[Question] Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

[SoCalbma]

Hey guys,

I am wondering how come we don't have finger scanner here at Disneyland? There is one at Universal Studios Hollywood and Legoland.

When I went to WDW this past summer, there are finger scanners at four of their parks and two water parks and Disney's Quest.

Is it because if they did install it, it would make the line longer to get in. Or is it because is expensive to install?

Or might it be that there are not a lot of fraudulent activity here in S. California than in Florida?

[WDITrent]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

They have them at WDW, so I'm not sure why not.

But yes, it makes the line much longer to get in. You wouldn't believe how many times I've been stuck in a long line of people that can't figure it out.

[Mr. Bungle]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

My understanding is that the fingerprints are mainly to do away with hand-stamping being required for park-hopping. As there are only two DL parks, I think it's not as big a deal.

[JesterMn]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

^But USH only has one park, and they use the finger scanning.

[Mr. Bungle]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

^But USH only has one park, and they use the finger scanning.

They're overzealous?

[Darkbeer]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

One of the main benefits of Finger Scanning is to prevent Ticket Abuse.

Some folks do pass off their AP to others that look similar to them, and of course, there is the problem of folks splitting up a multi-day ParkHopper with multiple folks.

Years ago, WDW used to not have finger scanners and used a date stamp to mark each day of use of the multi-day ParkHopper, and the ParkHoppers didn't expire, or had a long shelf life.

Businesses were set up on main roadways near the airport and WDW areas (off-property) where the bought and sold these partially used tickets, which is against Disney's rules and regulations.

So that is why they no longer mark the tickets in any way (just the computer record) and will not confirm any sort of amount of days left on the phone or anywhere else except Guest Relations on property. They can also ask where they got the tickets, and a "professional" would be easy to be picked out by their regular visits to the booths.

The scanner is another way to try and enforce the One Person per ticket for the life of the ticket rule. Is it perfect, no, but it is a great deterrent.

And seems like a lot of the Disneyland tickets are getting abused in the same way, and surprised that they haven't brought the system to the Disneyland Resort. Hopefully it will be added in the near future.

[CMHusband]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

One of the main benefits of Finger Scanning is to prevent Ticket Abuse.

Some folks do pass off their AP to others that look similar to them, and of course, there is the problem of folks splitting up a multi-day ParkHopper with multiple folks.

Years ago, WDW used to not have finger scanners and used a date stamp to mark each day of use of the multi-day ParkHopper, and the ParkHoppers didn't expire, or had a long shelf life.

Businesses were set up on main roadways near the airport and WDW areas (off-property) where the bought and sold these partially used tickets, which is against Disney's rules and regulations.

So that is why they no longer mark the tickets in any way (just the computer record) and will not confirm any sort of amount of days left on the phone or anywhere else except Guest Relations on property. They can also ask where they got the tickets, and a "professional" would be easy to be picked out by their regular visits to the booths.

The scanner is another way to try and enforce the One Person per ticket for the life of the ticket rule. Is it perfect, no, but it is a great deterrent.

And seems like a lot of the Disneyland tickets are getting abused in the same way, and surprised that they haven't brought the system to the Disneyland Resort. Hopefully it will be added in the near future.

yep. the amount of ticket abuse is amazing. they confiscate tickets everyday from people who either let someone else use thier AP or try to sell off unused days of a multi-day pass. Abusers beware! They are looking for you.

I'm sure when the cost effectivness of a fingerprint system offsets the lost revenue they will put it in place.

[Wendygirl]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

When I was at WDW in the Spring I had never seen this kind of scanner before but figured it out pretty quickly. I spoke with a CM about it there and mentioned that we did not have this at Disneyland. Her response was that we would be getting it at some point in time. Don't know if she was just talking or if she really knew something. I too can see a problem with long lines, especially when it first goes in service.

[MAH4546]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Just to note, it is not a fingerprint scan.

The scanner takes a series of measurements of the size of the ticket holder's finger, and assigns a series of biometric numbers to those memberships. Multiple people are assigned the same code, but what are the chances that they will use each other's tickets? Pretty close to zero.

