finger scan

[PRaffen]

In discussing our upcoming trip, I mentioned to my DS (age 26) about the finger scan. This "intrusion" bothered him. He is very much a Libertarian and was really quite annoyed about it. Is he just a paranoid New Yorker or do others find this (in his words) a bit orwellian?

 

[Cinderella94]

I don't have a problem with it.

 

[Silver Queen]

No problem here. It's not a finger print.

 

[Robo]

In discussing our upcoming trip, I mentioned to my DS (age 26) about the finger scan. This "intrusion" bothered him. He is very much a Libertarian and was really quite annoyed about it. Is he just a paranoid New Yorker or do others find this (in his words) a bit orwellian?

It is not a fingerprint.

Disney only stores a NUMBER that is associated with the scan.

The next time the finger is scanned, the computer looks to see if that
new scan's "number" matches the previous "number" to see that nobody else is trying to use the ticket.

No fingerprint info that could be used by a court of law is taken or stored by Disney.

If a guest does not want to use the scanner, they can opt for showing a legal photo ID.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If a guest does not want to use the scanner, they can opt for showing a legal photo ID.

When I went to Hollywood Studios in December 2008 with one of my friends he asked if he could do that and the Cast Member said no.

 

[cdrn1]

I guess I figure it's their park...if they want to scan my finger it's their prerogative. If I don't like it I can go to SeaWorld instead...

 

[Robo]

When I went to Hollywood Studios in December 2008 with one of my friends he asked if he could do that and the Cast Member said no.

And we all know just how reliable and accurate a "random CM's" info can be.

If it's a problem, they can't "make you" do the scan,
but it's pretty silly to worry about such an overtly innocuous thing.

 

[jennipooh]

As others said, the GOVERNMENT ISSUED photo ID is an option. Either way Big Brother has his eye on you. JK. But don't get my father started....

OT.... I cut my finger and had a little bandage on it when I first used my AP last year so I just used my thumb. At AK back in Dec a CM saw me getting ready to use my thumb and tried to correct me. When I told him that my thumb print was what they had on file he said that they weren't supposed to let me do it that way. Anyway since then when the scanner lights up for my print I try to do it quickly so I don't have to explain myself. Does anyone know if it really matters which digit you use?

 

[theatermouse]

Heck, when I was in WDW this past March, we couldn't get the finger scan to work on me no matter what park we were at! The CM always had to override it somehow. Worked fine for my husband but not for me! Was a pain in the butt!

 

[Robo]

At AK back in Dec a CM saw me getting ready to use my thumb and tried to correct me. When I told him that my thumb print was what they had on file he said that they weren't supposed to let me do it that way.

And we all know just how reliable and accurate a "random CM's" info can be.

(Must be an echo in here.)

Does anyone know if it really matters which digit you use?

It does not matter in the least.

Whichever finger you FIRST use on the first day of a new ticket, just
CONTINUE to use that same finger for the life of that ticket.

 

[DebbieB]

I was behind someone going through the International Gateway last month and he was having a little bit of a problem with the scan. After he gets through he says to the woman he was with "I bet it's an Obama trick, a new way to get ID". Problem with that theory is it started years ago!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

And we all know just how reliable and accurate a "random CM's" info can be.

If it's a problem, they can't "make you" do the scan,
but it's pretty silly to worry about such an overtly innocuous thing.

My friend knew about showing photo ID if you don't want to do the scan, so he was just testing the Cast Member to see what they would have said. That's why he didn't start saying it was his right not to do the finger scan, so he doesn't mind doing it.

 

[doconeill]

It does not matter in the least.

Whichever finger you FIRST use on the first day of a new ticket, just
CONTINUE to use that same finger for the life of that ticket.

My FiL used his middle finger accidentally at first, and CMs kept trying to correct him for the rest of the trip. I always had to follow him, to remind him which finger (and which card - another story) to use, and to stop the CMs from "correcting" him.

 

[MHSweb79]

Whether or not Big Brother is watching your DS, when you're on Disney property you get to play by Disney rules. He may or may not be allowed to show photo ID instead, but that's just as intrusive as a fingerprint "number" in my book.
Bottom line: Disney has the right to prevent people from sharing tickets. If your DS isn't comfortable with their procedures, he can vacation somewhere else. Not being snarky, just pointing out that he has his choices too.

 

[winterman]

In discussing our upcoming trip, I mentioned to my DS (age 26) about the finger scan. This "intrusion" bothered him. He is very much a Libertarian and was really quite annoyed about it. Is he just a paranoid New Yorker or do others find this (in his words) a bit orwellian?

This issue has come up before. I find it interesting that many of the people who find it "intrusive" are the same ones who partake in Twitter and face book and the other things out there that people use to share every tiny detail of there life.

 

[mattsdragon]

Ask your son what he's got to worry about. If you don't do anything wrong, does it matter if Disney stores a biometric algorythem that corresponds to his finger?

People who worry about these petty things usually have some other reason to be paranoid.

 

[jjarman]

My brother is another one who is paranoid. I am a libertarian also but figure it is Disneyworld. If they need my fingerprint, shoe size and a drop of blood I am giving it to them.

But...our trip in January I plan on letting DB be the last in line the first few times until I see how he acts. Then if he refuses he can just wait there and argue to his heart's content while we go and have fun.

 

[Axel]

I have no problem with it. It is a legitimate way to prevent ticket sharing, which is what Disney's goal was. When people can't ticket share, Disney doesn't lose money.

In response to a PP who said that many of those who have a problem with it are twitter and facebook users...I have both. And so do many of my friends and none of us have a problem with it.

 

[larryz]

Your librarian son should be more concerned about the unobtrusive and hard-to-spot video cameras.
And then, of course, there are the brain wave scanners...

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The finger scans are used to tie a person to a particular ticket. This will work to prevent people switching or selling tickets. It also eliminates the need for hand stamps for reentry to a park or hopping between parks.

First of all, Child (Age 3-9) and certain other tickets, such as the YES Program, do not take scans and will unlock the turnstile if they are valid for the park.

The first time a ticket is used it will read the fingerprint and select an area about 1/4 inch by 1/8 inch and analyze that area.

It will then apply a mathematical algorithm to that reading, convert it to a numeric string, and store that string of numbers tied to the serial number of the ticket in the Automated Ticketing System (ATS) computer.

On subsequent entries ATS will look for that particular string on the ticket. If it finds it, the turnstile will unlock and a green light will come on.

If ATS cannot find that string, a message will show up of "identification fails". At that point the greeter will have several options; one of these is to tell ATS to replace the numeric string tied to the ticket with a new once based on the most recent scan.

If MYW tickets were purchased at WDW directly from ATS in one transaction they may be linked together, in which case the people can switch the tickets, but don’t count on this working.

And there are times when the lines are very long and management may decide to turn off the scanners for a while, in which case as long as the ticket is valid for that park it will be accepted without a scan.

If a person does not want to have their finger scanned, as an alternative they may present a photo ID where the name matches the name printed on the ticket. If it is a Florida Resident Ticket or an Annual Pass the name will automatically be printed on the ticket. If the name is not preprinted on the ticket, the ticket owner should print their name (in ink) legibly in the space provided on the ticket.

Note that this is not a full fingerprint record, and the partial print still has about a one in a thousand chance of being duplicated.