Hand stamp

[tinkb182]

Do you have to get your hand stamped for park hopping?

 

[KristinU]

Yes, unless you have an AP (where they use the biometric finger scan to be sure you're you ) Of course, my crazy DH always gets a stamp even when we have APs because he likes to see them in attractions with black light! LOL!

 

[tinkb182]

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

Don't forget to take your ticket when you hop to the next park. I can't tell you how many people I have seen yelling at the entrance because they feel since they have a hand stamp they should be able to enter the park. You need the ticket in addition to the hand stamp.

 

[SherGoof]

During the past two weeks - no one ever checked for the hand stamp - just put ticket through.

 

[safetymom]

The lamp is usually positioned in a way that they can see the hand stamp when you go through. Sometimes if they are having a hard time you may be asked to position your hand, arm under the lamp.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

No hand stamp needed if you have a Park Hopper ticket.

 

[safetymom]

Yes you do need a hand stamp if you have a park hopper. You don't if you have an AP because they do a finger scan.

They want to know that you are the person that used the ticket earlier in the day.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

Interesting...we have never, ever got the hand stamps at WDW and we have park hopped for years.

In fact, we were told by a CM we didn't need to as long as we had PHs.

I hope we aren't WDW outlaws.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=564500&highlight=+hand++stamp

There are quite a few threads on the DIS about hand stamps and park hoppers. The one I pasted has comments by a CM.

How hard is it to get your hand stamped? That way if the computers are down you won't have any problem getting into the park.

Also remember people that if you get your hand stamped you still need to bring your tickets. I can't tell you the number of irate people insisting they don't need their tickets at the turnstile because they have a hand stamp.

There is a sign at the turnstiles at MK, that mentions you need a hand stamp and ticket to reenter MK.

 

[a Really Bad Egg]

The answer to the original question is "no, you do not have to get a hand stamp to park hop."

It may be there as a protection, and it may not be difficult to get one, but it doesn't prevent you from park hopping if you don't. The CMs don't check for it.

Should you? Well, now, that is an entirely different question.

...a Really, Really Bad Egg

 

[SueM in MN]

Originally posted by a Really Bad Egg
The answer to the original question is "no, you do not have to get a hand stamp to park hop."

It may be there as a protection, and it may not be difficult to get one, but it doesn't prevent you from park hopping if you don't. The CMs don't check for it.

Should you? Well, now, that is an entirely different question.

...a Really, Really Bad Egg

The answer is "no, you don't have to get a hand stamp to park hop if you have an AP, but if you have any other multi-park ticket, you do."
CMs have posted that they DO check for handstamps, often with lights positioned so that they can see the handstamp, but you don't notice. They do sometimes ask people to re-position their hands so that the CM can see the stamp better and there may be times when the handstamp is not looked for, but in general, if they look and you don't have one + a ticket, you will not be getting in.
I have personally seen people get "caught" when the computer read their ticket and indicated the ticket had been already used for park entrance that day, but they did not have a hand stamp. I don't know what happened to them after, but I do know that it was noticed.
There are signs at the exits to all the parks indicating you need a hand stamp AND a ticket for re-entry to the parks. Also, on our last trip, announcements made reminding people to get their hands stamped for park hopping when we rode the monorail, parking tram and buses.

 

[summerrluvv]

"There is a sign at the turnstiles at MK, that mentions you need a hand stamp and ticket to reenter MK."

"Re-enter" being the keyword here. I've never gotten my handstamped at a particular park I didn't plan on returning to that day. Never had a problem either In fact, I've probably only gotten my hand stamped a couple of times my last three trips and no one has ever questioned it.

Is this another one of the those threads where the people on the board care more about it than Disney does?

 

[safetymom]

You might feel differently if you got to a park and the system was down or a CM decided he/she needed to see a hand stamp before they could admit you.

I have seen it happen quite a few times at MK where they weren't allowed in. It may not happen to you but it has happened to others. You and everyone else are free to do what you will but don't say you didn't know that there was a request for a handstamp posted in the park.

 

[toystorymom]

On our last visit we were leaving the AK at closing, I asked the CM at the gates if we needed handstamps because we were going to Epcot for Illuminations. He said that you only needed the stamp for reentering the same park and since AK was closing, we didn't need one.

The times we've park hopped, I think I've had my hand stamp looked at once.

I'm not saying they don't do it as Safety Mom said, I'm just telling my experience.

