Just back...and a note about the biometric scan...

[tiggergirlinMI]

A while back there were a few threads about park hopper tickets and people asking could they give unused portions to other family members. Then others wrote that it is impossible because your fingers are ALWAYS scanned for biometric readings.
Well in our case, of the 6 days we entered all 4 parks, only THREE of those days did they ask us to put fingers in, and never at AK. So I don't understand for those that posted that Disney always scans biometrically? That was false information for the week I was there 3/24-3/30. It was a great trip, moderate crowds til the 29th when alot of lines were 120 minutes plus. Unseasonably cooler except for the last 2 days which were heating up. We got up early, rode what we wanted in 3 hours in each park, utilizing fast pass to maximize our days. Back to the hotel mid day and then back to a park at night.All in all a great trip just don't know why they didn't scan the fingers every day?

 

[bleeps]

They do have problems with the machines from time-to-time, and it does "seem" (although I am not saying I know this to be a fact) that sometimes they'll skip the scans to keep the lines moving more quickly.

I think what's reasonable to say is that scans are typically done at all parks all the time -- so that you can't count on NOT being scanned in order to trade/exchange tickets....

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

I Figured it was to move the crowds through faster, but then there were some days we entered mid day with no crowds and they still did it, always at Animal Kingdom.

 

[peter11435]

Sometimes to move the crowds quicker they will not use the scans. Also sometimes the system is down. However you always have a chance of them using the biometric scanners. You have no way of knowing when and where they will be used. As someone who visits the parks almost daily I can tell you that 90% they do use the scanners.

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

Ok, well I'm not worried about it. We buy park hoppers and for the exact days we want and never have left overs, plus we only use our own. Just thought it was funny to go through on 3 out of 6 days with just passing your ticket through, which was nice though. I hate waiting for people to figure out HOW to insert their fingers into the machine.
Also, when did they do away with the hand stamps? We were there in DEC and I thought they were still doing it then. The CM said they don't do it anymore.

 

[gizfish]

We were there 3/22 thru 3/27, park hopped most days sometimes seeing three parks a day, went to every park more than once (except AK) and at numerous different times throughout the day. Every single time we went into a park we were scanned, no matter what the line situation, time of day or park.

 

[mdoc]

I was there from March 25 through April 1 and we had to do the finger thing every time we entered a park, including two times at the Animal Kingdom. The kids didn't have to, but the adults did. We generally were there right at opening, with big crowds waiting to enter, and they were still doing the finger scans.

 

[Melwood23]

I also was there 3/3 - 3/13, and every entrance people were scanned. Even on the crowded days. If a machine went down, they did not just let them use tickets and go in, but actually made them move to another scanner.

When I was at TL, there were only 10 people in the line, I was the first in, and again, the scanner was used.

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

Well I guess we and all the other people were just there at times they didn't use them on those 3 days of our trip. Lines sure did go faster without the scanning.

 

[Disneynut25]

We were there 3/24 - 3/31 and as the OP stated they did not use the scan on several days of our trip as well. I cant say that it was because of a down system or Disney wanting the crowds to move quickly but never the less it was not used on every day of our trip. It honestly makes no never mind to me if they use it or not . I'm too busy trying to plan my next Disney vacation. September with the free dining plan sounds good to me.

 

[Tigger22]

So here's a question - we were down 3/14 to 3/21 and did the finger scan. We have one day left on our tickets. Not sure when we will go back - how am I supose to figure out who's ticket is whose at that point?

 

[tiggergirlinMI]

I've read that if you are all family, it doesn't matter, that people who have gotten them mixed up still go through ok, because all the tickets are linked together. My 2 teen sons got theirs mixed up and nothing happened, they entered just fine.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

We have seasonal passes, so we go several times a year and I have NEVER seen them not do the scans. We have had to do them each time. In fact, the woman in front of me at MK in March could not get hers to work and they asked for her ID!
I would say your experience was a fluke.

 

[MelanieRI]

Well in our case, of the 6 days we entered all 4 parks, only THREE of those days did they ask us to put fingers in, and never at AK. So I don't understand for those that posted that Disney always scans biometrically?

I have never had to do the finger scan. When I go to Disney, I always book a package and my tickets were always linked to the length of my hotel stay and were on my hotel key card. I'm always pushing DD's stroller, so I don't know if that's why or what. I always have put the cards through and then walked us in. I also never have gotten a hand stamp while park hopping and no one has ever asked to see my hand stamp. I just push the cards through and walk in. I've been behind people w/ paper tickets, trying to get their fingers scans to work and it always seemed like a big pain. Anyone else not have to do the finger scan if they are pushing a little one in a stroller?