Here now...

[MIDisFan]

I was always under the impression that Disney World installed the finger scanners to prevent the resale of unused multi day tickets. Is there some reason or perhaps law in California that prevents Disneyland from using finger scanners?

 

[Bellestreak]

I am here now too, currently lounging in my cozy room at the GC. I had a bit of a frustrating experience at the gates yesterday too. We went for EMH at DCA and it went smoothly, they were taking/checking pictures. No delays getting in. But after an hour we decided to rent a stroller. So i had to exit the park. I couldn't believe the crowds and lines!! After I got the stroller, i got in line and it was moving, but slowly. But when I got near the gate the CM taking pictures said her system was down and they were checking photo ID. I had mine, but the CMs were so flustered she didn't look at it. They were all shouting to each other back and forth and generally confused as to what to do. It was chaotic. Made it out and back in in about forty five minutes. I felt bad for the CMs I'm sure they got yelled at too. It was a little rough.
But we had an amazing day overall!! The rest of the day we went out and in the GC entrance and the pictures were working and it was easy.

 

[mmmears]

I was always under the impression that Disney World installed the finger scanners to prevent the resale of unused multi day tickets. Is there some reason or perhaps law in California that prevents Disneyland from using finger scanners?

I'm wondering the same thing. While it does take a little longer to get into the parks, it's nothing like the mess that DL sounds like right now...

 

[emacat]

I was always under the impression that Disney World installed the finger scanners to prevent the resale of unused multi day tickets. Is there some reason or perhaps law in California that prevents Disneyland from using finger scanners?

That's what I've heard too. We have WDW plans for late June, and may have to reschedule due to my changing jobs. My dd is pushing to go back to DL again, but I hope this is sorted by then.

 

[MateasMom]

Yeah, the picture thing was kinda a hot mess this weekend. We weren't super delayed (but didn't enter at peek morning hours on any day), but we were for sure delayed. What's worse, though, there was a lot of bickering amongst cast members about procedure, where to stand, whether or not to have one gate open per turnstile 'pair'. In most instances there was just one ID check/picture taking CM per pair, and both turnstile CM, so the one just stood there since the ID check/picture taking CM obviously works slower than the turnstile CM, so there wasn't much demand for the two of them. I thought the whole thing, the process, the bickering CMs, were all kinds of odd/un Disneylike.

That said, we weren't terribly inconvenienced because none of our entrances (we're compulsive hoppers) were at peak hours, so it was only a 5 or so minute wait each time.

 

[fbb]

At the GC now as well. The entry system is indeed terrible. Yesterday my wife and I had our picture taken four times. Not really a huge deal but you would expect them to be able to execute their own system.

 

[pharmama]

I was always under the impression that Disney World installed the finger scanners to prevent the resale of unused multi day tickets. Is there some reason or perhaps law in California that prevents Disneyland from using finger scanners?

No law. Many other parks in CA use the fingerprint scanners (I've encountered them at Sea World and at least one other park but I can't remember where).

I believe WDW is in the process of testing and implementing a new ticketing system based on RFID bracelets. My guess is that Disney is not putting in fingerprint scanners at DLR because they are going to implement the new system (MyMagic?) as well. So it's not worth it to install the fingerprint scanners for a relatively short time.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[kangamama]

I sure hope they get this straightened out by Saturday when I get there!

 

[pharmama]

I sure hope they get this straightened out by Saturday when I get there!

Don't count on that! This has been going on since early January.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[awdsmama]

With any luck it will be straightened out by our trip in October haha

 

[lsulindy]

I'm curious about this as well. We have a group of 6 with 5 day park hoppers and are arriving weds afternoon, but not going to the parks until rope drop thursday. I'll be very frustrated and annoyed if it takes an hour to get into the park, also I'll feel horrible for the ppl behind us in line!

