Biometrics

[G00fyDad]

Here's a question I have not been able to find an answer to by searching yet...

If I have a resort ID wit PH, do I still have to use the Biometric scanner? It has my name on it so it is already non-transferrable.

 

[nanatink]

I would not like to use the scanner either. To me it just seems to take up more time. We have had aps and my husband always has to do it again and sometimes show his id. Do you think it is tied in with security?

 

[Jennyvelaz]

Do not have to scan with the old PH. Only with the new MYW passes. We have an old PH with a lot of days and we exchange it with a brother here, or mother there, but the new MYw tickets are tied to your two fingers only!

 

[Jennyvelaz]

I also feel that Disney helps "Big Brother" with all our "new fingerprints" on file but anything we have to do to keep safe is OK with me!

 

[G00fyDad]

I understand that it is only with the MYW. What I wanted to know was do I have to do this if I have a room key for my passes instead of the basic park passes. I mean, do I really need to do the biometric thing even though the room key (that is my park pass) has my name on it?

 

[goofydad621]

With our passes incorperated into our room keys and yes you have to do the Biometric thing every time. Even returning to the park with your hand stamp.

Really didn't slow us down much but they just didn't work well with me, about 50% of the time I had to show a ID.

Hope this helps Dave

 

[oogieboogie]

I also feel that Disney helps "Big Brother" with all our "new fingerprints" on file but anything we have to do to keep safe is OK with me!

Disney doesn't have your fingerprints. The biometrics scans several points and measurements of your fingers, then puts it on the mag strip. That's why you're supposed to squeeze two fingers in the scanner. If it were taking fingerprints, you wouldn't have to squeeze.

 

[starwood]

What type of ID do they require? I don't have a picture drivers license and I'd rather not carry my passport around in the parks.

 

[GoldenOldie]

I understand that it is only with the MYW. What I wanted to know was do I have to do this if I have a room key for my passes instead of the basic park passes. I mean, do I really need to do the biometric thing even though the room key (that is my park pass) has my name on it?

Yes you do. The finger scan verifies to the computer that it is you who is using the ticket and not someone else. If it didn't do that, then anyone could take your resort ID with tickets encoded on it and use them for admission. If you simply don't wish to use the biometrics, you can always opt for showing the gate CM both your resort ID/ticket and your photo ID each time you enter or reenter a park.

 

[WDSearcher]

I understand that it is only with the MYW. What I wanted to know was do I have to do this if I have a room key for my passes instead of the basic park passes. I mean, do I really need to do the biometric thing even though the room key (that is my park pass) has my name on it?

Yes, because Disney doesn't know you by sight, and the biometric scan is used to ensure that you actually ARE the person who's name is on the pass. It's a safety measure for you as well ... if someone picks up your pass or steals it and tries to use it, the biometrics will not match, they'll be asked to show ID, and they'll be stuck trying to explain how they got a pass with your name on it.

 

[WillCAD]

Disney doesn't have your fingerprints. The biometrics scans several points and measurements of your fingers, then puts it on the mag strip. That's why you're supposed to squeeze two fingers in the scanner. If it were taking fingerprints, you wouldn't have to squeeze.

Actually, it doesn't put anything on the magnetic strip, it stores all the info in teh computer.

The magnetic strip on each park pass is simply an identifyer that tells the gate "I am Pass # 123456789A" The WDW computer system keeps a database that says, "Pass #123456789A is a 4-day MYW with park hopping, it is associated with this set of biometric data, and it has been used 2 days. It went into MK this morning at 9:02am and is now going into Epcot at 3:26pm."

The fact that ALL of the passes info is kept on the WDW computer system instead of on the pass itself makes it possible for you to get the pass replaced in the event that you lose it or damage it. You simply have to present the serial number of the pass, and your ID, at a ticket window or Guest Relations window, and they will lock pass #123456789A out of the system and issue you a new pass with the same number of days left on it.

 

[G00fyDad]

Okay. Thanks for the responses everyone. I guess we are all just going to have to have our licenses ready. I planned on getting DD10 an ID card made at the license branch. We'll just have to have them with us and ready to be shown to the CM. I refuse to be one of those people that hold everyone up because I am not prepared.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Actually, it doesn't put anything on the magnetic strip, it stores all the info in teh computer.

The magnetic strip on each park pass is simply an identifyer that tells the gate "I am Pass # 123456789A" The WDW computer system keeps a database that says, "Pass #123456789A is a 4-day MYW with park hopping, it is associated with this set of biometric data, and it has been used 2 days. It went into MK this morning at 9:02am and is now going into Epcot at 3:26pm."

The fact that ALL of the passes info is kept on the WDW computer system instead of on the pass itself makes it possible for you to get the pass replaced in the event that you lose it or damage it. You simply have to present the serial number of the pass, and your ID, at a ticket window or Guest Relations window, and they will lock pass #123456789A out of the system and issue you a new pass with the same number of days left on it.

