Why do they stamp your hand?

[CamColt]

We had a different experience. When we were leaving MK around 2:00pm on 12/29 the place was mobbed. Upon exiting we saw a group trying to get a hand stamp. The CM told them no, you dont need it today, but they were insistent on getting one. The CM seemed a little annoyed and said that it wouldnt matter today(maybe because the crowds, Im guessing???), but if they really wanted one she would give it to them. I thought that was strange.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by CamColt
We had a different experience. When we were leaving MK around 2:00pm on 12/29 the place was mobbed. Upon exiting we saw a group trying to get a hand stamp. The CM told them no, you dont need it today, but they were insistent on getting one. The CM seemed a little annoyed and said that it wouldnt matter today(maybe because the crowds, Im guessing???), but if they really wanted one she would give it to them. I thought that was strange.

Very strange indeed.

 

[Cruisin]

We have never had anyone check our handstamps when we re-enter any parks.
But we get our hands stamped anyways cause it is real cool to go on the black light rides and see what the stamps are on your hands!!!!

 

[Whitegloves]

Originally posted by Cruisin'Kroezes
We have never had anyone check our handstamps when we re-enter any parks.
But we get our hands stamped anyways cause it is real cool to go on the black light rides and see what the stamps are on your hands!!!!

So we aren't the only ones who think the black lights and the stamps together are cool?!!!!
=0)

 

[adisneynut]

that the hand stamp was a back-up in case the computers were down whenever we tried to re-enter the park. On NEW YEAR DAY we started in MK went to Epcot, then over to MGM and back to MK for Spectromagic and wishes. Each park we lest stamped our hands with TIGGER that day. I know because it showed up on some rides that had blacklights in them. Maybe this will help.

 

[clkelley]

We've had the "less than an hour lockout" happen to us too.

We were taking the leisurely way from Ft. Wilderness to the Studios to stay off the the busses which meant going through Epcot then out the International Gateway.

When we entered MGM, it had been only about 20 minutes since we had entered Epcot, so all they did was ask for my handstamp and my friends ID (she had an Annual Pass). They released the lockout and there was no problem.

It also happened to me twice in one morning a couple of years ago. I was at rope drop for Early Entry at the Studios and did ToT and Rock n' Roller Coaster right quick, then hotfooted it over to Epcot International Gateway (where I had to show ID because of the lockout) and then did Test Track in the singles line, then hustled to the monorail to get over to Magic Kingdom where I got a lockout again and had to show ID, they actually asked me a couple of extra questions on that one as it was 3 entrances in less than two hours. After Space, Splash, and Big Thunder, I then went over to Animal Kingdom, but those took a bit longer, so no lockout at Animal Kingdom. Then I saw Festival of the Lion King, then went back to my resort and caught a Mears to the airport.

Carol

 

[Safari Steve]

1) The following tickets require a handstamp for re-entry/park hopping: 1Day1Park, Park Hopper, Park Hopper +, Ultimate Park Hopper. The stamp is used to prove that you were in a park previously and will be checked if your ticket has been used too recently or if the turnstile computers go down.
2) The following tickets do not require a handstamp: FL Resident Play 4 Days, FL Resident Seasonal Pass, Annual Pass, Premium Annual Pass. These tickets utilize biometric finger scan to verify the ticketholder's ID. In the event that the biometric scanners are off-line, or if the turnstile computers go down, valid photo ID is required to verify ticketholder information regardless of whether you have a stamp on your hand. If you're using Bob Smith's PAP and you're not Bob Smith *or don't have ID to prove it* it doesn't matter how many stamps you have.
3) There are other ways for CMs to verify the ticketholder, but they will only be used if the system deems it necessary. 9 times out of 10, your stamp will not be checked. That does not mean that the stamp is just for show or that it will never be checked, it only means that 9 times out of 10 verifying the user is not as high a priority as getting people through the turnstiles in a hassle-free manner.
The ticket is the most important part of the equation. Make sure you always have it. Get a stamp Just In Case (it doesn't hurt, stain, cost anything, or take any major amount of extra time or effort, so why not.)

The ticket will work multiple times in the same day.

There are many reasons a ticket might not work in the turnstile. If they send you to get a new ticket, it has nothing to do with the stamp or the biometrics. If your biometrics do not match or if you don't have a stamp, that has nothing to do with the mag-stripe on the ticket.