Refuse to give Disney your Finger-print?

[frayedend]

Oh, Robo.

I understand the idea of being cautious with personal info/identifiers, but honestly I think the fingerprint thingy at Disney is mostly for show. As a hospital nurse who has used alcohol hand sanitizers and washed her hands probably in excess of a million times over the years, I barely HAVE a fingerprint. Every time I log on to the computers at work to chart, I have to lube up my finger with lotion just so my print is recognizable. Yet, I have no problem breezing through the finger scanner at WDW. Way earlier in the thread people were saying that family members have been successful mixing and matching tickets and don't have a problem getting in with someone else's ticket.

So if anyone is worried about it, I don't think they're getting a REAL good picture of your print anyway.

*EDIT* And yes, Robo has the patience of a saint!

Do you have trouble logging on to the computer after wearing gloves for a while? I work in a biotech lab and that is a constant source of frustration. If my hand is in the nitrile gloves for too long I think the print swells or something and I can't log on. My computer also won't let me use my password if I have fingerprint set up.

 

[MaxsDad]

I just got tired of only telling posters that-

A- The Barnstormer is not being removed.

B- Nobody knows when Toontown will be closed.

So what you are saying is that the barnstormer won't be removed?????





sry, couldn't resist.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Slow morning, Robo?

So have you heard when Toontown is going to close?

 

[Dizfan4life]

I am VERY in favor of the fingerprinting and glad Disney does it! I'm not sure if this is mentioned I guess I was too impatient to read the several pages , but when we were there last year my dad forgot what finger he used and he was not able to get past the turntable until he used the correct finger. I feel this helps out a TON if you were to have someone steal your park tickets??? Also, my mom left her park pass at the hotel one night, and didn't feel like waiting for another bus to bring her back and forth, while we were trying to get in one last time at EPCOT before we left for home. If my memory serves me correctly... the CM's at EPCOT were able to find out what park she was at last and how many visits left on that ticket she had all by checking our tickets and fingerprints. With that being said... Disney issued her another ticket for that last night and her other ticket became invalid! I hope they keep fingerprinting just for those reasons alone!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Wow! I posted this as an initial reaction to the OP's post and then read through the majority of the thread. I still feel that biometrics are going to continue to grow and be used in our day to day lives and as numerous posters have said, they are scans of algorithms not an actual copy of your finger print. Companies have the right to protect themselves from theft by any means (legally) necessary.

I think the chip implanted in a child's brain is where I lost my respect for the validity of the thread. It struck me as a conspiracy theoorist.

I am surprised the thread has not been shut down due to the political nature of it.

Well, I will let Disney scan away, and I'm perfectly comfortable with it

I have not previously seen a thread about this, which kind of suprises me.

Just wondering in general how people feel about giving your finger-print each time you enter one of the Disney theme parks.

I just personally, find this so objectionable. No person in our family has EVER given in to this practice and allowed our finger to be scanned in order to enter one of the parks.

I know Disney's official statement is that they do not take the actual finger-print, but rather a "digital picture" of the finger-print. As much as I love Disney, I cannot get comfortable with allowing them to take a digital picture of my finger-print. So we NEVER participate. Not the old way they did it with the measuring of two fingers or the new way where they actually take a digital scan of the finger-print.

Suprisingly, we have only ever had to argue with a CM about this one time. They called their manager over (at our request) who informed the CM we could enter without putting our finger in the scanner. But every other time the CM just smiles, pushes a button, and in we go.

I am not a big fan of the ACLU, but I know they have taken a vocal position against this Disney practice.

Anybody else refuse to do it? Ever had a problem refusing? Interested in knowing how other Dis'ers feel about the subject.

First, Disney does not actually "scan" your fingerprint, they do exactly as they say "take a digital picture" of it. The main reason was to prevent the transfer and resale of tickets. Disney is a business and they were protecting themselves against a black market that had arisen out of loopholes in their ticketing system. Previously there was no way of identifying whether the user of a ticket was the original purchaser.