You just must not believe me! hehehe

I made mention of this in another thread. Your biometrics ARE written onto the pass. If you lose your pass, when you do the biometrics, it re-writes your biometrics to the mag stripe of the new pass. It is one of the few instances that the turnstiles write to the mag stripe, and don't just read it.

 

[WDSearcher]

Okay. Thanks for the responses everyone. I guess we are all just going to have to have our licenses ready. I planned on getting DD10 an ID card made at the license branch. We'll just have to have them with us and ready to be shown to the CM. I refuse to be one of those people that hold everyone up because I am not prepared.

Why do you say, "I guess we are all just going to have to have our licenses ready"? Do you have a problem with the biometrics or think that you'll somehow not be able to use them? Thousands of people go through those turnstiles every day, with hardly any problems.

And, biometrics or no, you don't need to have a photo ID made for your daughter unless she's going to be going to the parks by herself. Any other time you enter the parks together, you show your ID, point to your daughter and say, "This is my daughter," and Disney will believe you. It's commendable, I suppose, that you want to be ready for ANY situation, but you honestly don't need to go through the trouble of getting her an ID card unless you need it for something other than your trip.

 

[G00fyDad]

Why do you say, "I guess we are all just going to have to have our licenses ready"? Do you have a problem with the biometrics or think that you'll somehow not be able to use them? Thousands of people go through those turnstiles every day, with hardly any problems.

And, biometrics or no, you don't need to have a photo ID made for your daughter unless she's going to be going to the parks by herself. Any other time you enter the parks together, you show your ID, point to your daughter and say, "This is my daughter," and Disney will believe you. It's commendable, I suppose, that you want to be ready for ANY situation, but you honestly don't need to go through the trouble of getting her an ID card unless you need it for something other than your trip.

Actually I had planned on having an ID made for her before Disney anyway. In case she is injured and unable to tell the hospital her info.

As for the thousands of people going through those turnstiles every day, with hardly any problems... Do you want to be behind me if I do have a problem waiting for me to retrive my ID from my wallet?

 

[rapriebe]

I was at WDW last week and there was alot of problems with the biometric scanners. Several times my DH card would not work and he had to show ID and mine did not work twice. The CM had to bend the cards, wipe the magnetic strip and kept putting in back into the machine until it finally decided to work. One morning it was cold and the machines were all backed up. The CM mentioned they were having problems due to the cold weather (???). Since we were standing waiting for a long time to get it, I noticed that 2 out of 3 people were having problems that morning. Imagine how long the lines were trying to get into Magic Kingdom in the morning with all the problems on the machines. It wasn't a pretty site and they definately have to work out some problems on the new system.

 

[peter11435]

You just must not believe me! hehehe

I made mention of this in another thread. Your biometrics ARE written onto the pass. If you lose your pass, when you do the biometrics, it re-writes your biometrics to the mag stripe of the new pass. It is one of the few instances that the turnstiles write to the mag stripe, and don't just read it.

Actually, that is not true. They are kept on the WDW computer system. When you get a new pass and put it in it does re-write the biometrics, but only on their system for your new pass, not on the ticket itself. This is also how you can use anyone’s pass in your party. The biometrics are kept in a file on the WDW computer that is connected to every pass you purchased.

 

[G00fyDad]

Actually, that is not true. They are kept on the WDW computer system. When you get a new pass and put it in it does re-write the biometrics, but only on their system for your new pass, not on the ticket itself. This is also how you can use anyone’s pass in your party. The biometrics are kept in a file on the WDW computer that is connected to every pass you purchased.

I dont think the mag strip is rewritten each time either. I do believe that the mag strip on the back is only written once. How can they overwrite your resort info for your charging account to your room? If you use your resort ID to charge things to your room then they would be wiping your resort info off the card.

 

[WDSearcher]

Actually I had planned on having an ID made for her before Disney anyway. In case she is injured and unable to tell the hospital her info.

As for the thousands of people going through those turnstiles every day, with hardly any problems... Do you want to be behind me if I do have a problem waiting for me to retrive my ID from my wallet?

Well ... I don't know. Is that likely to take you hours? Are you "identificationally challenged?" Honestly, most people aren't going to tar and feather you if the biometrics don't work and it takes you 90 sec to get through the turnstile instead of 45.

 

[G00fyDad]

Well ... I don't know. Is that likely to take you hours? Are you "identificationally challenged?" Honestly, most people aren't going to tar and feather you if the biometrics don't work and it takes you 90 sec to get through the turnstile instead of 45.

Okay. You're right, but imagine 20 out of 50 people having the same problem in front of you. Your wait just went from about 15 minutes (your average of 45 seconds for a smooth turnstile entry) to 30 minutes (your average of 90 seconds for a problem entry). That goes up exponentially the more people are in front of you.

I would rather be one of the 30 nonproblem people that arent being groaned at.