Why do they stamp your hand?

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

My DF and I could not figure this out on our last trip. If we use our PHPs to get in later, why do we need a hand stamp (other than to tickle our DKs pink!!)?

 

[markºoº]

Only the person who initially entered a park using a pass is allowed to use the pass to re-enter a park later in the day. The stamp allows Disney to verify that you were previously in a park that day.

It is to prevent someone from using the pass in the morning and then giving or selling the pass to someone else to use in the evening. The other problem this prevents is a group of people using only 2 passes for the entire group-if 2 people go in and then one person brings the other persons pass back out for another person to use, that pass will be rejected without a valid hand stamp.

 

[kbkids]

I've wondered the same thing before, but we did have an incident awhile back where it saved us. We went to Epcot for the day, got finished and thought we would go to MK for just a little bit before heading back to Epcot for Illuminations. Went to MK, no problem - people were just lining up for Spectromagic, and we couldn't get through the crowds. I looked at my husband, and he said, "Forget it!" So we turned around to go back to Epcot. First time (and last time) I've only spent 5 minutes at MK (We would have never gotten away with that with kids with us.) Anyway, when we got back to Epcot, our PHP wouldn't work. The CM said the pass had been used within the past hour at another park. I explained to her why, and she looked at me like I was crazy. She called over a supervisor, who came over and asked to see our handstamps, and then let us through. Not sure why that allowed us in, but I don't know if we would have got back in without them.

 

[photobob]

The handstamp is for returning to the same park. Once your card is swiped, if you come back to enter again the computers say hey this card has already been swiped here today, so you must show your handstamp that it was you that used it and left and cameback. It may be a way to keep multiple people from using the same pass. That's just my guess though.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

If that is true then some CMs dont follow through with that policy. There were a couple occasions where my DH's PHP did not work (and no stamp) and they sent him to the ticket counter to get a new one. Wonder what the reason was.

 

[skiwee1]

I used a 7 day hopper for 4 days of park hopping without getting my hand stamped. My mom did the same thing. I have no idea why we didn't but I guess at the time figured it was for one day tickets only and that since I had a hopper I could hop all day without a stamp. By the 4th day though it struck me that it might not have been a good idea! I thought maybe I was using my my hopper days too quickly. I went up to a CM at the turnstiles and told him what happened. He told me not to worry about it as it is just used as a deterrent. He said that less people will abuse the sharing of tickets if they think they need their hands stamped to get back in. Handstamping is all for show.

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally posted by kbkids
we couldn't get through the crowds. I looked at my husband, and he said, "Forget it!" So we turned around to go back to Epcot. Anyway, when we got back to Epcot, our PHP wouldn't work. The CM said the pass had been used within the past hour at another park. I explained to her why, and she looked at me like I was crazy.

Just the above paragraph is enough to conclude that that cast member is dead wrong. If anyone says something you don[t agree with, get a second opinion.

Originally posted by skiwee1
[didn't get my hand stamped, the turnstile attendant] told me not to worry about it as it is just used as a deterrent. He said that less people will abuse the sharing of tickets if they think they need their hands stamped to get back in. Handstamping is all for show.

The hand stamp rule is a rule that currently cannot be enforced without creating user unfriendliness and bad customer relations and delays at the turnstiles. Anyone could say they never saw the sign regarding hand stamps. So the cast members at the turnstiles are presumably told to ask no more than one or two gentle questions and let the guest back in anyway.

I suppose that once in awhile a security guard pulls a guest aside for more detailed questioning.

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

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by skiwee1
I used a 7 day hopper for 4 days of park hopping without getting my hand stamped. My mom did the same thing. I have no idea why we didn't but I guess at the time figured it was for one day tickets only and that since I had a hopper I could hop all day without a stamp. By the 4th day though it struck me that it might not have been a good idea! I thought maybe I was using my my hopper days too quickly. I went up to a CM at the turnstiles and told him what happened. He told me not to worry about it as it is just used as a deterrent. He said that less people will abuse the sharing of tickets if they think they need their hands stamped to get back in. Handstamping is all for show.