We had 7 people (6 ticketed plus a two year old in a stroller). We had our at home printed tickets in hand. There was a CM working the gate and another CM with the camera phone in front of the gate. We were a few people back in line and I motioned to the camera CM that we had new, print-at-home tickets. Thinking he could come do our pics while the people ahead of us went through. He said that the CM working the gate will check to see if we need pics. I'm thinking "I'm holding printed 5 day tickets. It's obvious we need pics." So, we get up to the gate CM and she scans the first ticket and then looks at the front CM and says "Oooh, they're going to need pics?" He says "They do? Really?" She says "Yes" He says "Oh ok, I guess you do need pictures." I'm like "Yes, we sure do"

So, I had purchased 4 of the tickets with my credit card. They print my ticket first b/c my name was on the order and my name automatically printed on my ticket, then I go through the gate (I went through the swing open gate rather than the turnstile b/c I'm pushing ds) I stand on the inside of the swing open gate while the photo CM stands on the outside and takes my pic and scans the ticket. Then, he gives the ticket back to the gate CM and she scans it for entry. Then they ask DH for his license. He shows his license and then they ask him to spell his name out loud. He spells it twice, she repeats. Finally they print his ticket. He goes through the turnstile, then around the turnstile to stand behind the swing open gate where the camera CM takes his pick from the other side of the gate, then the camera CM gives his ticket back to the main CM who scans it. He then stands there and spells my daughter's name twice, CM repeats, once they have her name, they print her ticket, she goes through the turnstile, around by the gate and takes her picture, gives ticket back to be scanned, and again for my son.

Here's a pic I snapped when DH is spelling DD's name. This is our whole group's first time ever in Disneyland, we had just been singing and dancing on our walk in. Look at everyone's faces... You can kind of see the camera CM behind the gate CM.

So our crew is through, and DH is complaining to me about what a ridiculous system they have. We've moved a little bit away so as not to clog the walkway while we wait for my parents. And we realize that something is not right. My mom is on her scooter, so my dad had handed the CM their tickets. I have a credit card of my parents issued to me in my name. I was supposed to use this card to buy their tickets. However, I'd read here that the credit card name is printed on one ticket. So, I called my mom to find out exactly how her name read on her card and put her name on the order instead of mine. Well, since my dad handed them the tickets, they gave him her ticket and took his pic for it. So, he had to wait for a manager to come over and reissue his ticket with his name. All this time everyone who was in our line, AP, people with 1 day tickets, people who'd already had their picture taken, etc had to wait.

That was Saturday evening. Sunday we sight-see in LA. Monday we head to DCA for rope drop. We get to the front of the line, hand our tickets over to the turnstile CM, and she hands ticket to photo CM and says "Looks like it's these guys first time in the parks! They need their photos taken!" So, DH says no, we took photos Saturday, and she says "Well it looks like you need them again!" Everyone had to retake their pics except for my dad, somehow his reissued ticket had his pic. So, we've already used a day off of our ticket, we already have our names printed on them, but the CM didn't realize that we'd already been in the parks. And, then just reattached new pics to the tickets without doing any verification. DH's ticket could have said Marty McFly and she'd just have taken his pic and let us go on our way. I know a fraudster can't count on that glitch, but we could have rented/borrowed/stolen anyone's tickets and gotten in that day. We were never again asked for ID after the first day.

Once again, people behind us who were APs or had already taken pics had to wait through the whole thing.

