No more picture for EP???

[HHMcG]

Checked in to PBH late last night. Was told we did not need to get picture for Express Pass. That we just show are room key now. Clerk didn't seem to sure of herself. I have my doubts.
Off to the parks to see if that works....

 

[wookiebeck]

That does not sound correct and one would think that it would be posted/announced on these boards if it were the case. If the kiosk is still there to get your EP, I would use it if I were you. Good luck and have fun.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have a bad feeling about this...


Though there should be a kiosk in the park if you ask a TM when this doesn't work.

 

[RandomNerdGeek]

Just visited Universal 8/20-8/22. Can confirm that TMs accepted hotel key cards as Express Passes, as the EP machine at Royal Pacific was down. Scanning the key will result in an error, but as long as your dates are valid and the top left shows RP/HRH/PB, the TMs will let you through.

 

[HHMcG]

Yep. We got on everything today just showing our room key for EP with no problem. I really didn't think this was right, but it worked.
The clerk last night said Uni was working on a 'facial recognition' system for EP in the future. That sounds weird to me too. Plus why change the process until/if a new process is ready.

 

[nkereina]

This must be a fairly regular occurrence. When we went to Universal in October 2015, we also stayed at RPR and the EP machine was also down then. The front desk told us to use our room key and it did indeed work at all EP attractions. We never checked to see if/when the EP machines came back up, but we were never given hassle about it.

 

[NickyH]

I'm staying at HRH at the moment and saw a sign at one of the Universal parks (sorry can't remember which one as we visited both parks in one day) stating that facial recognition would be trialled for the Express passes.

 

[macraven]

hope more info will come out soon if the system for ep is changing.

 

[saskdw]

Most of the pictures were unrecognizable anyway. They obviously realize this and are working on a better system.

 

[keishashadow]

I've been to the parks several times since January, each time onsite with FOTL. Cannot recall seeing any o the signs stating they were testing this system.

I'm reading various articles online now that Universal has tested “Photo Validation Technology” at some of rides since January.

Potato/potato ? Photo Validation Technology/Facial Recognition

In lieu of producing your Express Pass at every single ride, your photo will supposedly be stored in the Universal Orlando database. You then would stand in front of a scanner at the attractions & be validated.

The pictures I've seen online show a sign indicating guests could opt out of testing phase by visiting Guest Services. No idea if that will continue if the tests are concluded.

I have nothing to hide from Universal, however, certainly not thrilled with my image becoming a part of their database in perpetuity. Consider it a violation of my privacy to submit to this, a notch above the finger scan system @ WDW.

There has to be a better way to keep guests from sharing tickets that isn't quite so invasive.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just visited Universal 8/20-8/22. Can confirm that TMs accepted hotel key cards as Express Passes, as the EP machine at Royal Pacific was down. Scanning the key will result in an error, but as long as your dates are valid and the top left shows RP/HRH/PB, the TMs will let you through.

Yep. We got on everything today just showing our room key for EP with no problem. I really didn't think this was right, but it worked.
The clerk last night said Uni was working on a 'facial recognition' system for EP in the future. That sounds weird to me too. Plus why change the process until/if a new process is ready.

Weird!

Especially since I hadn't seen mention of it here.

Most of the pictures were unrecognizable anyway. They obviously realize this and are working on a better system.

True about unrecognizable pix.

 

[macraven]

Googled and found a couple of sites had info on this in February

Had not heard about it until I read this thread today

Glad someone mentioned it

 

[schumigirl]

Googled and found a couple of sites had info on this in February

Had not heard about it until I read this thread today

Glad someone mentioned it

I thought you told me beginning of the year about this??? I'm sure someone did.......

 

[damo]

In my experience, the attendant really never even looks at the photos. Maybe if they just paid a bit more attention, it would actually deter people from giving them to others.

 

[Gary2T]

I'm staying at HRH at the moment and saw a sign at one of the Universal parks (sorry can't remember which one as we visited both parks in one day) stating that facial recognition would be trialled for the Express passes.

We encountered this at the Seuss Trolley one day last month (7/20-7/24). I remember thinking to myself, there's no way they're recognizing my face from the terrible picture that the kiosk at PB put on my pass. I never found out if it worked, as nobody was anywhere near the sign scanning faces and the TM at the front just scanned the pass like normal.

 

[snoopboop]

I remember a sign at High in the Sky Seuss Trolley back in June saying that they were testing the facial recognition feature. We agreed to participate, and we observed that the machine had a lot of trouble picking out our faces. My husband's face didn't even register and the screen just showed a white rectangle instead. Mine apparently DID register... but that was the one and only place where we saw the system being tested.

 

[mischief32]

This is the way it used to be before they added the express pass machine. You used to just show your room key. Cuts down on items in my lanyard. They switched to plastic passes so it makes since because I wonder how may times they had to reprint the paper express passes when they get wet on the rides. I also agree the pictures were horrible.

 

[mjhtvchick]

Hey! I tweeted @DisUniversal yesterday and he confirmed that room keys are the way things will be...

 

[Disney Ron]

Hey! I tweeted @DisUniversal yesterday and he confirmed that room keys are the way things will be...

View attachment 264695

That's really too bad we arrive in a month and I still have last years EP's and the faces on my 2 kids when doing it is priceless. You could just see the excitement in them through those photos.

 

[AngB21]

So would that mean that all my kids will each get their own room keys? Side question, if that is what will indeed need to happen can we have room charges only work on the adult keys?