I disagree with being "all for show". I have seen way to many many people having the stamp checked at various parks for me to believe it is for "show". I bet if you asked 5 different CMs the same question, you would get 5 different answers.

This does NOT incude you here, skiwee, but, why is it when a CM says something that we agree with we take it as gospel, but, when they don't we go searching until we find one that does?

They have signs all over the place at the exits for this and I believe it is in the park maps. I have annual passes and still get my hand stamped, just in case.

 

[skiwee1]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I disagree with being "all for show". I have seen way to many many people having the stamp checked at various parks for me to believe it is for "show". I bet if you asked 5 different CMs the same question, you would get 5 different answers.

This does NOT incude you here, skiwee, but, why is it when a CM says something that we agree with we take it as gospel, but, when they don't we go searching until we find one that does?

They have signs all over the place at the exits for this and I believe it is in the park maps. I have annual passes and still get my hand stamped, just in case.

I agree that you will get 5 different answers from 5 different CMS. That seems to be the way with Disney no matter what the question. I too have seen people show their stamp but I believe they do it on their own because they think they have to. After my lesson of handstamps we decided to go ahead and get out hand stamped the rest of the trip. I am a genuine rule follower! Anyway, from that time forward we automatically held out our hand for checking before even giving the CM our hopper. It was just an automatic move because we knew we had our hand stamped. After not doing it for 4 days I also knew they would not have asked to see it but I did it solely because I had done it this time. So I think most have their hands checked because they have had their hand stamped and think that is the only way to get back in the park. As far as APs' I didn't know you had to do it if you were an AP holder. We've had APs for the past 3 years and have asked at least once per trip to various CMs at various park and have been told by all that AP holders do not need their hands stamped. I can't imagine over 20 different Cms being wrong. Have you been told otherwise on AP holders?

 

[wilderness01]

Oh oh we have annual passes as well and have never gotten our hands stamped. I asked once and they just waived us through the turnstile. We did then go back to the park in less than an hour and no one gave us a hard time upon re-entering.
Maybe they are just not as strict with annual passes as you have to do the finger swipe?

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by skiwee1
As far as APs' I didn't know you had to do it if you were an AP holder. We've had APs for the past 3 years and have asked at least once per trip to various CMs at various park and have been told by all that AP holders do not need their hands stamped. I can't imagine over 20 different Cms being wrong. Have you been told otherwise on AP holders?

We just got back and used our AP's for the first time ever and were told more than once that AP holders do not need hand stamps but our niece who we invited on this trip who had a 4 day pass needed the hand stamp.

 

[Figaro]

We have annual passes and have been told every single time that we ask that a handstamp isn't required for people with annual passes. We've never been questioned one single time, and sometimes we have entered and left a park after 15 minutes or less to go to a different park (looked at the crowds and decided to hop)(smile) and no one has ever said a word. Since I can't use the biometrics (wrong angle from the wheelchair), I always keep my drivers license with me and show that. But my spouse can use the biometrics and he has never had a problem either.

 

[jaysue]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I disagree with being "all for show". I have seen way to many many people having the stamp checked at various parks for me to believe it is for "show". I bet if you asked 5 different CMs the same question, you would get 5 different answers.

This does NOT incude you here, skiwee, but, why is it when a CM says something that we agree with we take it as gospel, but, when they don't we go searching until we find one that does?

They have signs all over the place at the exits for this and I believe it is in the park maps. I have annual passes and still get my hand stamped, just in case.

You hit bang on the head Gail with your 2nd paragraph - it is human nature to keep asking until you get the answer you want to hear. Many companies (including mine) seem to follow this policy and it just creates a lot of unecessary noise.

There have been times where with our AP's the CM's have asked to see the hand stamp and times they have not regardless of whether 2nd entry into same park or different park. To be safe, we get the handstamps so we are prepared

thanks
jaysue

 

[LibertyBelle]

Yes, with Annual passes you have the finger swipe so they know it is you.