Then Tuesday right as MM is starting (we were a little later than we wanted to be that day), we walk up to lines crossing the plaza. The DL lines were butting into the DCA lines (which were very small b/c DCA wasn't opening for another hour). I walk up to a CM at a exit only gate to the side before we enter the crowds with our crew and ask her which line we should be in for MM. She says "Hmmm... I think Magic Morning is 2 or maybe it's 16. Um yeah. 2 or 16." So, DH takes off into the crowd to go look at the signs at the gate. (there were signs above the gates, but the lines were so long that you couldn't see them from the end of the line) He comes back and says this line had a Magic Morning sign and we should get in that one. (I think it was 22) Once we get in line, there are irate people everywhere. All had stories of waiting in the wrong line when that's the line a CM had told them they should be in. Well, the line is moving, but it is SLOW. At one point a CM passes by and the man behind us asks "I've changed lines 3 times already, is this the line for Magic Morning" Response "You know that is a good question... I'm not sure about that." DH goes to the front to see what's going on and comes back, says that most people in the line do not have Magic Morning, so we're standing there waiting while they argue with CMs b/c they can't get in. We had been the only moving line, but barely moving. Two CMs start coming through the line and we see them forming another line to the side of us. When they get to us, we see that they're trying to sort out the people in the line who don't have MM and forming another line of those people. So, the line is still crawling, but we're much closer to the gate. Meanwhile, there's this random line on the side of us and people who are just getting to the plaza are very confused and have no idea where to go or even how to get there through the sea of lines. Well, all of a sudden all the other lines start moving quickly through the gates and we're still crawling. I guess they started letting in the regular entry guests at this time. We finally make it through the gates 45 minutes after getting in line, and 45 minutes into our "Magic Morning"

On Wednesday, we didn't have problems but our line was moving very slowly. The line next to us started flying, and we realized that our section had 2 lines, one for each turnstile, but the line next to us had one line that was feeding two turnstiles. The tall gate was closed as if the second turnstile wasn't open, but a CM was working it and pulling from the other turnstile's line. Our CM was also taking a very long time studying peoples faces and pics. It took us about 20 minutes to get in. Probably wouldn't have been a big deal, except we'd already really soured to the process.

This was 2 weeks ago. Things might have changed, but it seems the process was less efficient for us than it was when they first started doing pics in January rather than more. I was thinking that when we got there, they'd have smoothed out the process, but that wasn't the case.

 

[aroundtheriverbend]

I was going to ask there same question. In fact I sent an email to Disney asking them. Just sent it tonight have to wait and see.

Any luck on a response?

 

[mysteriouspnai]

lsulindy, thanks for your report! It's rare that someone types up a complete picture of what the process really is like. I would send the report to Disney letting them know your experience with the new system. Don't expect anything for fear of other DISers who might think you have a sense of "entitlement" (I love you DISboards!!)

The only reason why I would ask you to send the report is to show that there's a lot of guests who are really inconvenienced by this new system.

 

[sgrap]

lsulindy, thanks for your report! It's rare that someone types up a complete picture of what the process really is like. I would send the report to Disney letting them know your experience with the new system. Don't expect anything for fear of other DISers who might think you have a sense of "entitlement" (I love you DISboards!!)

The only reason why I would ask you to send the report is to show that there's a lot of guests who are really inconvenienced by this new system.

I think that is a great idea. Spelling out your experience each day for them would hopefully help them see how inefficiently things are being done right now, and hopefully that would lead to some better training and streamlining of the entry process. Surely the quicker guests enter the park, the sooner they start spending $, and the more satisfied they are overall as guests!

 

[faith313]

We had 7 people (6 ticketed plus a two year old in a stroller). We had our at home printed tickets in hand. There was a CM working the gate and another CM with the camera phone in front of the gate. We were a few people back in line and I motioned to the camera CM that we had new, print-at-home tickets. Thinking he could come do our pics while the people ahead of us went through. He said that the CM working the gate will check to see if we need pics. I'm thinking "I'm holding printed 5 day tickets. It's obvious we need pics." So, we get up to the gate CM and she scans the first ticket and then looks at the front CM and says "Oooh, they're going to need pics?" He says "They do? Really?" She says "Yes" He says "Oh ok, I guess you do need pictures." I'm like "Yes, we sure do"

