The Complete Hand Stamp FAQ

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Since I've started working at WDW, I've received a lot of questions (both from guests in the parks, and a few through PMs on this board) about the hand stamps. I decided to create this thread, in the hopes that it will help answer people's questions about the handstamp.

Do I need a hand stamp?
As a general rule, if you are planning to return to the same park, OR visit another park in the same day, yes, you will need a hand stamp, with a few exceptions (see next question)

When do I NOT need a hand stamp?
If you hold an annual or seasonal pass, or a cast ID, you do not need a hand stamp, as your pass/ID will have a biometric scan encoded in it. However, if the biometric system is down, be prepared to show a photo ID. Also be prepared to show a photo ID if you are a cast member in your first week of working at WDW, as sometimes the new cast ID cards aren't in the system yet.

Why do I need the stamp if I have my ticket?
If you use the ticket a second time in the same day, the computer will alert the CM that the ticket has already been used once that day, and to look for a handstamp. WDW reserves the right to deny you entry if you don't have a hand stamp.

I've got a park hopper pass. Doesn't that mean unlimited access to the 4 main parks? Why do I need a hand stamp?
Yes, the park hopper pass allows you unlimited access to the 4 main parks. The hand stamp works with the park hopper pass to ensure that the same person is using the pass on any subsequent visits that day.

Why do I need the ticket if I have my stamp?
The hand stamp only proves that you were in 1 park earlier that day, not necessarily that you have the right to be in a second park. (you may have bought a 1 day/1 park ticket, which does not come with hopping privleges)

Why do I need a stamp when I'm going to the Rainforest Cafe at DAK?
Rainforest Cafe is outside the park, so in order to get there, you will have to exit the park, thus requiring a hand stamp if you want to re-enter or go to another park.

I felt the stamper on my hand, but I can't see the stamp
The hand stamp ink is a special ink that will appear invisible under most conditions, but will show up under a black light.

Cast Members never ask me to see my hand stamp
The black lights on the entrance turnstyles are positioned so that the CM manning the turnstyle can usually see the stamp as you pick up your ticket. In some cases, you may be asked to move your hand closer to the light, or to leave it there a little while longer for them to be able to see the stamp.

I already got one stamp today, do I need another?
No. One stamp per day is fine.

Will the stamp wash off if I go swimming or wash my hands?
Generally, no. The hand stamp ink is fairly resistant to water, and will not come off with normal washing/swimming activities (at least, not for a few days). If you scrub the stamped area very well, then it will start to come off.

But, with all those people's hands, isn't it un-sanitary?
No. The ink used is primarily rubbing alcohol, with coloring agents added to make the stamp glow under a black light.

Do I need a hand stamp to get to Downtown Disney?
For Downtown Disney, no stamp is required (as no park admission is required for admission).

What about the water parks?
A stamp is not required for Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, however, getting one wouldn't hurt anything. You never know when you'll decide to go to another park and watch fireworks or parades after the water park.

 

[Gaiusrex]

Then, what's the point of a park HOPPER pass. It is supposed to allow you unlimited access to the 4 main parks?

 

[bethbuchall]

It does allow you unlimited access to the four parks. You need the handstamp to show that YOU are the one that used that pass earlier in the day.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Gaiusrex - good question, I'll add it to the FAQ.

 

[B'rer Karen]

This is a good thread. Now, can you educate the other cast members so they know that AP holders do not need a hand stamp?

 

[jimmybop]

just a note with the water park, if you leave the water park and want to get back into that same water park later that day (IE running out to the car to get a cooler, or driving down the road to Mickey D's [although BB has some yummy food there]) you do need a handstamp just like any other park. And I assume if you have a LOS/Park Hopper Plus pass, you need the stamp to get into the major theme parks later.

 

[eeyore45]

OK, here's my idea, and I came by it naturally!!

I was hoping to take advantage of the FastPass system. I couldnt get dd up to MK before 10, but I wanted to see the opening, so on our last day I got up early (as usual) took DH, and DD UPH tickets, and away I went. I loved the opening btw, but felt sad I couldnt share it with dd and dh...

Well, I went to the Jungle Cruise (oh, and I just put in my UPH to get in the MK!) and took out all 3 cards and it wouldnt give me a FP for 2 of the cards!! The nerve, what had I done wrong...


Then it dawns on me - I can just go back and put their cards thru to activate them first - yeah, that's the idea!!

Then it redawns on me, if I do that then they cant get in the park their hands arent stamped!! *DUH Good for Disney, if everyone did what I was about to do, then the FP system would be overloaded, and wouldnt work as a FP system intended to!! So I LOL at myself... and got back on the monorail to get dh and dd to MK!!

Then I forgot the whole thing, it was an Enight, and here I was on the Pooh ride, (2 strangers were in front, dh and dd got on the wrong vehicle w/o me!! It was a lol moment of panic!!)

ANYWAY I'm sitting here wishing I was w/ MY family, and I look at my legs, my hands, they were GLOWING!! OMG - I asked the strangers in the front if they were glowing too - they WERNT!! What was going on!! *DUH moment - it was so very hot that the hand stamp had melted all over my hands, my legs, I wonder if it was on my face and those strangers were so polite!!

Just another theory on the handstamp...