As for the hand stamp, if you are leaving the park and plan to return to ANY park that day they ask that you get a handstamp. Each park has a different saying on the stamp that they are using for that day, for example if you leave MK and get your hand stamp the stamp might say "Alice" so when you go to Epcot and show your stamp they know you are coming from MK because "Alice" is the MK stamp of the day (each day has a different stamp and each park has a different stamp). The hand stamp is to prevent multiple people from using the same ticket as stated by other posters. After you have left say MK and get to Epcot when you put your ticket in the Turnstile will remain locked until the CM allows you in which is when they are to check your handstamp (as the turnstile will say check ID). They have the right to refuse entry if you do not have your handstamped, but it is not required of the CM to do so, they have heard every excuse in the book as to why the stamp is not on your hand and 9 times out of 10 can tell if you are telling the truth. If you sound genuine they are not going to give you a hard time.

SYDNCLAIRESMOM in your situation if the PHP did not work, it may have been demagnitized or had some other issue that had nothing to do with the hand stamp. They would have sent you to get a new one in this case to keep you from having future issues with the ticket itself. If it does not work in the turnstile it will not work in the fastpass machines and you will have problems with it for the rest of the trip, to get the problem fixed immediatly will save you time in the long run

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by skiwee1
I agree that you will get 5 different answers from 5 different CMS. That seems to be the way with Disney no matter what the question. I too have seen people show their stamp but I believe they do it on their own because they think they have to. After my lesson of handstamps we decided to go ahead and get out hand stamped the rest of the trip. I am a genuine rule follower! Anyway, from that time forward we automatically held out our hand for checking before even giving the CM our hopper. It was just an automatic move because we knew we had our hand stamped. After not doing it for 4 days I also knew they would not have asked to see it but I did it solely because I had done it this time. So I think most have their hands checked because they have had their hand stamped and think that is the only way to get back in the park. As far as APs' I didn't know you had to do it if you were an AP holder. We've had APs for the past 3 years and have asked at least once per trip to various CMs at various park and have been told by all that AP holders do not need their hands stamped. I can't imagine over 20 different Cms being wrong. Have you been told otherwise on AP holders?

Nope, have been told all along that AP holders do NOT need a handstamp. I just do it. As I said before, just in case.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Ok folks, obviously my post caused confusion.
No where in my post did I say AP holders needed a handstamp, I said I have my hand stamped "just in case". It is a personal preference, not a requirement of AP holders.
Sorry for any confusion I may have cause, I thought I was being quite clear.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

OK, so lemme get this straight. When you park hop- at the second park (or same park just later in the day)- the turnstile reads "check ID" so at that point you are to show your stamp? Think I got it now. Thanks guys!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by SYDNCLAIRESMOM
OK, so lemme get this straight. When you park hop- at the second park (or same park just later in the day)- the turnstile reads "check ID" so at that point you are to show your stamp? Think I got it now. Thanks guys!

Ah, no, you get a handstamp, they have a light placed where they can see it, even if you cannot, and if there is a problem they ask to see your hand so they can look more closely. If it says "check ID" they then ask for your ID.

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

The hand stamp is to prevent multiple people from using the same ticket as stated by other posters. After you have left say MK and get to Epcot when you put your ticket in the Turnstile will remain locked until the CM allows you in which is when they are to check your handstamp (as the turnstile will say check ID).

Ah, no, you get a handstamp, they have a light placed where they can see it, even if you cannot, and if there is a problem they ask to see your hand so they can look more closely. If it says "check ID" they then ask for your ID.

Gail,
No need to get irratated. I understand about the black light showing the stamp, as Im not a complete idiot. I just wanted to make clear that the pass does not work twice in the same day hence the need for the stamp. Simple enough-got it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by SYDNCLAIRESMOM



Gail,
No need to get irratated. I understand about the black light showing the stamp, as Im not a complete idiot. I just wanted to make clear that the pass does not work twice in the same day hence the need for the stamp. Simple enough-got it.

I am not irritated in the least, sorry if it appeared as such.

The pass most definitely works twice a day, it has to work each time you put it through the pass reader, it shows where you have been and when with that pass. What it does not do is remove another day. What the stamp proves is that you were the one to have used it. As to the black light, you would be amazed how many people do not know it exists, I was pointing out that it is there, not trying to make you an idiot.

This link, under misc. questions explains what I was trying to say far better than I could say it.

http://allearsnet.com/pl/ticket.htm#8