Tickets with Biometrix

[mkrbdj]

What does everyone think about Disney doing finger scanning?

Kathy

 

[DebbieB]

I saw somewhere on the web yesterday that the ACLU is looking into the legality of the biometrics (privacy rights).

 

[MiniMe]

I think that yes on one level its a little scary, but on another this is something that is going to be happening more and more often. With the rise of ID theft, I think we will be using scanners more to verify who we are whenever we buy stuff.

 

[05ChristmasSurprise]

I think it stinks and doesn't work.

DH's didn't recognize him three times during our 10 day trip - and once he had to get an entirely new pass that almost made us miss Wishes and we got a terrible viewing place

 

[wdwgoofeeee]

I was kind of concerned about it before our trip last month. But after using it a couple of times it was fine. Just takes getting used to putting your fingers in properly. It makes it slower to enter, especially at park openings, but not a big deal. The one good thing about the finger scan is that you no longer have to get a hand stamp to return to the park later.

 

[mkrbdj]

It is still a type of monitoring. If it's okay at theme parks, when does it stop?

As already noted - there are glitches.

 

[GoN2WDW]

I, personally, had no problems with it, but soooo many other people in line did! I can't tell you how many times I just wanted to go up and grab someone's fingers and put them in the reader the proper way! They would just stick their fingertips in and as many times as the CM's would say put them all the way in, they didn't listen. Really slows things up at the gates....

 

[meandtheguys2]

Biometrix or ID checks. It will be one or the other. Why shouldn't the parks insure the tickets are being used as the law dictates?

 

[civileng68]

I think it has to simply be the worst possible system ever made. It's HORRIBLE.

5 out of 10 people get stuck at it and can't use it. My mom and dad had a 5 day hopper over the 4th which was SUPER BUSY and the last day my mom couldn't get the ticket to go through at the MK and with the HUGE LINE behind us, do you think they put us through? Nope, they had to walk to Guest Relations and PRINT another ticket for her.

The system is NOT efficient.

I think they should use a format of the system that many sporting events are using now.

print tickets with barcodes and scan them with handheld scanners over the barcodes. To do this they'd have to make the tickets plastic, which would cost more but be more efficient. paper tickets would bend up too easily over time to scan, causing more holdups.

 

[snowy76]

I think the directions at the turnstiles are quite vague. They imply you just put your fingers in -- not that you have to put the black thing right between your fingers and squeeze. I ended up showing quite a few people how to do it, since they were standing just sort of helplessly in front of us.

Edit: civileng, many people do use plastic tickets... and the turnstiles read the magnetic stripe on the ticket (whether paper or plastic) which serves the same purpose as a barcode... but the biometric system is designed to tag each ticket to a specific guest. There would have to be a way to scan the person. Also, the turnstiles are designed so that the guest can operate the whole thing him/herself; having handheld scanners would require a CM at every turnstile, or not as many turnstiles open. Disney probably doesn't want to do either.

 

[nocnurse]

The 4 adults (aged 39 - 66) in our group had no trouble at all in the 6 days we hopped around all the parks. Once you figure it out the first time, no problem. It would take longer to check ID on everyone, IMO. The one thing I did notice was the machines seemed to work better if you didn't tense up your hand. Relaxing your fingers in the reader made everything work so much faster.

 

[Acklander]

I've been using it for years with the annual pass so I'm used to it. I'm not concerned about it from a privacy angle though. It's quicker than checking everyone's ID to make sure that the right people are using the passes.

 

[zdad]

I liked it just fine. Actually thought it was quite efficient. We never had a problem in 8 days there. Many of the folks I did see having issues were doing things like putting the card in wrong, using the wrong hand (whatever hand you use the first time is the one you must use all the time), having a non-park hopper pass and trying to hop, and such things like that.

One of the CMs told me that the scan is akin to a bone density scan. It is not a fingerprint check, I know that for certain.


Z

 

[civileng68]

Personally I don't have problems with the system. I go many times through the year with just my wife and I and we dont have issues, but it is frustrating when others in front of you have problems and they just take forever because they system isn't truly efficient.

I know they want to package each ticket with a specific person (which keeps me from being able to give left-over days on my ticket to you). Honestly, I wont get into a debate unless someone posts it in it's own thread but, I think I should be able to give leftover days to whomever I wish. I purchased my ticket and it should be my discretion as to who I wish to give any unused portion to.

But anyways, I dont know the answer because of the detail Disney wants to know in each ticket but it is NOT efficient. dont believe it? Go during peak times and stand and watch the lines trying to get through.

Efficiency isn't measured at the lowest times of business but the peak times. It's DEFINATELY not efficient.