The machines does not read your fingerprint, it measures the dimensions of your finger.

[brand42]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

It can't possibly be that expensive to install because my workplace uses this sort of system and we don't bring in anywhere near the amount of money that Disney Theme Parks do.

I think it would definitely slow the lines down. People don't even have the wherewithal to have their tickets ready in hand when lining up for the entrances.

[Code90]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

The finger scanners are problematic at WDW. When I was there last, the scanner would not validate my finger. This happened on more than one occasion. The ticket takers would just bypass the scan and let me in. Judging by how easily the ticket takers gave up on the scan, it was apparent that this type of thing happens all the time.

That said, it's probably best that Disneyland sticks with the old handstamp method. It might seem old-fashioned, but it works.

[junglecskipper]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Yes DL should stay with the old method.

[Mr. Bungle]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Just to note, it is not a fingerprint scan.

The scanner takes a series of measurements of the size of the ticket holder's finger, and assigns a series of biometric numbers to those memberships. Multiple people are assigned the same code, but what are the chances that they will use each other's tickets? Pretty close to zero.

The machines does not read your fingerprint, it measures the dimensions of your finger.

A CM this past weekend at WDW told me it was a "fingerprint scanner". I recall it measuring biometrics in the past, but I thought it might have changed, now that scanning in fingerprints is a common security practice these days.

[Mr. Potato Head]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Those things are a pain. The one at Seaworld always tells them to ask for ID on the whole family anyways, I seriously don't get the point of them. Also it slows down the lines terribly.

[TheDude]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Yes DL should stay with the old method.

The "old method" you mentioned doesn't cover multi-day tickets. Hand stamps might word for one day admission on the same day, but not a multi-day ticket.

My take: Once the DLR becomes a REAL multi-day resort after 2012... you'll see something like this in place.

[WestsideCM99]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Those things are a pain. The one at Seaworld always tells them to ask for ID on the whole family anyways, I seriously don't get the point of them. Also it slows down the lines terribly.

Yup, and the scanners only work about half the time. If the scanner doesn't work then you have to break out the ID and they need to confirm it in the computer. I think that photo ID's are sufficient enough validation.

[Darkbeer]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Yup, and the scanners only work about half the time. If the scanner doesn't work then you have to break out the ID and they need to confirm it in the computer. I think that photo ID's are sufficient enough validation.

Fine, REQUIRE folks to print their name on their Multi-Day ParkHopper and then show ID (unless they are a kid) on each day of entry. I am tired of seeing the scammers on eBay and craigslist selling "single days" of a Multi-Day ParkHopper.

Also enforce the SoCal/Baja Cal Mexico discounted tickets with the same rules. REQUIRE an ID each and every day of use that proves you live in the right zip codes.

[DuffyGuardian]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

I knew a set of twin girls who said they had only one pass for the both of them. I never saw them do this. But they looked a like, so I imagine it worked.

[WestsideCM99]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

Fine, REQUIRE folks to print their name on their Multi-Day ParkHopper and then show ID (unless they are a kid) on each day of entry. I am tired of seeing the scammers on eBay and craigslist selling "single days" of a Multi-Day ParkHopper.

Also enforce the SoCal/Baja Cal Mexico discounted tickets with the same rules. REQUIRE an ID each and every day of use that proves you live in the right zip codes.

Good Ideas here, even if the ticketbooth CM just had a webcam to snap a photo to put into the ticket's electronic file upon purchase that would stop some of the scamming. That way there's no cost involved to install new hand scanner technologies. Just pay for some webcams, build some software to communicate the picture to the database, and maybe upgrade their servers to hold the added photo capacity.

People go out of their way sometimes to sneak into the park when there are perfectly good off-duty CMs hanging out in DTD that are willing to sell their walk-ins at a discounted price!

[Darkbeer]

Re: Finger Scanner at Disneyland Resort

People go out of their way sometimes to sneak into the park when there are perfectly good off-duty CMs hanging out in DTD that are willing to sell their walk-ins at a discounted price!

And FYI, there are perfectly good undercover Disneyland Security Officers that are hanging out in DTD looking for those CM's selling those tickets, in which they are caught, get fired.