'cause EVERYTHING is expensive there...the mug is the least of your worries. There's also the option to skip drinking soda for a week, or bring your own to keep in your room, etc.
I get why people bring their old refillable mugs from a previous trip and try to use those again...that could be confusion about the rules, or just a "hey, i didn't get my money's worth last time so I want to now" kind of thing. I don't agree, but I can understand why they think it's okay.
I just don't understand why people think filling their big gulp or travel mug from home is okay. I mean, do they fill their Disney mug at 7-11 and walk out without paying?