Secondly, *taken from Wikipedia*

[edit] United States
The United States government has become a strong advocate of biometrics with the increase in fear of terrorism since September 11, 2001.

The FBI is currently spending $1 billion to create a new biometric database, which will store DNA, fingerprints, and other biometric data. The computers running the database will be contained in an underground facility about the size of a football field.[9]

Both the Department of Homeland Security and DARPA are heavily funding research into facial recognition systems.[10] The Information Processing Technology Office, ran a program known as Human Identification at a Distance which developed technologies that are capable of identifying a person at up to 500 ft by their facial features.

Bush issued a presidential directive (NSPD 59, HSPD 24)[11] in 2008 which requires increased capability for sharing and interoperability in "collection, storage, use, analysis, and sharing of biometric and associated biographic and contextual information of individuals" among the departments and agencies of the executive branch of the U.S. federal government.[11][12]

Starting in 2005, US passports with facial (image-based) biometric data were scheduled to be produced. Privacy activists in many countries have criticized the technology's use for the potential harm to civil liberties, privacy, and the risk of identity theft. Currently, there is some apprehension in the United States (and the European Union) that the information can be "skimmed" and identify people's citizenship remotely for criminal intent, such as kidnapping.

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Common Access Card, is an ID card issued to all US Service personnel and contractors on US Military sites. This card contains biometric data and digitized photographs. It also has laser-etched photographs and holograms to add security and reduce the risk of falsification. There have been over 10 million of these cards issued.

According to Jim Wayman, director of the National Biometric Test Center at San Jose State University, Walt Disney World is the nation's largest single commercial application of biometrics.[13] However, the US-VISIT program will very soon surpass Walt Disney World for biometrics deployment.

You may not be comfortable with the practice, but it is very quickly becoming a part of the world we live in. The reality is that true protection requires a form of identification that cannot be faked. As fingerprints and iris scans are truely unique to each individual they are some of the safest means of correctly identifying an individual.

There is a cross-border program in Ontario and New York called NEXUS. This is a system that pre-clears individuals to travel between the US and Canada. When utilizing NEXUS at an international airport, users have to have an iris scan to properly identify themselves as the pre-cleared NEXUS cardholder.

Unfortunately, I would expect the use of biometrics to contine and grow in the next decade. As security threats become more and more technologically advanced, so must the means by which we ensure the protection of all who travel.

Third, I have no problem with confirming my identity by means of biometrics when it prevents theft of security breaches.

May I ask why you are so opposed to it? I feel anything that betters our safety and protects a company or an individual is a good thing

 

[RivieraMaya05]

If you'er opposed to it, I hope none of you have to go to any hospitals anytime soon. They use a biometric palm scan at the hospitals and doctors offices affiliated with those hospitals in NC/SC. I've never hught twice about it because it contains no real info other than identifying I am who I say I am.

 

[PSUGuy]

I've read very few of the many posts here so maybe this has been mentioned. If privacy is the issue, simply buy your park pass under an assumed name, Michael Duck sounds good to me, then even if Disney is in cahoots with the Forces of Darkness, your fingerprint will be stored for all time in a server under that name, not yours.

Bill From PA

 

[DVCPAT]

Never meant to give the impression that I was afraid to use the finger scanners. We are not afaid at all, just think its strange and over the top, and prefer not to participate.

No reason to be afraid of what they will do with my finger scan, because they will never have it.

Like many others who have posted since my original post, in accordance with Disney policy, we have our ID's ready - though have only ever been asked for them once. Its quick and painless. I don't have to give the scanners or what they do with the info a second thought, and we never have to deal with the scanners that make you scan over and over and over and over again.

Our family is just more comfortable doing it this way, its in accordance with WDW policy, and it gets us in quickly and effortlessly.

As other people have said, we do not give our phone number when asked at a retail store, we never give our Social Security Numbers to anyone, and we are not giving a finger scan of any kind to Disney. We just error on the side of caution, that's all.

