Sandusky, Ohio-based Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. tested a new system this summer called FastPay at its Dorney Park amusement park in Allentown, Pa. FastPay uses wristbands as wearable cash cards that can be used any place in the park where cash registers are located. It contains a radio frequency ID chip that allows visitors to pre-load them with cash amounts ranging from $20 to $100. The wristbands are available for purchase through a machine in the park where they can also be reloaded. The system is designed to encourage impulse spending by making the checkout process at the register faster and more convenient. It also eliminates the need for a customer to reach for his or her wallet, thereby removing the mind-set of spending money and increasing purchases. Additionally, the wristbands can supply parks with data on what their customers are purchasing. RFID wristbands were pioneered at waterparks several years ago for use as fast-pass reservation systems for rides but Cedar Fair is one of the first park chains to use them for cash transactions. If successful, the firm, which owns six waterparks in addition to 11 amusement parks, plans to install FastPay at many of its parks in 2014.