So, I had purchased 4 of the tickets with my credit card. They print my ticket first b/c my name was on the order, then I go through the gate (I went through the swing open gate rather than the turnstile b/c I'm pushing ds) I stand on the inside of the swing open gate while the photo CM stands on the outside and takes my pic and scans the ticket. Then, he gives the ticket back to the gate CM and she scans it for entry. Then they ask DH for his license. He shows his license and then they ask him to spell his name out loud. He spells it twice, she repeats. Finally they print his ticket. He goes through the turnstile, around by the swing open gate where the camera CM takes his pick, then the camera CM gives his ticket back to the main CM who scans it. He then stands there and spells my daughter's name twice, CM repeats, once they have her name, they print her ticket, she goes through the turnstile, around by the gate and takes her picture, gives ticket back to be scanned, and again for my son. During this whole time people from the neighboring gate with wheelchairs, strollers, etc need to get through, so the camera CM and whoever is behind the gate at the time have to move out of the way and then get back in their place, or if a picture is being taken then the person at the other gate has to wait for us too causing both gates to slow down due to us.

Here's a pic I snapped when DH is spelling DD's name. This is our whole group's first time ever in Disneyland, we had just been singing and dancing on our walk in. Look at everyone's faces... You can kind of see the camera CM behind the gate CM.

So our crew is through, and DH is complaining to me about what a ridiculous system they have. We've moved a little bit away so as not to clog the walkway while we wait for my parents. And we realize that something is not right. My mom is on her scooter, so my dad had handed the CM their tickets. I have a credit card of my parents issued to me in my name. I was supposed to use this card to buy their tickets. However, I'd read here that the credit card name is printed on one ticket. So, I called my mom to find out exactly how her name read on her card and put her name on the order instead of mine. Well, since my dad handed them the tickets, they gave him her ticket and took his pic for it. So, he had to wait for a manager to come over and reissue his ticket with his name. All this time everyone who was in our line, AP, people with 1 day tickets, people who'd already had their picture taken had to wait.

That was Saturday evening. Sunday we sight-see in LA. Monday we head to DCA to rope drop. We get to the front of the line, and CM at gate hands ticket to photo CM and says "Looks like it's these guys first time in the parks! They need their photos taken!" So, DH says no, we took photos Saturday, and she says "Well it looks like you need them again!" Everyone had to retake their pics except for my dad, somehow his reissued ticket had his pic. So, we've already used a day off of our ticket, we already have our names printed on them, but the CM didn't realize that we'd already been in the parks. And, then just reattached new pics to the tickets without doing any verification. DH's ticket could have said Marty McFly and she'd just have taken his pic and let us go on our way. I know a fraudster can't count on that glitch, but we could have rented/borrowed/stolen anyone's tickets and gotten in that day. We were never again asked for ID after the first day.

Once again, people behind us who were APs or had already taken pics had to wait through the whole thing.

Then Tuesday right as MM is starting (we were a little later than we wanted to be that day), we walk up to lines crossing the plaza. The DL lines were butting into the DCA lines (which were very small b/c . I walk up to a CM at a exit only gate to the side before we enter the crowds with our crew and ask her which line we should be in for MM. She says "Hmmm... I think Magic Morning is 2 or maybe it's 16. Um yeah. 2 or 16." So, DH takes off into the crowd to go look at the signs at the gate. (there were signs above the gates, but the lines were so long that you couldn't see them from the end of the line) He comes back and says this line had a Magic Morning sign and we should get in that one. (I think it was 22) Once we get in line, there are irate people everywhere. All had stories of waiting in the wrong line when that's the line a CM had told them they should be in. Well, the line is moving, but it is SLOW. At one point a CM passes by and the man behind us asks "I've changed lines 3 times already, is this the line for Magic Morning" Response "You know that is a good question... I'm not sure about that." DH goes to the front to see what's going on and comes back, says that most people in the line do not have Magic Morning, so we're standing there waiting while they argue with CMs b/c they can't get in. We had been the only moving line, but barely moving. Two CMs start coming through the line and we see them forming another line to the side of us. When they get to us, we see that they're trying to sort out the people in the line who don't have MM and forming another line of those people. So, the line is still crawling, but we're much closer to the gate. Meanwhile, there's this random line on the side of us and people who are just getting to the plaza are very confused and have no idea where to go or even how to get there through the sea of lines. Well, all of a sudden all the other lines start moving quickly through the gates and we're still crawling. I guess they started letting in the regular entry guests at this time. We finally make it through the gates 45 minutes after getting in line, and 45 minutes into our "Magic Morning"

