Rumor: Disney's Hollywood Studios parades closed due to wireless technology interference?

Leah Zanolla | Posted: Apr 8, 2013 | Updated: Oct 19, 2014 - 9:25:27 AM

Two parades at Disney's Hollywood Studios performed for the last time this weekend - the Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun! parade and the Disney Channel Rocks parade/show. These were cancelled on fairly short notice, and nothing has been announced to take their place. Typically, when announcing a closure, Disney would also announce the coming of a new show/parade and several weeks after the first one shut down, the new attraction would debut. According to this thread on the DISboards, there is a possibility that the two parades were cancelled because of interference between the parades' electronics and performers' wireless microphones with the RFID card readers at the front gates. The original poster on the thread said, "The Pixar Parade would come in close to the entry gates; the Disney Channel Rocks would both come in and depart close to the entry gates." The new turnstiles use RFID (radio frequency ID) technology to scan guests' ticket media for park admission. This poster also mentioned that the same thing is happening at Disney's Animal Kingdom. The electronics in that parade are interfering with the RFID payment devices in the merchandise locations. As of now, this is all speculation. Other thoughts are that the parade cancellation is due to budget cuts, lack of popularity, or the addition of a new attraction.