? of the day why do you need a hand stamp?

[Kimberlina]

I think they also use a different stamp everyday so that they make sure that someone is not getting in for free the next morning after getting their hand stamped the prior night. If you do NOT wash your hands (eewww...! ) then theoretically the stamp could still be visible the next morning.

I have heard, but can't confirm, that people used to share the hand stamp too. Once one would get their hand stamped, then they could walk a few yards to meet up with someone standing outside. They would then press the back of their hand to the back of their friends and magically the friend would then have a hand stamp as well (because of the wet ink). The stamps used to be words, so when they check your hand it would say something like "mickey." If the stamp was backwards they knew it was faked because a stamper could not stamp backwards.

I think it sucks that people will cheat the system to get something they didn't pay for, or that people steal. Unfortunately, lowlifes like that are always around.

I bought an e-"guide" to Disney that was supposedly written (later found it it was mostly lifted from other people's guides) by a girl who worked for DLR- she totally recommends sharing hand stamps. Maybe that's why she doesn't work there anymore....



Anyway, only one night did we not get our stamps checked, and that was when it was really close to closing times and we went from DL to DCA.

 

[Dsny1sttimer]

Even if you do wash your hands, shower at night and in the morning, and continue to wash hands, those stamps are still visible.

DS loves having his hand stamped, and requests that we get them stamped too, even though none of us need them b/c we have APs. Trust me, those stamps are powerful ink!



toocherie, WDW doesn't fingerprint people. They take some sort of measurement scan of the finger bones and the relative something or other of the measurements. No prints! Or so sayeth those in the know, like cheshirefigment, robo, and so on and so forth...

We went to WDW in 2005. They use a "biometric" scan of your hand. When you enter the first time, they run your ticket through, then make you put your hand on the scanner twice, so they make sure it gets a complete reading. Then, when you enter in the park again, they just tell you to put your hand in, with no need to see the ticket. Only problem is, your hand has to be in the EXACT same position for it to read correctly. For me, I guess I'm a dummy, because it would never work, and they'd end up just asking for my ticket anyway. It really held up the line if the scan didn't work. I didn't think it was such a good idea.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Not to highjack this thread, but as to stealing, at WDW last Sept. during MNSSHP my DSis wintnessed someone stealing a stroller and leaving the backpack that was in it on the ground. My DSis got a hold of a CM and they said they would call security. She waited about 30-40 min. for someone to show up. They took the bag to lost and found and told DSis to go to Guest Services to fill out a report. This we did. We had to wait at GS since alot of people were there that night asking for a refund (IT POURED!) So, she told GS the story again, and they gave us 3 FP each (there were 5 of us) for any ride at Epcot (the park we were going to next-and last day). All in all, it took about 1-1/2 hours of our limited time to report the theft. The next time I think we'll just turn the backpack into L&F direct, without getting Security involved. And yes, it was nice to get the FP, but we didn't really need them the next day as the wait times at Epcot were minimal.

So, unfortunately there are some very dishonest people out there. That's why I never leave anything of any value unattended. I take it all on rides with me.

As to original topic, I totally understand why they do it-there are people out there that are basically dishonest. If they can figure out a way to get into DLR for free, they'll try it. We have AP so we don't need the stamp but my DD8 likes to get it anyway.

 

[Tink208]

Even if you do wash your hands, shower at night and in the morning, and continue to wash hands, those stamps are still visible.

Yep! You can even throw in a good long swim in the pool and still not have those stamps wash off!

 

[XTinabell]

My question is, if they require a hand stamp why do they still let people in without one? A young teenager ahead of us in line with his friends attempted to get in with a ticket that had been checked in that day and he didn't have a hand stamp. The cm gave him a bit of trouble at first, questioning why he didn't have a hand stamp and he wasn't allowed in without one, but in the end the cm gave up and let them in. He also questioned the friends stamps as well, because there was nothing more than a few neon broken lines on their hands (as though they'd been stamped the day or a couple of days before, clearly not a fresh stamp) but they were still all let in.

 

[andysgirl360]

Even if you do wash your hands, shower at night and in the morning, and continue to wash hands, those stamps are still visible.

I have a question - if the stamps don't wash off after normal handwashing etc, and you are in the parks on consecutive days - what if the stamps are all muddled up (like one on top of the other). How can they possibly tell if your stamp is good or not?

Sorry if this is a stupid question - I've only ever been to WDW and the concept of hand stamping in a case like this is new to me.

 

[Monkey Monkey]

Not to highjack this thread, but as to stealing, at WDW last Sept. during MNSSHP my DSis wintnessed someone stealing a stroller and leaving the backpack that was in it on the ground. My DSis got a hold of a CM and they said they would call security. She waited about 30-40 min. for someone to show up. They took the bag to lost and found and told DSis to go to Guest Services to fill out a report. This we did. We had to wait at GS since alot of people were there that night asking for a refund (IT POURED!) So, she told GS the story again, and they gave us 3 FP each (there were 5 of us) for any ride at Epcot (the park we were going to next-and last day). All in all, it took about 1-1/2 hours of our limited time to report the theft. The next time I think we'll just turn the backpack into L&F direct, without getting Security involved. And yes, it was nice to get the FP, but we didn't really need them the next day as the wait times at Epcot were minimal.

So, unfortunately there are some very dishonest people out there. That's why I never leave anything of any value unattended. I take it all on rides with me.

As to original topic, I totally understand why they do it-there are people out there that are basically dishonest. If they can figure out a way to get into DLR for free, they'll try it. We have AP so we don't need the stamp but my DD8 likes to get it anyway.

People ask for a refund when it rains?



Do they actually grant such requests? Isn't that the risk you take anywhere you go, that weather might be less than ideal at any given time?

 

[bumbershoot]

People ask for a refund when it rains?



Do they actually grant such requests? Isn't that the risk you take anywhere you go, that weather might be less than ideal at any given time?

I've read that for the special events that weather problems can prompt WDW to make refunds, or give another ticket for a the same event at a later date. If the weather is so bad that everything that's special about the event is canceled (fireworks, parade, trick or treating for Halloween, for instance), and the only people there for that event bought that extra ticket, I think it makes sense. And I've read that there was one horrid night last year where absolutely nothing special for the event could be done...


andysgirl360, I figure they have their ways. Since we have APs they don't check the handstamps DS requests that we get, but I assume that the special light they use shows various designs and they can figure it out.

 

[jemilah]

Ok please tell me I am not the only one who likes the smell of the hand stamp

 

[toocherie]

Ok please tell me I am not the only one who likes the smell of the hand stamp

LOL--even though I have an AP I am going to have to get a hand stamp to see what it smells like!

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I've actually had it one time where the stamp was almost gone, kinda scared me. Wasn't sure if they were going to let me back in! But they hardly looked.

Most of the time it's true though, we'll be home and two weeks later you can see the stamp! LOL