Ticket Tag Finger Scans

Finger scans. Just the mere mention of it suggests something out of a Star Trek movie. But finger scans at Walt Disney World are not evil. In fact, they are a necessity if you purchase any current WDW admission media. Hopefully this will take some of the fear of the unknown out of doing a finger scan for your park admission.

In early 1996, Disney began a new system to identify users of annual and seasonal passes. Abandoned was the barcoded laminated photo ID pass in favor of a new mylar paper one. This new pass had no photo and only contained minimal visual evidence of ownership - your name and the expiration date of the pass. What was new was the magnetic strip on the back.

This magnetic strip stored all of your pass information that the previous photo one had plus it would reference one new piece of information: your biometric finger scan or as Disney now calls it, your ticket tag.

Disney expanded the use of the ticket tag system in 2005 with the introduction of Magic Your Way tickets and then expanded it to include all tickets no matter when purchased.

The original scanners used two fingers inserted in a "V" shape. The original scanners required visitors to insert two fingers into a reader that identified key information about the shape of the fingers. In 2006, Disney started upgrading their scanners with single finger scanners. The single finger scanners scan one fingertip for its fingerprint information but does not store the entire fingerprint image, but only numerical information about certain points.

Why does Disney need my fingerprints?

The original admission system has nothing to do with your fingerprints. It scans your index and middle fingers (on two finger scanners) and uses a geometric formula to come up with a number that will identify your fingers. The calculated number is apparently something that is not totally unique, but is statistically significant in identifying you. The single finger scanners scan one fingertip for its fingerprint information.

How long will Disney keep this information?

The data on the scans is kept independent of all of any other system and will be purged 30 days after the ticket expires or when the computer determines that it is fully used up.

What admission media require the use of ticket tag finger scans?

Effective January 2, 2005, all current WDW admission media will use the finger scans. Effective June 20, 2005, all WDW admission media including ones purchased prior to 2005 will use finger scans.

Does everyone that has one of those passes have to use the finger scan system?

Yes and no. Finger scans are not required for any child passes for children under age 10. Nor are they required for handicapped people who cannot use the finger scanners. If you personally prefer not using the finger scanners, a photo ID can always override the use of biometrics. Just present the gate CM a photo ID and be admitted without using the scanner. Otherwise, you will have to use the finger scanners to get in.

How does the scanner know that it is my fingers, not someone else's?

Because the first time that you use the pass, your initial biometric reading will be recorded. This is the reading that all subsequent admissions will be compared to. The scanner uses six lasers to take a picture of the contours of your fingers. If you are wearing a ring the first time you scan and the second time you are without the ring, it will not recognize you. If you use three fingers instead of 2, it will not recognize you. If you use the opposite hand, it will not recognize you. And if you wear gloves, it will not recognize you.

One of the new ticket tag scanners being tested at the Magic Kingdom.

How do I use a pass that requires finger scans?

There are currently two different finger scanners in use at WDW. On the traditional two-finger machine, you insert your pass into the park entrance turnstyle just like everyone else. After you have inserted your pass, you put your index and middle fingers into the scanner located atop the turnstyle. Once your fingers are inside the scanner, you will feel two small rubber knobs. Place your fingers so that the rubber knob is between the index finger and the middle finger. *LIGHTLY* bring them together so they touch the rubber knob and push your hand all the way in so the web part between your index and middle fingers touches the small plastic spindle at the very front. Do not squeeze the rubber knob tight.

Located atop the finger scanner is an inverted triangular array of red LED's. On the old biometric scanners, these were visible to the user. On the new ones, they are on the back side visible only to the gate CM. These LED's will light up when your fingers are first inserted and will all go out when your hand is properly positioned. All you need to do is put your fingers in the proper way and wait while the machine does its work. It isn't instantaneous. It takes about 5 seconds of keeping your fingers steady while being read. When the scanner has successfully read your scan, your pass will be ejected through the turnstile and you will be able to enter the park. If the scan was not successful, the CM will have to assist you. They will usually ask you to try again. If the second reading fails, they may ask for an ID before manually overriding the system for you. Then again, they may not.