 

[mkrbdj]

Does Disney have any type of 'back up' for the tickets? Or do we just have to buy another pass to get in?

We always buy our tickets ahead of time and don't want to have to waste time AND spend more money on another pass.

Thanks
Kathy

 

[Skylarr29]

I personally think that all it really does is make lines longer for guests. Half or more people cant figure out how it works and even the ones who know how to do it have problems.In April I had a cm that kept yelling at me to just squeeze my fingers together... I said I am squeezing and I have been to Disney at least a hundred times I yelled back and then she just pushed the button and let me in. Wasnt a greta way to start out my MK morning but oh well.

 

[kadaten]

I've been using it for years with the annual pass so I'm used to it. I'm not concerned about it from a privacy angle though. It's quicker than checking everyone's ID to make sure that the right people are using the passes.

Same here. Been using it for years, no problems, and MUCH faster than checking ID's.

As for what it is, it is not really a scan, it's a measurement. The machine measures several distances between certain points on your fingers....the first time you use the ticket, those measurements are recorded. Every other time you use your ticket, those measurements are verified against the original measurements...if they match, it knows it's you and lets you in. If they don't, you have to re-do it or provide ID to prove that it is your ticket. Supposedly it takes enough measurements that no two people will have the same exact numbers.

If people are up in arms about this, I can't WAIT to see what they when they're asked for a real fingerprint. At some of our local grocery stores, if you want to write a check, you have to leave a fingerprint! Yes, a real fingerprint scan! I've also been asked for a fingerprint when I've gone to cash a check at a bank where I did not have an account (but was where the check writer had an account). I know it bothers a lot of people, but it doesn't bother me. (I've been known to subscribe to the "I have nothing to hide" reasoning, but that doesn't mean I always want to give up every piece of info somebody wants!) I actually *like* that once you're in the store systems, you don't have to provide ID every time you write a check...just the first time you give your print....and I LOVE that if things are verified by fingerprint, there will be no fraudulent use of my account possible, at least not at that store. BUT, I can see where some people are coming from.....

 

[kadaten]

Does Disney have any type of 'back up' for the tickets? Or do we just have to buy another pass to get in?

We always buy our tickets ahead of time and don't want to have to waste time AND spend more money on another pass.

Thanks
Kathy

I know for AP's if you lose your pass, you may go to Guest Services. Show them an ID and they can look up your pass, cancel the old one, and issue you a new one. Hardest part of that is standing in line....it's usually a slow one since everyone in that line has some sort of problem needing solving....but they usually have fantastic CM's in those windows!

Not sure how this works with new tickets. I know with old park hoppers they could use the code numbers off the back of the ticket to look them up, but only if you had a copy of those numbers. That's why so many people advocated making copies of the backs of their tickets and taking those with you, just in case. I have not seen the new tickets, though, so I'm not sure if they have your name or just a number on them. Anyone know?

 

[civileng68]

Same here. Been using it for years, no problems, and MUCH faster than checking ID's.

As for what it is, it is not really a scan, it's a measurement. The machine measures several distances between certain points on your fingers....the first time you use the ticket, those measurements are recorded. Every other time you use your ticket, those measurements are verified against the original measurements...if they match, it knows it's you and lets you in. If they don't, you have to re-do it or provide ID to prove that it is your ticket. Supposedly it takes enough measurements that no two people will have the same exact numbers.

If people are up in arms about this, I can't WAIT to see what they when they're asked for a real fingerprint. At some of our local grocery stores, if you want to write a check, you have to leave a fingerprint! Yes, a real fingerprint scan! I've also been asked for a fingerprint when I've gone to cash a check at a bank where I did not have an account (but was where the check writer had an account). I know it bothers a lot of people, but it doesn't bother me. (I've been known to subscribe to the "I have nothing to hide" reasoning, but that doesn't mean I always want to give up every piece of info somebody wants!) I actually *like* that once you're in the store systems, you don't have to provide ID every time you write a check...just the first time you give your print....and I LOVE that if things are verified by fingerprint, there will be no fraudulent use of my account possible, at least not at that store. BUT, I can see where some people are coming from.....

Actually fingerprints are nothing new. Banks have been using them for years (not with scanners, but real ink!) Trust me, I worked in a bank until I finished college a few years back.

 

[peter11435]

I saw somewhere on the web yesterday that the ACLU is looking into the legality of the biometrics (privacy rights).

That is not true. The president of the ACLU has stated that if people don't like the system they can avoid Disney. Secondly there is nothing they could do, because as a private company Disney had the legal right to do what it wants on this matter. Also it is not a requirement for entry into the park as anyone can refuse to use the system and show a photo ID to get in.