Did you know that you can enter the Walt Disney World theme parks without having to scan your fingerprint? In this article, we’ll discuss the process that you need to take to enter the Walt Disney World theme parks without scanning your finger.
Health and Privacy Concerns
As the COVID-19 Coronavirus continues to spread, we’ve been getting a lot of questions about how an upcoming Walt Disney World visit will be impacted. As of right now, Walt Disney World remains opens to guests and a statement from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel outlines what the resort is doing to mitigate the risks to guests and Cast Members.
One of the questions we’re asked the most is about the touchpoints at the front of the park and what Disney is doing with regards to biometric (fingerprint) scanning that each guest does to enter the park. Guests scan their finger to enter the park as part of a two part park entry process that involves tapping park entrance media such as a card or MagicBand to a tappoint and scanning your fingerprint as a means of verifying that a guest is linked with the ticket used to get them into the park. With tens of thousands of guests performing a fingerprint scan every day, many have been concerned about the effect that could possibly have on helping to spread a virus at Walt Disney World. Here’s what the Centers for Disease Control says about surface transmission of COVID-19, or Coronavirus (emphasis added):
It is not certain how long the virus that causes COVID-19 survives on surfaces, but it seems to behave like other coronaviruses. Studies suggest that coronaviruses (including preliminary information on the COVID-19 virus) may persist on surfaces for a few hours or up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).
If you think a surface may be infected, clean it with simple disinfectant to kill the virus and protect yourself and others. Clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose.
Given the official guidance offered by the CDC, it’s not unreasonable to be concerned about a touchpoint that is being used by multiple guests per minute. All that said, Disney has placed hand sanitizers right inside the park entrances for guests who want to continue to use a fingerprint scan. These hand sanitizers are in addition to the dozens of hand sanitizers already available around Disney parks and resorts.
Another concern that guests have is about their privacy when using a fingerprint scan. Disney’s own FAQ addresses privacy concerns of using a fingerprint scan for their Ticket Tag (touchpoint) system:
We offer the convenience of Ticket Tag at the entrance of many of our theme parks and water parks. Ticket Tag helps to facilitate ease of re-entry into our parks and helps prevent fraud.
In order to use Ticket Tag, you simply place your finger on a reader. The system, which utilizes the technology of biometrics, takes an image of your finger, converts the image into a unique numerical value and immediately discards the image. The numerical value is recalled when you use Ticket Tag with the same ticket to re-enter or visit another Park. Ticket Tag does not store fingerprints.
How to Opt Out of Fingerprint Scanning at Walt Disney World
For the rest of this article, we’ll talk about the steps you have to take to opt out of fingerprint scanning at Walt Disney World and how you’ll enter the park without a fingerprint scan.
Head to Guest Relations
Guests wishing to opt out of fingerprint scanning should visit a Guest Relations window either at the front of a theme park, inside a theme park, or at the Guest Relations location in Disney Springs.
At the Guest Relations location, simply tell the Guest Relations Cast Member that you would like to opt out of biometric scanning and they’ll ask for your park entrance media (card or MagicBand), and a photo ID. We also had to fill out a simple form that asks for standard personal information such as your name, home address, email, and phone number. The Guest Relations Cast Member will put a note on your account that will indicate that you have opted out of biometric scanning.
Bring a Photo ID
If you want to enter a Walt Disney World theme park without scanning your fingerprint, you must have a photo ID to enter the park. A photo ID is the only way that Disney Cast Members will be able to verify that you are authorized to utilize the park entrance media (card or MagicBand) that you’ve brought.
Ask for a Guest Relations Cast Member at park entry
At park entry, simply let the park entry Cast Member know that you have opted out of biometric scanning and they will ask a Guest Relations Cast Member to come over. The Guest Relations Cast Member will scan your park entry media on an iPad-type device and then ask for your photo ID to verify that you are authorized to utilize the park entrance media (card or MagicBand) that you’ve brought. After that, you’re good to go and enjoy the park!
Will I have to opt out again?
The fingerprint scanning opt out will stay on the park media for as long as it’s valid. In our case, it’ll last until our Annual Pass expires. If you have a multi-day ticket, it’ll stay on your ticket until it expires.
For continuing coverage of the Disney Parks, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com!
At Epcot on Sunday, they had a cast member wiping the touchpoints with Lysol wipes after every use.
Disney does wipe them down occasionally, but it’s not procedure to wipe down after every use all day long. It’s possible that you caught them while they were cleaning for that day
I was just going to say the same….. Why can’t they just wipe them between uses? That seems a lot of fuss to call over s Guest Relations staff member to get you in the park. And having to carry photo ID…. What about kids ID? They don’t have driver’s licence etc which means having to take passports out and about. Which if they get lost there would be a lot more to worry about than whether fingerprint entrance points have been wiped!!!
Just wash your hands! If everyone did this, getting into the parks would take hours!
We just scanned our bracelets today no more fingerprint scanning.
Disney occasionally bypasses fingerprint scanning at times of increased crowds
Just modify your software for the opt-out guests. If you are worried about fraud, the person entering the park is a paid guest. I do have suggestions you can detect to detect fraud.