What does the biometric scan actually scan?

[lorenae]

I have no idea how these things work, but my friend is coming on Sunday for her first ever WDW visit. Weirdly, she has no fingerprints at all due to something when she was young.

Will she have problems with this? Her hands are normal looking, aside from arthritis in a few joints (she’s 65 now) but I wondered if the scanners did fingerprints or something else?

 

[Robo]

I have no idea how these things work, but my friend is coming on Sunday for her first ever WDW visit. Weirdly, she has no fingerprints at all due to something when she was young.

1. Will she have problems with this? Her hands are normal looking, aside from arthritis in a few joints (she’s 65 now) but
2. I wondered if the scanners did fingerprints or something else?

1. Likely, yes.
2. They do SCAN fingerprints. But, they don't "save" the entire scan.
If she does not have any prints to scan, the system will likely have problems with every subsequent time
she tries to scan-in.

To solve this, (and likely save some time every time she enters a park) the first time she goes to a gate, just have her ask to use a photo ID (a drivers license will work.)
This is a common procedure used by guests who don't like the idea of the finger scan.
(The use of the photo for ID will automatically be put into her MDX file.)
After that, they will be able to use her photo ID when she uses her tickets at the gates.

 

[cobright]

It does fingerprints. It uses a grid of capacitance sensors to get a crude model of the fingerprint instead of taking a picture of it.

If her finger has any topography to it at all (high and low spots) the scanner should be okay with it. Particularly complex biometric scanners will freak out if the patterns do not fit a traditional style of shape and complexity but since it's not actually comparing a picture of the finger, the absence of traditional finger 'loops and whorls' shouldn't cause a problem.

Does she use a cell phone with a finger scanner? If not, mayve she can get someone with a modern smartphone to try and add her fingerprint (just temporarily). If she can get a cellphone scanner to read her print then the one at Disney should probably work.

All else fails, they'll make an exception.

 

[purple figment]

The scanner almost never reads my fingerprint so a castmember with an ipad will come over and check my photo ID with the photo on file. It's quick and never a problem.

 

[seashoreCM]

The finger scan is digested (the term is hashed) into a number which I think I heard someone say was 4 digits. Note that it is impossible to take one 4 or even 8 digit number and redraw the fingerprint, but the next time the finger scan is done, if the number matches the number obtained the first time then the finger scan is considered a match.

For those who abhor finger scans for fear the finger scanner is unsanitary, remember that many other objects -- handrails, doorknobs, laser guns, etc. -- are equally unclean.

 

[Bjkandma]

I have lost "feelings" and crippled fingers due to RA nerve damage. They used to have a cast member take my picture using an an ipad. Every time I entered the park, is have to wait for a cast member come with an ipad to verify it was me.

Now, that my daughter is older, she just shows two magic bands, here and mine and scans both bands and her fingerprint. No more problems. Perhaps another person in your party can assist with supplying their finger for scanning purposes. Both people must go through the same line, and cast members just verify two bands are present.

 

[HeiHei2018]

Now, that my daughter is older, she just shows two magic bands, here and mine and scans both bands and her fingerprint. No more problems. Perhaps another person in your party can assist with supplying their finger for scanning purposes. Both people must go through the same line, and cast members just verify two bands are present.

I was instructed to use my finger for my little one. My dad always forgets which finger he used, so they pull up his picture.

 

[lorenae]

I have lost "feelings" and crippled fingers due to RA nerve damage. They used to have a cast member take my picture using an an ipad. Every time I entered the park, is have to wait for a cast member come with an ipad to verify it was me.

Now, that my daughter is older, she just shows two magic bands, here and mine and scans both bands and her fingerprint. No more problems. Perhaps another person in your party can assist with supplying their finger for scanning purposes. Both people must go through the same line, and cast members just verify two bands are present.

Oh my gosh- that’s a great idea! She won’t be going to the park without me, and if I take her magic band and use my finger the first time, then I can do it every time, right? Will a CM have an issue with this? She’s not disabled or anything, aside from not having fingerprints and arthritis in her thumbs.

 

[Animal]

There really is nothing to worry about. Some visitors don’t have hands. I wouldn’t even think about a workaround, of which a couple have been proposed. It will be sorted out at the tapstile with maybe a minute or two of delay.

 

[cobright]

Bring out half a hotdog in a ziplok bag and say, "Oh I brought my finger for the scanner..." They'll figure out a different method fast.

 

[Bjkandma]

Oh my gosh- that’s a great idea! She won’t be going to the park without me, and if I take her magic band and use my finger the first time, then I can do it every time, right? Will a CM have an issue with this? She’s not disabled or anything, aside from not having fingerprints and arthritis in her thumbs.

No issues whatsoever! Super easy. Just show two magic bands with two people at scanner!