But that does not stop us from going to WDW time after time after time and having a fantastic trip each and every visit

You should read Disney’s privacy policy. Disney kind of puts on a Super Bowl every day and realizes it. I have no problem with it. Paragraph A2 gets into personally identifiable material………..



A2. We collect several types of personally identifiable information about our guests.

Information You Provide to Us

Much of the personally identifiable information we receive comes directly from guests who are interested in obtaining various products and services from us or another member of The Walt Disney Family of Companies. Typically, this information includes the guest's name, postal address, e-mail address, and telephone number. We may also collect other types of information such as gender, age, number of children, and personal interests, which we may associate with personally identifiable information. If you purchase products or services from us or another member of The Walt Disney Family of Companies, we'll note, for example, credit card information, the type of services or products ordered or purchased, and the date of the order or purchase. You may also provide us photographs or other video materials, which may contain personal information. We may collect personal information when you register on, log on, or visit our Web sites, including when you participate in activities on our Web sites, such as sweepstakes, contests, games, and informational and promotional offers, and when you provide information to our customer service representatives. Finally, our Web sites may offer message boards, conversation pages, chat rooms, social community environments, profile pages, and other Public Forums (as defined in the Terms of Use governing our Web sites (the "Terms of Use")), as well as other features in which you may provide us with User Submissions (as defined in the Terms of Use). If you provide personal information when you use any of these features, that personal information may be publicly posted and otherwise disclosed without limitation as to its use by a third party. Our rules regarding User Submissions are described in the Terms of Use, including in the "User Submissions," "Public Forums and Communication" and "House Rules" sections of the Terms of Use.

 

[PiperMickey]

Sorry to bring back an old thread with a topic that has been discussed to death but I came across a blog on the Orlando Sentinel on the topic of finger scanning and for some people - a very good reason to refuse to allow Disney to scan your fingers: It maybe some insight into those that refuse.

It might. My DW is the 'germ police' in our family and stands after we pass through the turnstiles with the hand sanitizer ready for the scanned digit on each family member. We all laugh about it as we do it.

 

[Planogirl]

I just noticed how old this thread is! I missed it the first time I guess. So never mind.

 

[Dizfan4life]

I just noticed how old this thread is! I missed it the first time I guess. So never mind.

Holy Moly!!! It IS old!!! I didn't even look at the date !

 

[Feralpeg]

I am so tired of everyone saying they have nothing to hide, or disney already has all your info so it doesn't matter, or government has my prints already. This is not and was not the issue. The issue is theives getting into the sytem and matching the info to what disney has on file. I know you are going to say it will never happen. How do you know. the technology to breach companies systems are getting better and better.

I see from reading all these post that a lot of people go through life and never question why they are being asked for something. As my original post said I have dealt with having my identity stolen and it is not fun. It has taken over 5 years to fix everything. I still had to write letters to the mortage company so my DH and I can buy our house.

The recent TJX theft was recently shown how they stole millions of peoples info. From a wireless antena that was in one of the stores. The theives figured out how to tapp into the signal and intercept all info coming through the cash registers. We have no idea if and how someone may get this info from disney and then be able to use this to open a door to more personal info on disneys system.

If you aren't going to read all the post, then maybe you should comment at all. It frustrates me when people respond and they have no idea what has actually been posted.

Again I hope all these people who would hand over there first born if told to do so without question never have there identity stolen or you will be singing a whole different tune to the Op.

By the way disneyclan MV is so peaceful and nice off season. Granted if you go in the later fall or winter most things are closed, but it is so pretty in the winter with the snow. You really get a different feel for the island withou the millions of people there. Although I would not give up any summer day at south beach!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay! So, someone breaks in to Disney's system and steals your information as well as your biometric scan. Any company can have their system breached and their customer information breached. So, do you refuse to give Disney you home address and credit card information? I can't even imagine what good a biometric scan could be to a crook. What could they do with it? I can understand being concerned about the other personal information on file, but the scan?

