Fingerprint

[zinguy]

What's with the fingerprint reader as you're entering MK? Does it really scan your fingerprint and, if so, is it kept on file?

 

[DebbieB]

What's with the fingerprint reader as you're entering MK? Does it really scan your fingerprint and, if so, is it kept on file?

It's not a fingerprint, it's a measurement of the bone. Verifies that the same person uses the ticket each time.

 

[nytimez]

The fingerprint is just a distraction while a cast member implants a microchip behind your ear.

 

[vicki_c]

This post has an excellent explanation from Cheshire Figment of how it works:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2593419&highlight=fingerprint

It's just 5-6 posts down in the thread.

 

[puffkins]

It's not a fingerprint, it's a measurement of the bone. Verifies that the same person uses the ticket each time.

I have used my wife's 10-day pass several times when I travel by myself. If it really does store information, it's only for the same day.

 

[tjmj9801]

The fingerprint is just a distraction while a cast member implants a microchip behind your ear.

 

[CleveRocks]

I have used my wife's 10-day pass several times when I travel by myself. If it really does store information, it's only for the same day.

Well then that would defeat the whole purpose of the finger scan in the first place. I'll bet that you also bought a ticket at the same time in the past that your wife bought that 10-day ticket. Tickets purchased together and initially activated together often have their finger scans linked. In doing so, Disney helps reduce the inevitable delays at the turnstile when a Mom hands out the family's tickets and messes up who's ticket is who's.

Quickly, it doesn't take a pic of your fingerprint, and it no longer measures bones (that was the old one). It takes a look at 2 or 3 points on your fingerprint, measures the distances between them, and then puts that data through a proprietary algorithm to arrive at a number, referred to in the industry as a "hash." The hash is a meaningless number except in this exact context, so it's not like Disney is storing any personal data about you. There are only about 1,000 different hashes, so there is roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance you could successfully use a stranger's ticket (when the finger scans are in operation), but that's good enough for Disney in deterring the sale or distribution of partially-used multi-day tickets.

 

[duffy]

The fingerprint is just a distraction while a cast member implants a microchip behind your ear.

 

[vicki_c]

Well then that would defeat the whole purpose of the finger scan in the first place. I'll bet that you also bought a ticket at the same time in the past that your wife bought that 10-day ticket. Tickets purchased together and initially activated together often have their finger scans linked. In doing so, Disney helps reduce the inevitable delays at the turnstile when a Mom hands out the family's tickets and messes up who's ticket is who's.

Yes, this. And that doesn't always work anyway - we have mixed up tickets at the turnstile (that were all purchased in one transaction) and had issues. So sometimes that grouping thing seems to work and sometimes it doesn't, for whatever reason. It definitely stores the info long-term, not for a day.

 

[buckbart]

Definetely stores the info ... my husband used the opposite index finger numerous times, just becuase of the way he was entering and it wouldn't accept it. He had to switch the child to the other hand and use the original finger.

 

[SDSorority]

I have lost a significant amount of weight from the last time we used our 10 day NE Park Hoppers 2 years ago. Am I going to need to exchange my tickets for new ones at Guest Relations, just to be safe?

 

[2TinyWings]

Quickly, it doesn't take a pic of your fingerprint, and it no longer measures bones (that was the old one). It takes a look at 2 or 3 points on your fingerprint, measures the distances between them, and then puts that data through a proprietary algorithm to arrive at a number, referred to in the industry as a "hash." The hash is a meaningless number except in this exact context, so it's not like Disney is storing any personal data about you. There are only about 1,000 different hashes, so there is roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance you could successfully use a stranger's ticket (when the finger scans are in operation), but that's good enough for Disney in deterring the sale or distribution of partially-used multi-day tickets.

That is very fascinating. Thank you for taking the time to explain it. My husband and I have been curious about how this works.

 

[whitneyNC]

Safe from what? Your bone didn't lose weight and if you have trouble with the finger scan, they still let you through!

 

[kaligal]

Disney used to tell people they were measuring bones or the distance between the bones. A lot of people believed it then and still do. However, Disney is now admitting to using fingerprints.

Of course they store the info. If they didn't, anyone could use the thing and there'd be point to holding everyone up and making entering their parks such a drag.

 

[chartle]

I have lost a significant amount of weight from the last time we used our 10 day NE Park Hoppers 2 years ago. Am I going to need to exchange my tickets for new ones at Guest Relations, just to
be safe?

Getting new tickets won't change a thing. The finger scan is not on the ticket but in the main computers.

 

[bradk]

there is no finger scan stored as mentioned above. it's a numeric calculation based on key points of the fingerprint. a number is stored on the card. it re-calculates the number each time you use the scanner and if the result matches the number stored on the card, you're in.

it's just how like passwords are typically stored. not as clear text (i.e. if your password is 'password,' it shouldn't read 'password' in the database) but generally as an md5-type hash, so that anyone with access to the database can't see your password. instead, when you re-enter 'password' at login, it re-hashes the password to see if the two hashed values match.

Now what this means in both cases is that it's very possible to have a false positive, but the odds are small enough that the system is mostly successful.

it's also probably worth noting that the parks often shut off the scan requirements, particularly at rope drop, to move the crowds in faster.

 

[dunbarfamily]

The fingerprint is just a distraction while a cast member implants a microchip behind your ear.

 

[PhotobearSam]

The fingerprint is just a distraction while a cast member implants a microchip behind your ear.

I just spit milk out my nose...thanks

 

[kmadams]

Well then that would defeat the whole purpose of the finger scan in the first place. I'll bet that you also bought a ticket at the same time in the past that your wife bought that 10-day ticket. Tickets purchased together and initially activated together often have their finger scans linked. In doing so, Disney helps reduce the inevitable delays at the turnstile when a Mom hands out the family's tickets and messes up who's ticket is who's.

Quickly, it doesn't take a pic of your fingerprint, and it no longer measures bones (that was the old one). It takes a look at 2 or 3 points on your fingerprint, measures the distances between them, and then puts that data through a proprietary algorithm to arrive at a number, referred to in the industry as a "hash." The hash is a meaningless number except in this exact context, so it's not like Disney is storing any personal data about you. There are only about 1,000 different hashes, so there is roughly a 1 in 1,000 chance you could successfully use a stranger's ticket (when the finger scans are in operation), but that's good enough for Disney in deterring the sale or distribution of partially-used multi-day tickets.

Well, I don't know about the above situation but when we were there a couple of weeks ago I accidently used my son's ticket and got through just fine. And we did not buy the tickets at the same time/place. I have an annual pass and he had a 10 day pass.

 

[CleveRocks]

Disney used to tell people they were measuring bones or the distance between the bones. A lot of people believed it then and still do. However, Disney is now admitting to using fingerprints.

It's not like they used to deny it and now they admit it. It's a totally different system now than it used to be. When they started it with MYW tickets in 2005, you had to lay your index finger and middle finger onto a metal or plastic plate around some sort of divider ... THIS contraption definitely did measure the lengths of bones and then ran those numbers through an algorithm to arrive at a meaningless hash.

The newest system uses a small glass pad to look at aspects of your fingerprint.

So it's not like they tried to hide it and finally admitted it ... the old system didn't use fingerprints at all, the new one does. It's completely different hardware.