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Originally posted by B'rer Karen
This is a good thread. Now, can you educate the other cast members so they know that AP holders do not need a hand stamp?

As you're exiting, we CMs don't know that you have an AP. Therefore, we ask if you want a hand stamp.

 

[betterlatethannever]

Originally posted by SyracuseWolvrine
As you're exiting, we CMs don't know that you have an AP. Therefore, we ask if you want a hand stamp.

Were the rules the same a few years ago? We've had an AP for about three years. Back then, as we were existing (it didn't matter which park) we would say "We have annual passes, do we need a stamp?" 100% of the time, they would stamp our hands. So, since then, we have always had our hands stamped.

Ed

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally posted by SyracuseWolvrine
Therefore, we ask if you want a hand stamp.

On more than one occasion, Monday August 30 ca 4 PM I remember specificaly, the MK cast member at the exit turnstile was proclaiming tnat hand stamps were not needed, even after exiting guests asked.

Guests do often take the word of cast members. So WDW needs to be lenient on the other end namely at the turnstiles at re-entry. I a m not saying not to check for hand stamps, but the cast members should not push arguments far.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[safetymom]

There are signs at every park exit that state a hand stamp is needed.

So the CM shouldn't have to say anything. It is nice when they do but it is up to the guest to read the signs upon exit.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
On more than one occasion, Monday August 30 ca 4 PM I remember specificaly, the MK cast member at the exit turnstile was proclaiming tnat hand stamps were not needed.

And therein lies one of the big problems with the handstamp system. CMs that spread misinformation (either knowingly or unknowingly). If I had to guess, I'd say that probably 70% of my guests that re-enter without handstamps were told by CMs at one particular park that they didn't need a hand stamp.

betterlatethannever - I'm not aware if the policy has changed in recent years, I only started working very recently.

eeyore45 - I haven't heard of a hand stamp melting, but I guess it's a possibility. Another possible cause is that there's about 30 seconds before the stamp fully dries ... if you rub your hand, or brush your hand against your leg in that time, the ink could be spread.

safetymom - you'd be surprised how many people seem to miss those signs, or the big red X on the front of a closed turnstyle.

 

[B'rer Karen]

Originally posted by SyracuseWolvrine
As you're exiting, we CMs don't know that you have an AP. Therefore, we ask if you want a hand stamp.

I'm not talking about the way out, I'm talking about when coming back in. On a recent trip I was park hopping. As I entered my second park there was a problem when I entered my pass and did the biometric reader. The CM asked if I had been in another park earlier. I said yes and he said, "oh, well then just show me your handstamp." I said, "I don't have a handstamp because I have an AP and I don't need one." I offered my ID, which he eventually took, but he was royally peeved and told me that i should always get a hand stamp and that even AP holders need a handstamp. Hence my reason for saying that you should educate the other CM's.

 

[F1Julie]

Okay, this may be a dumb question, but I want to have all my bases covered before my next trip. I have a 4 day park hopper. The first day I used it, I started out at AK and then went to MGM later that afternoon without a handstamp. I put my hopper through the slot at MGM and then went in. The CM didn't say anything and I went into the park. I just want to be sure that I didn't accidentally use up another day on my park hopper since I didn't have a handstamp. I hope this makes sense.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Entering a second park on the same calendar day will not deduct an additional day from your hopper pass.

 

[seashoreCM]

At Pleasure Island, CM's at club entrances were giving black hand stamps. Someimtes the ink seemd so wet that it could be smeared onclothing. (Last week of August time frame, Adventurers Club, Comedy Warehouse)

Perhaps WDW needs to rethink that.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Originally posted by B'rer Karen
I As I entered my second park there was a problem when I entered my pass and did the biometric reader. The CM asked if I had been in another park earlier. I said yes and he said, "oh, well then just show me your handstamp." I said, "I don't have a handstamp because I have an AP and I don't need one." I offered my ID, which he eventually took, but he was royally peeved and told me that i should always get a hand stamp and that even AP holders need a handstamp. Hence my reason for saying that you should educate the other CM's.

In a situation like that, first ask to try the biometric scanner again. In some cases, the biometric scanner will work the 2nd time when it didn't work the 1st. As far as the CM being peeved about accepting your ID, I don't know why they would be. The only answer I can give is that they were having a bad day. CMs are told that a photo ID is the backup identification if the biometric scanner doesn't work (and I assumed this to be true, regardless of whether or not a guest has been in a park earlier today)

 

[CaseyJr]

OK, so to avoid confusion, EVERYONE: just get your hand stamped when you leave a park. Period.

 

[jimmybop]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
At Pleasure Island, CM's at club entrances were giving black hand stamps. Someimtes the ink seemd so wet that it could be smeared onclothing. (Last week of August time frame, Adventurers Club, Comedy Warehouse)

Perhaps WDW needs to rethink that.

When I was there durring my CP (this was in 2002, it may be changed since anyone can walk in the streets now w/out admission) they used visible handstamps for guests under 21 and bracelets for people over 21 (so now CMs in PI do not have to ID guests everytime they wish to drink). So the hand stamp thing here isnt really for rentery, but its so that CMs can see that you have paided to get into the clubs.

 

[liznboys]

Great thread! It finally makes sense to me now! LOL