I do have concerns every time I give my personal information out to a store, website, etc., but the choice is to never do anything. I just don't feel that someone stealing the biometric scan of one of my fingers and associating it with my other data is going to get them anything they can't get with just my personal data. Sorry, OP. I just don't get the concern.

StalkingMickey, I am sorry to hear that you had problems with identity theft in the past. I'm sure it was horrible. Sadly, it is a risk we take today any time we do business with a company that requires personal info (bank, mortgage company, department store, WDW) or a credit card.

 

[swald91]

Doesn't bother me...
If thieves want to get into a system I think they would probably choose a bank -much more to get than from Disney-IMO. True, Disney has so much info on us when we stay there, but like others have said identity theft is out there-I try my best to not let it happen-I'm sure Disney does their best too. I never really thought much about it-but it is definitely interesting what everyones opinions are!!!

 

[tzvdmd]

A couple of years back Roy Disney used my fingerprint and personal info to open a Chase Disney credit card. After calling and talking to a ton of people within the Disney organization, I finally got transferred to Mickey's office and he got the whole thing straightened out for me.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Since the government is tracking you with those little strips in your dollars and electronically through your atm card, does it really matter that Disney also gives them your fingerprints?

And don't forget they have your DNA. That's because of the alien colonization plan that will be carried out in 2 years.

 

[Glencora]

Since the government is tracking you with those little strips in your dollars and electronically through your atm card, does it really matter that Disney also gives them your fingerprints?

And don't forget they have your DNA. That's because of the alien colonization plan that will be carried out in 2 years.

Which is why I don't leave home without my tin foil mittens and hat!

 

[selina4disney]

I have not previously seen a thread about this, which kind of suprises me.

It kind of surprises me too, since there have been hundreds of them. I am not reading this whole thread due to time constraints, but I am sure by now someone told you they DON'T TAKE YOUR FINGERPRINT.

 

[clovermeg]

I think they should scan REAL fingerprints! And the go FURTHER...cross check it with National Child Sex Offender Registries.....JMHO!

 

[selina4disney]

Holy Moly!!! It IS old!!! I didn't even look at the date !

Me too. OOPS

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The following information was posted May 9, 2008 as Post#14 in the Everything About WDW Tickes locked sticky in this forum. So the real information has been here for a couple of years.

The finger scans are used to tie a person to a particular ticket. This will work to prevent people switching or selling tickets. It also eliminates the need for hand stamps for reentry to a park or hopping between parks.

First of all, Child (Age 3-9) and certain other tickets, such as the YES Program, do not take scans and will unlock the turnstile if they are valid for the park.

The first time a ticket is used it will read the fingerprint and select an area about 1/4 inch by 1/8 inch and analyze that area.

It will then apply a mathematical algorithm to that reading, convert it to a numeric string, and store that string of numbers tied to the serial number of the ticket in the Automated Ticketing System (ATS) computer.

On subsequent entries ATS will look for that particular string on the ticket. If it finds it, the turnstile will unlock and a green light will come on.

If ATS cannot find that string, a message will show up of "identification fails". At that point the greeter will have several options; one of these is to tell ATS to replace the numeric string tied to the ticket with a new once based on the most recent scan.

If MYW tickets were purchased at WDW directly from ATS in one transaction they may be linked together, in which case the people can switch the tickets, but don’t count on this working.

And there are times when the lines are very long and management may decide to turn off the scanners for a while, in which case as long as the ticket is valid for that park it will be accepted without a scan.

If a person does not want to have their finger scanned, as an alternative they may present a photo ID where the name matches the name printed on the ticket. If it is a Florida Resident Ticket or an Annual Pass the name will automatically be printed on the ticket. If the name is not preprinted on the ticket, the ticket owner should print their name (in ink) legibly in the space provided on the ticket.

Note that this is not a full fingerprint record, and the partial print still has about a one in a thousand chance of being duplicated.

And 30 days after a ticket is expired or fully used the biometric information is removed from the ticketing computer.