On Wednesday, we didn't have problems but our line was moving very slowly. The line next to us started flying, and we realized that our section had 2 lines, one for each turnstile, but the line next to us had one line that was feeding two turnstile. The tall gate was closed as if the second turnstile wasn't open, but a CM was working it and pulling from the other turnstile's line. Our CM was also taking a very long time studying peoples faces and pics. It took us about 20 minutes to get in. Probably wouldn't have been a big deal, except we'd already really soured to the process.

This was 2 weeks ago. Things might have changed, but it seems the process was less efficient for us than it was when they first started doing pics in January rather than more. I was thinking that when we got there, they'd have smoothed out the process, but that wasn't the case.

I would definitely send this to DL (along with photo). I'm sure they know how inadequate their system is, but I think the more they get complaints like yours, the faster things will be corrected.

Sorry you had to go through all of that!

 

[lsulindy]

I think that is a great idea. Spelling out your experience each day for them would hopefully help them see how inefficiently things are being done right now, and hopefully that would lead to some better training and streamlining of the entry process. Surely the quicker guests enter the park, the sooner they start spending $, and the more satisfied they are overall as guests!

I forgot to type this as I was typing my experience. There's a few different ways to do pics. I don't know which way would be most efficient, least confusing for guests who don't know where to go, etc. But, for the name part. There is no reason that you should have to stand there at the gate and spell everyone's names. My ticket came out so much quicker b/c my name was already attached. (Granted this caused issues for my parents, but all the CM has to do is say the name on the ticket out loud before taking the picture to resolve that issue.) There's no reason I can think of that you couldn't just type your party's names in when ordering the tickets online. If there's some reason where you might not know someone's name, there could be an option to leave it blank and do it at the gate, but I'd think in most cases people know the names of the members that will be in their party and can type them in when ordering the tickets to avoid having to do that at the loud, crowded gates.

I wonder why they stopped doing it where the photo CM went down the line to see if people needed pics before they got to the turnstile? I heard of some cases where they did need pics and it took a little while and the people behind them were left waiting with no one going through the turnstile, b/c the line in front cleared out while they did the pics. But, if they can start the process before you actually get to the turnstile, even if the people behind you have to wait some, it seems like it would speed things along at least a little.

 

[Congo Queen]

I was always under the impression that Disney World installed the finger scanners to prevent the resale of unused multi day tickets. Is there some reason or perhaps law in California that prevents Disneyland from using finger scanners?

I read on another site (Al Lutz was the source if I remember correctly) that the reason they did not install finger scanners in Disneyland esplanade is that it requires a much larger footprint for each turnstile (don't know why). Thus the entire entry gates at DL and DCA would need to be demolished and rebuilt to make finger scan possible.

 

[mysteriouspnai]

I read on another site (Al Lutz was the source if I remember correctly) that the reason they did not install finger scanners in Disneyland esplanade is that it requires a much larger footprint for each turnstile (don't know why). Thus the entire entry gates at DL and DCA would need to be demolished and rebuilt to make finger scan possible.

I read this too. Something to do with each fingerprint scanner machine taking up more space than the current turnstiles have now. It's odd that people can have finger scanners built into a laptop, but that it takes way too much room at a turnstile. I don't know the electronics behind it, but you would think that it would be kind of similar, right?

 

[faith313]

I read on another site (Al Lutz was the source if I remember correctly) that the reason they did not install finger scanners in Disneyland esplanade is that it requires a much larger footprint for each turnstile (don't know why). Thus the entire entry gates at DL and DCA would need to be demolished and rebuilt to make finger scan possible.

Well, they did do a great job of building Cars Land. I think Disney could handle this.

 

[superme80]

Thank you for the heads up. I called my mom and let her know. It is good to know we will have a wait to get into the park.