Season passes are the bread and butter of most amusement parks. Children of all ages will purchase passes at the beginning of the summer with the hope of returning to the park over and over again to take on the latest roller coaster. Even if a person only uses the season pass two or three times, it usually pays for itself.

The demand for season passes can actually put a strain on the park or any other place that offers them. It is important that passes not be duplicated, and it is important that old passes are rejected when people try to use them. Parks benefit from cards that have anti-duplication features in place. They can also benefit from passes that have e-cash capabilities. If a person puts money on his season pass, he is far more likely to splurge on $4.00 pizza slices and drinks. Smart cards can be used to improve security as well as being used as an electronic cash card.

Using Smart Cards for Season Passes

Most smart ID cards can store up to 8K (8,000 bits) of memory on them. This means that a cardholder's personal info will register when he uses his season pass, ensuring that he is, in fact, a season pass holder. The smart card can also function as a debit card, interacting with games, vending machines, and card machines throughout the park. The card can even be used for parking, which can provide people with an added incentive to buy season passes.

One of the most advanced features of the smart card is that it can be rewritten. This means that if a person's season pass expires or if he is denied entrance for some other reason, the card can be altered to reflect that. This guarantees that a person will not get more use out of a pass than was intended. It also makes it more difficult to duplicate the card.