 

[jimmybop]

hand stamps prevent people from handing off their ticket to someone else to use during the same day. In theory 4 people could go into the park, one could then leave with all 4 tickets and then bring another 3 into the park.... Handstamps prevent this because you can only get a hand stamp after you are in the park. Although it does not look like they are checking handstamps, the light on the turnstyle is in such a way so when you grab your ticket after it spits it out, your hand goes right under the light, so the CM can check it with out asking or with being 3 to 4 turnstyles away.

 

[princess pooh]

During my last trip in August the CMs were checking handstamps everyday we went to the parks. I have an AP but I noticed that CMs asked some people to put their hand under some kind of a light before they could go through the gates. I was surprised because I've never seen them check before .

 

[Keebles]

I know I keep retelling this story, but it was quite traumatic. I'll keep it short this time.

Back story, due to a horrific divorce and a crazed ex, I had developed a social anxiety disorder and tended to have panic attacks in public. But I loved Disney more than anything and truly wanted to go.

When my Mom and I went in 2000, I didn't know about the hand-stamping process (or maybe I was so excited about being there, I didn't listen when the CM told me about it). Trying to enter Epcot after leaving MK became my awakening. I had a very rude, older gentleman (and I use the term loosely) CM who litterally took my head off for not getting my hand stamped. He just kept on and kept on until this younger CM came over and told him to drop it, enough was enough. He wasn't gonna let me in!! Needless to say, I did go in, but only to catch up with my Mother who made it fine (her hand wasn't stamped either). I was in full-blown panic attack mode and my Mother couldn't get a word out of me. We just turned around and went out the door, got back on the bus, and headed back to the room. Only when we got to the room was I able to tell her what happened. She called the front desk, but without a name, she couldn't help us. I was too scared to go back to Epcot after that.

But, now that I'm so much better, I was looking for that jerk in January (to no avail). But needless to say, I did get my hand stamped upon exiting every park, even when the CM said I didn't have to, I told them, "yes, I do, thanks".

 

[GQQFY]

As a former Guest Relations Cast Member, may I share my knowledge?

You need a ticket to enter the parks. Easy enough.

When you enter your first park, the computer marks the day as used. Still easy.

When you park hop and re-enter the same ticket you used at the first attraction, the computer recognizes that the day has already been marked as used and lets you in. Your eyebrows may be raising now.

Let's say you made it into the first park with no problem and decided half-way through the day that you wanted to park hop. On your way out of the park, you did not get your hand stamped. No crime, but here comes the clincher.

You arrive at the second park of the day and suddenly realize that the computer system that runs the turnstiles (ATS) is DOWN! Whoa! Can you belive it. Then the Park Greeters go into what is called "Manual Mode." When you present your ticket to the Park Greeter for entry, one of two things are going to get you in: 1) If you have used your ticket already that day, they MUST see your handstamp as proof that you were already at a park. They really don't care which one at this point. If you have a hand stamp, you're in! Easy as pie!.....But YOU didn't get your hand stamped. (Shame on you...) If you can not prove that you were already in a park once, they have to manually mark a day as used on your ticket. They will hole punch your ticket on the magnetic strip and write or stamp the current date on your ticket. 2) If it is your first entry of the day, then they are simply going to hole-punch your magnetic strip, date stamp the ticket, tell you to stop by Guest Relations later to have the ticket replaced and tell you to have a Magical Time. Stick with me here...

Back to example 1: Now, you have a ticket that will not work until you get it replaced. You will have to take that ticket to a Guest Relations location and have it re-issued. When the Guest Relations Cast Member sees the hole punch and the stamped date on the ticket, they are going to reissue the ticket and electronically take the day that was stamped, off of your balance.

Now remember, since you couldn't prove that you already entered another park by showing your handstamp, there is no other way to prevent another day from being marked used on your ticket. Assuming of course, Guest Relations can't find the previous entey in the ATS system either.

Here's the good news: In my 3 years in Guest Relations, I only experienced "Manual Mode" THREE times. Most Guests will naturally be led to believe that there is no real reason for the hand stamp. I used to shake my head at those unfortunate Guests.

Besides, if our Cast Members had a dollar for every scammer that walked up to the exit and said, "I forgot to get my hand stamped!" they would be millionaires!

And THAT Ladies and Gentlemen is WHY you should get your hand stamped on your way out of the park. Even if you are running to the car to get some baby food!

GQQFY

 

[jmclester]

These posts bring up an interesting question that I don't think anyone has touched on. How many times per day do you need to get your hand stamped? If you park hop more than once do you get your hand stamped every time you leave a park or only the first time??