On the new single finger scanners, you insert your pass into the park entrance turnstyle. Then you make a fist and place your index finger from your right hand across the opening at the top, holding it there until the scan finishes. This scanner will not have the LED lights. According to Disney, this single finger scanner will speed up identifications when entering or re-entering a park.

Top view of the new single finger scanner being tested at the Magic Kingdom.

How should I put my hand in?

On the two fingered scanners, decide which hand you want to use (right is much easier) and continue to use that same hand every time you enter a park. Make a "peace sign" with or without a clenched fist and insert the index and middle fingers around the rubber knob. Push your hand in until the small plastic spindle sits firmly in the "v" between the two fingers.

On the single finger scanners, make a fist with your right hand and put your index finger across the opeing at the top of the machine.

What happens if I can't get all the LED's to go out?

Then your pass will have to be overridden by the CM at the gate. They may ask you for your ID to verify that the name on the pass matches yours.

Sometimes you will successfully complete the finger scanning and the turnstile still won't let you in. If this happens, you can ask the gate CM to reset your biometrics. This often, but not always, helps. The biometrics can only be reset during a successful finger scan (all lights go out).

Sometimes the magnetic strip on your pass gets demagnetized or otherwise compromised. You can take it to any Guest Relations window where they will replace your pass for you.

I tried all that and I still can't get my pass to work right. Is there anything else I can do?

You can take it to Guest Relations and ask them to permanently override the biometrics requirement. This will *require* you to show a photo ID every time you enter a park.

Two finger scanner at the Magic Kingdom.

Should I care if my pass has to be overridden at the gate?

There are several codes the gate CM can use to override the biometrics. If the gate CM codes your override incorrectly, you will not be able to use the FastPass machines during your stay at that park. This is because the computer will not show your pass actually being used for admission that day. Each time you put your pass in a FastPass machine, you will get back a slip that says "not valid pass" instead of a FastPass. You will have to get the attraction FastPass CM to override the "not valid pass" info that the computer will give. This can be a real pain explaining this to the CM at every attraction you want a FastPass for.

I'm the one who held all the WDW tickets and I didn't keep track of who used what ticket during our trip. We never had a problem with the finger scan not working.

That's because the Disney computer system will tag tickets purchased at the same time whether at WDW or in advance as a group when you first use them. That allows any one of that group of tickets to match the stored finger scan of any one of the other tickets.

We went to a park opening one morning and they told us not to use the finger scans. What's up with that?

During times of the day when lines of guests waiting to get into the park are long, some parks will turn off the biometric scanners to allow faster entry for everyone. This is not always done and cannot be counted on to happen.

What happens if I try to use someone else's pass and it won't work?

Besides your not gaining admission to the park, you will have the pass confiscated. Taken directly from the WDW AP sleeve is this quote:
"The owners of the Walt Disney World Resort reserve the right to revoke the Annual Pass if it is presented for admission by anyone other than the Passholder of record or if the Passholder violates park policies."

What about my old pre-2005 park tickets? Will I have to use the ticket tag system for those now?

Yes you will. The person that first uses the old ticket with the finger scan will become tied to that old ticket and will be the only one who can use it in the future.

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Reader comments:

I just returned from a wonderful week at Disney. I have lymphodema in my right arm due to breast cancer surgery, and this condition causes my arm and hand to swell as the day goes on, and is particularly bad in hot/humid weather (like August in Florida!). I activated my park ticket by putting my right hand (smaller in the morning) in the finger scanner. However, by midday, when we would park-hop, my hand would be swollen and I couldn't get by the finger scanner at the next park. I'd hold up the line, embarassing me and my family.

A CM told me that once you activate your ticket with a finger scan, that scan remains with the ticket through the life of the ticket. So if lymphodema is a problem for you, activate your ticket with your "good" hand! - Leslie from Marblehead, MA

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Keep in mind that the system is not protecting Fort Knox. It isn't perfect. There will be the occasional time that you may have done everything correctly and it still will reject your pass. Don't worry about what you can't control. Just remember to bring your ID with you. Then make the best of it and enjoy your visit to Walt Disney World.

Additional information for this article was contributed by Kenny Cottrell.

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