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Disney Secret Revealed: Why Is a Theme Park Scanning My Kid’s Fingerprint?

A little girl scanning her MagicBand and fingerprint to enter EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort.
Credit: Disney

Some families are surprised to learn that Walt Disney World Resort requires ticket and fingerprint scans for theme park entry. Let’s review these scans, why the Disney parks require them, and how The Walt Disney Company handles your private information.

Purpose Behind Fingerprint Scanning at Disney

Ticket Fraud Prevention

At Walt Disney World Resort, fingerprint scanning serves a critical role in preventing ticket fraud. Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park attract millions of visitors each year, and the demand for admission can lead to unscrupulous activities where tickets are sold or transferred without authorization.

Entrance sign to Walt Disney World with a blue and gold design, featuring the phrase "The Most Magical Place on Earth." The sky is partly cloudy, and trees are visible in the background.

Credit: Flickr, Ussamam

Historically, Walt Disney World Resort utilized barcoded photo ID passes, which were easy to forge and resell. In 1996, they introduced a new ticketing system with a biometric component. A unique biometric identifier based on their fingerprint is created when a guest first enters a Disney park. This method links the fingerprint to the ticket, ensuring only the ticket holder can use it.

By making each ticket personal, Disney prevents scenarios where someone could buy a multi-day ticket and sell off unused days. The fingerprint scan acts as an additional layer of security, ensuring that the person entering the park is indeed the one who purchased or owns the ticket.

Enhancing Guest Experience

Fingerprint scanning is designed to enhance security and improve the guest experience. By linking the ticket to the individual through biometric data, Disney aims to streamline park entry. This expedites the process by minimizing time spent at gates, allowing guests to enjoy more of what the parks have to offer.

With this system in place, visitors can experience a smoother entrance into Disney Park attractions without the fear of prolonged waits due to ticket verification issues.

Safety and Security of Your Data

Temporary Data Usage

People walk toward the entrance of a theme park on a sunny day. The building features a clock tower and intricate architectural details, with a well-maintained garden in front. Trees and a clear blue sky are in the background.

Credit: Brian Becton / Flickr

Security concerns surrounding biometrics, such as fingerprint scans, are valid in today’s digital environment. However, Disney prioritizes the safety and security of its guests’ data.

When a guest uses the fingerprint scanner, the system captures an image of their fingerprint to create a unique numerical value. The fingerprint image is deleted immediately after this value is created.

A roller coaster track emerges from a large mountain, designed to resemble Expedition Everest with a rugged peak and cave-like opening. The track, filled with passengers, descends steeply, surrounded by lush greenery and a blue sky above. Various structures decorate the mountainside.

Credit: Disney

Walt Disney World Resort does not store fingerprints or create a long-term database of guests’ biometric information. The focus remains on ensuring the link between the ticket and the individual is secure while minimizing any lingering data that could be exploited.

Alternative Options to Walt Disney World Resort’s Fingerprint Scanning

While fingerprint scanning is a standard protocol at Walt Disney World Resort, it remains optional for guests. Should anyone feel uncomfortable with this process, Disney offers an alternative: they can present a valid photo ID to verify their identity.

Disney Hollywood Studios

Credit: Paul Hudson, Flickr

Disney cast members link pictures of guests’ ID cards to their tickets so that they can be cross-referenced on future visits. If your family is interested in this alternative, let a main entrance cast member know.

What Walt Disney World Resort secret would you like to know the answer to? Let Disney Tips know in the comments! 

About Jess Colopy

Jess Colopy is a Disney College Program alum and kid-at-heart. When she’s not furiously typing in a coffee shop, you can find her on the hunt for the newest Stitch pin.

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